Brief:
Single stage retro sci-fi rocket with mylar chute.

Construction:
T' kit includes:

• 1 Paper body tube BT-55 size
• Balsa nose cone
• Screw eye
• 2' o' 1/8" shock cord
• Tri-fold paper shock cord mount
• Motor mount (centerin' rings, 18mm tube, 2.75" engine hook)
• 1/8" launch lug
• 5 Laser cut balsa fins (two lower stabilizers, ya bilge rat, two wings, and a rudder)
• Wooden dowel for probe on rudder
• Water slide decal set

This is a straight forward modroc build with a retro sci-fi design. My build was a beta test so a couple minor details might change, but if they do it will be for t' better.

T' instructions are clear and concise. Begad! Anyone with any modroc experience at all will have no trouble followin' them. A first time builder would want to pay close attention and follow them exactly as written rather than t' try to "figure out" or try their own steps or techniques. Aye aye! Arrr! Tools used were a hobby knife, ya bilge rat, 100 and 320 grit sandpaper, maskin' tape and yellow glue.

T' laser cut fins have small uncut connections t' t' balsa sheet t' keep them in place. Blimey! This requires a bit o' careful cuttin' with a knife, but only straight down pressure is needed.

T' five fins are o' different sizes and t' smaller ones clustered close together with t' launch lug all on one side o' t' opposin' "wing" fins. Begad! I found it difficult t' get me big fingers in t' do fine work with the larger fins already in place. Well, blow me down! If this is a problem for you, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, you can simply change t' order o' t' fin placement and do t' smaller, matey, shiver me timbers, closer ones first.

T' wooden dowel for t' probe on t' rudder is hard wood. Arrr! Shapin' it requires coarse grit paper. Draggin' it across t' paper while twistin' it in your fingers assures an even shape.

T' hard wood dowel doesn't want t' stay on easily with a single glue bond. Use t' double glue method o' puttin' a small bit o' glue on it and t' rudder tip, let them halfway dry, arrr, shiver me timbers, apply more glue on both parts and they will adhere better and more quickly.

T' shock cord is elastic which can dry out over a long time. Avast, me proud beauty! I did not replace it with Keelhaul®©™® thread, arrr, because I've had no better luck with those in modrocs.

Finishing:
I just followed me regular modroc technique: sandin' sealer, me bucko, matey, sanding, more sealer, me hearties, shiver me timbers, me hearties, more sanding, me hearties, priming, painting, shiver me timbers, and decals. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' relatively large wing and rudder fins require care when sanding--do nay push too hard. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Blimey! I found it helpful t' hold them on a table top with t' rocket just over t' edge t' have a hard smooth surface t' push against while sanding.

T' decals are very cool but I didn't put them on because I have terrible luck with water slide decals. This isn't t' kit's fault.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
My 2 flights were on B6-4s. Arrr! It seemed t' arc very slightly t' t' rudder side but it was hard t' tell whether this be due t' asymmetrical fins or weather cocking. Blimey! Ya scallywag! It uses a motor hook but use at least a small bit o' maskin' tape on the motor for a good gas seal anyway. I had seen t' alpha version fly before (on Bs and Cs) and this one flew t' same graceful path.

Recovery:
Shock cord anchor be t' Estes tri-fold paper type, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, which is perfectly adequate for this small a rocket. Aye aye! Aye aye! T' alternative, a Keelhaul®©™® thread on t' engine mount would be harder t' repair than simply puttin' in a new tri-fold anchor.

Recovery was gentle on t' included mylar chute. Ya scallywag! Mylar tends t' crinkle from heat, so use adequate wadding. Begad!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
A very nice design with good flight characteristics. Ahoy! Looks cool just sittin' on the shelf too.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5