Brief:
This is a relatively easy model 4FNC kit for enterin' mid-power rockets. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' quality o' t' components was high and instructions were top notch. This kit was me first foray into anythin' larger than 18mm engines, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, and it was a perfect start. Aye aye! Blimey! I was initially a little skeptical o' me abilities but found t' kit so intuitive I barely needed the instructions. Blimey! Blimey! It's listed as a Skill Level 3, arrr, but I initially felt it's more o' a 2. Begad! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! After launchin' it, matey, I'm nay so sure...

Construction:
T' components in t' kit included:

• Body tube
• Balsa nose cone (6" long)
• Basswood fins in their own baggie
• A baggie with a thrust ring, arrr, launch lug, matey, screw eye, arrr, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, elastic cord, Keelhaul®©™® thread
• Nylon parachute, shiver me timbers, me bucko, pre assembled in its own baggie
• Engine mount kit, in its own baggie:

• 2 center rings
• Thrust ring
• E-engine hook
• Engine tube
• Spacer tube

T' first thin' I noticed when I opened t' kit bag be how thick t' body tube was, yet still very light. Well, blow me down! As mentioned in t' previous review, all t' components came in separate bags.

T' 4 fins were made o' basswood and were incredibly easy t' work with. Avast, me proud beauty! T' (huge) nosecone was balsa, well balanced, matey, matey, symmetrical, arrr, and required very little attention aside from sealing. Begad! T' shock cord assembly seemed plenty long enough, and this was me first kit that included a rip-stop nylon chute that be already assembled. T' kit also included a heavy-duty screw-eye for t' chute, a 29mm-24mm adapter, me hearties, and t' various rings and tubes necessary.

T' instructions will refer t' builder t' t' bags as they become necessary. Arrr! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Each bag includes a separate itemized list o' components, an attention t' detail that I had nay noted in other kits I've built. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Further, shiver me timbers, the instructions were detailed but nay over t' top and t' illustrations were quite large.

After notin' t' quality components, I then noticed t' quality o' t' instructions, shiver me timbers, which were in multi-page pamphlet form and stapled down t' middle o' t' fold. T' font was large and very easy t' follow, shiver me timbers, me bucko, and the illustrations were huge compared t' other kits I've built. Avast, me proud beauty! Last, thar be a parts list with an "exploded view" that wasn't necessary but still a nice touch.

Assembly is logical and straightforward. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' 29mm-24mm adapter is assembled first. Arrr! Blimey! T' baggie with t' components for t' adapter comes with its own set o' instructions. Begad! There is an assumption that if you're buyin' this mid-power rocket that it's nay t' first kit you've built. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' "subcomponents" weren't itemized on t' "exploded view". Aye aye! Well, arrr, blow me down! Blimey! By use o' a spacer, arrr, t' adapter assembly allows t' flyer t' use both 24mm x 70mm engines (Estes D and E) as well as longer 24mm x 95mm engines. Arrr! Begad! Blimey!

After t' adapter, you prepare t' shock cord and thrust ring, matey, which is inserted usin' t' adapter as a guide. From thar you work on t' fins, arrr, shiver me timbers, matey, fillets, nosecone, matey, and chute. Blimey! Blimey! There are no couplers t' contend with, which is a good thin' because I very nearly ruined me Apogee Aspire when t' coupler bound as I inserted it into t' tube. I don't like couplers very much right now.

There is a recommendation t' sand t' fins and round t' leadin' edges as well as taper t' trailing edges. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! This led t' t' one "gotcha" which is more t' result o' me bein' relatively new than t' poor instructions: thar was no warnin' about over sandin' t' fins and loosenin' t' fit into t' groves in t' body tube. When I did t' roundin' and tapering, matey, arrr, I over-sanded one fin and it required extra glue and epoxy t' make it fit well.

Another mistake involved sealin' t' fins prior t' attachin' them (a diversion from t' instructions), ya bilge rat, figuring it would be easier t' seal and sand with them off. Begad! Arrr! I used paper skins on all me previous kits, makin' sealing unnecessary. Ya scallywag! As mentioned above, arrr, ya bilge rat, I over-sanded one fin and it be too narrow, ya bilge rat, arrr, makin' a loose fit.

