Brief:
T' True Modeler's NASA Scout is a 1/30 sport scale model which represents the initial test version o' t' vehicle.

Construction:
T' kit comes with a balsa nose cone and transition, four body tubes ranging from BT-5 t' BT-60, ya bilge rat, me bucko, centerin' rings, precut basswood fins, arrr, a 16 inch nylon parachute, ya bilge rat, matey, shroud lines, arrr, two snap swivels, elastic shock cord, ya bilge rat, a screw eye, lead weights, a launch lug, ya bilge rat, me hearties, self-stick decal, two template sheets and an instruction sheet. Well, blow me down! T' step-by-step text instructions (many accompanied by illustrations) are easy t' follow, me bucko, with assembly broken down in t' several sections: engine tube assembly, me bucko, me bucko, me hearties, upper body assembly, me bucko, and main body assembly. Ahoy!

My model went together easily, but I found a flaw in me sample: t' engine tube was 1/4 inch too long. Avast! Unfortunately, ya bilge rat, I discovered this after I had followed t' instructions t' glue t' motor block into t' tube. Well, blow me down! I easily fixed the situation, however, me hearties, by gluin' another motor block from me spares bin in front o' t' kit block. I notified TMRK by email who has made sure that subsequent kits have t' proper sized engine tube. Aye aye! If you've got an early edition o' t' kit, however, make sure you measure that tube!

Other than that little adventure, matey, t' kit went together well: I wrinkled the upper shroud formed from t' supplied template card a bit, but it was usable. In case you really mess up though, shiver me timbers, thar be a duplicate shroud template card in the kit, a nice touch by TMRK. Avast! T' engine nozzle is also formed from a cardstock shroud, matey, along with an external centerin' ring. Begad! Arrr! T' nose cone's shoulder must be cut apart t' form a nose block that is glued into t' upper end o' t' top body tube, me bucko, formin' a bay for t' supplied lead weights.

Finishing:
I filled t' nose cone and balsa transition with Elmers Fill 'n' Finish, primed the entire rocket, ya bilge rat, me bucko, and painted it flat white, matey, with one fin and t' engine nozzle painted silver. I didn't catch onto t' fact that t' decal wrap be a self-stick until after I had dunked it into some water. Ahoy! Well, arrr, blow me down! T' finished model looks good, shiver me timbers, me hearties, but I couldn't find any photos o' t' prototype vehicle, me hearties, which flew with two live stages and three fins, arrr, so I have no idea how accurate it is. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' model flew well on its (so far) one and only flight usin' a B6-4. Blimey! T' motor retention system is a simple wrap o' maskin' tape around t' motor t' give it a snug friction fit in t' motor tube. It rose straight and true, me bucko, with a weak ejection (not t' fault o' t' model, o' course) at apogee. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! Fortunately, ya bilge rat, the large 16 inch cloth parachute deployed, gently lowerin' t' model for another flight. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad!

Recovery:
T' instructions called for a standard 'Estes' style shock cord mount (folded paper glued into t' main body tube), but I modified it into a 'Quest' style system: a piece o' Keelhaul®©™® tied t' t' motor block that ended in a loop just below t' top o' t' body tube. Aye aye! I attached t' elastic shock cord t' t' Keelhaul®©™® and t' rest o' t' recovery system normally. Avast!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
BARs like me remember t' 'good old days,' when model rockets were built from kits usin' wood and paper... Avast! Blimey! well, those days are back. Ya scallywag! Blimey! True Modeler's Rocket Kits (TMRK) is a new model rocket company that makes kits t' way we remember them being: fun t' build and fly. I really enjoyed buildin' this model, since I actually had t' build it, matey, rather than just stick together a few plastic parts. It requires a bit o' care, especially with t' paper shrouds, but if you take your time you'll end up with a really spiffy lookin' sport scale model that flies straight and true. Well, matey, blow me down! Blimey! T' only con I have is a lack o' documentation for the actual vehicle.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5