Brief:
Simple 4FNC rocket with parachute recovery. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! Chan's review is complete and me experience be pretty much t' same, shiver me timbers, me hearties, so I'll just try t' add a few comments and photos. Ya scallywag! For instance, t' marketin' people at Damon/Estes borrowed t' Magnum moniker because it equates with "over powered". Begad! 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, no damage. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! Excellent materials, matey, all basic stuff. Ya scallywag! Arrr! T' 18mm adapter is a godsend and is excellent quality. Avast, me proud beauty! T' 3/16" launch lug is a particularly nice touch.

Instructions are beautiful, among t' best. Didn't use 'em though. Begad! 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, arrr, me bucko, then peel off that first layer. Aye aye! Nay only does this result in a stronger fin/body joint, me bucko, me hearties, it makes it easier t' align t' fins.

Finishing:
Standard finishing: Minimal fin fillets usin' Elmer's white glue. One coat o' Elmer's Wood Filler on fins and nose cone, me bucko, sand, two coats o' high-solids automotive paint, sand. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! Finish with two coats o' white catalyzed automotive urethane followed by an overcoat o' rattlecan red on t' nose cone and it looks gorgeous. Arrr! Begad! T' color and paint scheme are perfect. 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. Well, blow me down! It also says t' brin' a catcher's mitt. Blimey! So I went with 3 flights on A8-3 motors in a small park, ya bilge rat, and t' 97 foot predicted altitude looks about right. Aye aye! Blimey! First flight CATO'ed with no ejection event. Ahoy! T' low altitude resulted in a horizontal landin' and one loose fin. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! T' second and third flights were good. Aye aye!

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. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
PROs: Beauty. Ya scallywag! Sleekness. Begad! Wide range o' possible motors. Avast! Insane speed and altitude possibilities. Arrr! Aye aye! Quality materials. Fast build.

CONs: Could use a longer shock cord.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5