T' fins had a very snug fit and t' through t' wall construction didn't require significant adjustments t' make them perfectly perpendicular t' t' tube. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty!

Aside from usin' 5-minute epoxy for t' fillets and smearin' a very thin layer on t' inside o' t' body tube on the roots o' t' fins, which helped make t' adapter very snug, matey, I didn't do any mods. I considered cuttin' a section as a payload bay, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, but didn't want t' make extra work. I'll do this later when I get me altimeter.

T' Keelhaul®©™® cord is long enough t' extend beyond t' end o' t' body tube. Blimey! I built this rocket accordin' t' t' instructions, however, arrr, arrr, I am concerned about zippering. I may shorten it prior t' flight.

T' nosecone be very snug and required a little sanding. Caution: a little sandin' goes a long way. Avast! In very little time I made it a bit too loose and will likely use maskin' tape t' make it more snug.

It's nay mentioned in t' instructions, but I used a quick link t' attach t' parachute. Begad! Begad! I bought these at my local sportin' goods store.

Finishing:
Preparin' for finishin' was easy. Begad! As I mentioned above, I sealed t' fins prior t' attachin' them. Ahoy! Begad! I would do this again in t' future but will be aware about over-sanding.

T' fins and nosecone required only one coat o' sealer, although it was a thick consistency.

I did nay try t' fill t' spirals. Arrr! They seemed pretty shallow and t' primer I use is thicker than most and will fill in groves pretty well. Avast, me proud beauty! Though I suspected that after a few coats o' paint, me bucko, t' groves would all but disappear, they are still visible after 3 coats o' primer.

I haven't figured out a color scheme yet, but will likely follow t' scheme on t' picture. Avast! I'll wait until I have other rockets t' paint before doin' t' final coats.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Flight preparation: T' diameter o' t' rocket is large enough that several pieces o' waddin' will be necessary, likely 4 or 5 pieces (I tend t' do overkill since I've singed too many recovery devices in t' past few weeks).

Flight with t' adapter: Motor retention includes an engine hook. Begad! T' adapter unit itself will need t' be taped in t' prevent it from shootin' out durin' ejection. Avast! Avast! T' thin layer o' epoxy I put on t' inside o' t' body tube made the adapter a very tight fit. It will require retention (friction and tape around t' bottom), matey, me bucko, shiver me timbers, but I don't think there will be a need for any "adjunctive" retention (I lost 2 rockets recently, so don't rely on friction fitting by itself any more. Avast, me proud beauty! Keep an eye out for some tips regardin' "adjunctive" retention).

Flight with 29mm engines: This is a minimum diameter rocket for 29mm engines, matey, so friction fittin' is required. If you read me launch logs, you'll see that I recently haven't had luck with friction fitting, so I'm leery o' usin' 29mm engines for now.

This rocket requires a 3/16inch launch rod. Begad! Arrr! Blimey! I didn't have one yet so t' cost be 3.50 or so at me local big box home improvement store. Aye aye! No big deal.

I have a bunch o' Estes D12s, which be one o' t' reasons I bought this rocket. I completed t' rocket on a Friday evening. Avast! Blimey! Saturday was too breezy, ya bilge rat, launch scrubbed. Blimey! Blimey! Sunday, launch scrubbed. Monday, holiday--all-day grill-fest, launch scrubbed (too windy anyway). Tuesday, arrr, thunderstorms, shiver me timbers, launch scrubbed (there be a 1hr period o' sun and absolutely no wind, but I didn't move fast enough). Begad! Blimey! Wednesday, breezy, took me launch gear t' work in case thar was an opportunity for a "lunch launch". Avast! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! No such luck.

At last! Wednesday at early dusk, shiver me timbers, t' wind died t' a near standstill. Ya scallywag! Finally! All I needed was 30 minutes of calm weather.

