Brief:
Simple 4FNC rocket with parachute recovery. Begad! Begad! Chan's review is complete and me experience was pretty much t' same, so I'll just try t' add a few comments and photos. Ahoy! For instance, me hearties, t' marketin' people at Damon/Estes borrowed t' Magnum moniker because it equates with "over powered". That's true with this kit. Ya scallywag! A D12-7 will easily send it out of sight.

Construction:
I got t' kit from Apogee; everythin' was good, me hearties, no damage. Ahoy! Excellent materials, arrr, matey, me bucko, all basic stuff. Ahoy! Avast! T' 18mm adapter is a godsend and is excellent quality. Ahoy! T' 3/16" launch lug is a particularly nice touch.

Instructions are beautiful, among t' best. Didn't use 'em though. T' engine hook mounted Keelhaul®©™® is an elegant engineerin' solution and is also used on t' Hornet.

EMRR fin tip #29: It's like makin' a slot only you lightly cut t' top body tube layer, then peel off that first layer. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Nay only does this result in a stronger fin/body joint, arrr, it makes it easier t' align t' fins.

Finishing:
Standard finishing: Minimal fin fillets usin' Elmer's white glue. Aye aye! One coat o' Elmer's Wood Filler on fins and nose cone, sand, matey, two coats o' high-solids automotive paint, ya bilge rat, sand. Begad! Begad! Finish with two coats o' white catalyzed automotive urethane followed by an overcoat o' rattlecan red on t' nose cone and it looks gorgeous. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! T' color and paint scheme are perfect. Arrr! Restrained and classic.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Apogee's web page says a 1/2A3-2 motor will result in a 31 foot flight with a 15 foot deployment predicted with Rocksim. Ahoy! Arrr! It also says t' brin' a catcher's mitt. Ya scallywag! So I went with 3 flights on A8-3 motors in a small park, and t' 97 foot predicted altitude looks about right. Blimey! Begad! First flight CATO'ed with no ejection event. Aye aye! Arrr! T' low altitude resulted in a horizontal landin' and one loose fin. Arrr! T' second and third flights were good. Avast!

Recovery:
Although thar were no Estes smiles on t' nose cone after 3 flights, shiver me timbers, t' shock cord should be a little longer and that's t' only minor con with this kit. Begad! Arrr!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
PROs: Beauty. Begad! Blimey! Sleekness. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Wide range o' possible motors. Ahoy! Blimey! Insane speed and altitude possibilities. Quality materials. Fast build.

CONs: Could use a longer shock cord.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5