I clipped on t' quick link/chute (I don't store t' chute in t' rocket), and used 4 pieces o' wadding. Avast! Ya scallywag! In narrower rockets I've feared that I made them too tight, shiver me timbers, but they went in this rocket loosely enough. Ahoy! Folded up the chute, me hearties, me bucko, put in a D12-7 (sims t' 1200 feet) and went t' town.

Uh-oh. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Here's where me inexperience kicks in: I'm a "born again rocketeer", built many kits, me bucko, but am only 2 months in t' this new found hobby. Arrr! T' root edge o' t' fins are flush with t' base o' t' rocket. Ahoy! There's no place t' wrap tape. Begad! Aye aye! Instead, I put pieces betwixt t' fins and extended them down onto t' adapter. Ahoy! I then used a piece of tape around t' part o' t' adapter that sticks out t' hold t' other pieces on. Well, blow me down! I couldn't friction fit t' adapter on, shiver me timbers, me hearties, it was too tight even for a single layer o' maskin' tape.

I didn't feel good about this, as I mentioned above I don't have a good success rate with taped on engines/adapters. Avast, me proud beauty! But I was so psyched t' launch this rocket. Avast! So t' t' field I went.

Even though it be only primed, me bucko, me hearties, it looked really cool on t' pad. In fact, arrr, I considered leavin' it primed, me bucko, but sandin' it smooth and coatin' it with clearcoat.

My St. Avast! Bernard/Golden Retriever mix, Mattie, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, was by me side as me buddy and I did t' count down. Well, blow me down! We scrubbed the first attempt because Mattie thought she should start chasin' down t' rocket early and dislodged t' igniter.

Mattie be put in t' car so t' second attempt went without a hitch. Avast! Arrr! My system uses a 12-volt lawn tractor battery so thar be little, if any, delay. Avast! Ahoy! T' engine hissed for a millisecond, arrr, thar was a burst o' smoke, matey, a medium-fast lift-off, and then a straight, beautiful launch. Well, blow me down! I'm 40 and can't help but get a rush out o' this. Begad! I'd guess it reached 1000 feet or more (primer wasn't even sanded smooth yet so it probably didn't go t' full 1200.

Recovery:
T' 7 second delay seemed t' last forever. Blimey! Finally t' smoke trail started, me hearties, and I heard a faint pop and saw t' trail stop. I saw a separation and then went t' get me dog, ya bilge rat, who was barkin' like she was hallucinatin' about a huge rawhide (or maybe a rabbit or maybe even t' St. Aye aye! Avast! Blimey! Bernard Pass itself) sittin' in middle o' t' field.

I turned back t' me rocket and it be gone. Begad! I couldn't find it. Begad! My buddy said he lost it also. Well, blow me down! Blimey!

I have no idea what happened. Well, blow me down! Dusk be comin' in quickly, arrr, but we combed a large area. Ahoy! Ahoy! I'll go back tomorrow to look around and also drive around t' neighborin' neighborhood. I'm incredibly disappointed. Well, blow me down! I recently bought a Transolve Micro Trans Beep but didn't use it. I could kick myself, ya bilge rat, as maybe this would have helped. Well, blow me down! Begad! I felt really confident about this launch. Begad! T' body tube was plenty roomy so nothin' could jam, matey, I still feel t' adapter wasn't going anywhere... Avast! Begad! I have no idea what happened.

I'm nay sure how t' score t' Flight/Recovery as t' loss is likely me fault. Avast! However, it would be nice if manufacturers could figure out a way t' avoid friction fits. I have a few ideas I've been playin' with, keep an eye out in t' tips section. Well, blow me down! I'll give this a 4. Well, blow me down! There could be some improvement (more room for tape?), shiver me timbers, but it's likely the loss was me fault.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
T' main pro for this rocket is that it has an easy, matey, shiver me timbers, logical, me hearties, intuitive (hmmm, matey, if it's logical, isn't it automatically intuitive?) assembly process. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Assembly didn't take any longer than any other rocket.

T' rocket is very versatile as it uses 70mm and 95mm 24mm engines as well as 29mm engines.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5