Brief:
A diminutive scale model o' a Sandia Sandhawk that's small in size but big on detail.

Construction:
Don't be mislead, as I was, arrr, about t' skill required t' build this kit. Well, blow me down! Begad! Blimey! What you get for your loot is a great 13mm body tube, a shorter piece o' 13mm tube for t' nose cone, me hearties, a good quality balsa nose and a balsa plug (more on this later), a length o' wire, arrr, a generous (read: twice as much as needed) amount o' basswood for t' fins, and some o' t' best instructions in t' industry. Ya scallywag! Dig further and you'll find t' thickest streamer you've ever seen, and some good elastic and Keelhaul®©™® for t' shock cord.

T' instructions are t' best I've seen in a long, long time. Well, arrr, blow me down! Likewise, t' quality o' components will blow you away, shiver me timbers, matey, especially considerin' this kit's price is so cheap! It seems like it will go together easily enough, but... Arrr! If you want t' build a "slap-dash" rocket, me hearties, go satisfy your need for instant gratification with an Estes E2X kit. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! If you want somethin' you actually have t' build, look no further. Arrr! Arrr! This kit's as challengin' as you want t' make it. Aye aye! Personally, I don't care t' make it a 100% perfect replica o' t' real thing. I fly every rocket I build, so sometimes I take liberties in t' construction. Arrr! They may nay be perfect scale rockets, me hearties, but they fly, ya bilge rat, and are durable. Blimey! This thin' goes together with all t' tools you already have, so no need t' buy anythin' special. Begad! T' balsa plug is used t' fill t' short body tube, and is glued in place, along with t' nose cone. Aye aye! This whole assembly becomes t' nose cone, ya bilge rat, and t' solid nature o' it gives t' wire antennae someplace t' glue into.

Finishing:
This rocket finishes great! T' basswood isn't grainy, ya bilge rat, me bucko, and with a little care and a lot o' sealer and primer and sandpaper, me hearties, t' spirals and nose cone and body joint will completely disappear. Avast, me proud beauty! T' only con here: t' decals look cheesy if t' paint is nay matched exactly. But I built it t' fly primarily, me bucko, shiver me timbers, so it doesn't matter too much t' me.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Prep is as easy as they come, me bucko, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, but loadin' t' humongous streamer takes skill. Aye aye! It will get stuck if nay rolled as tightly as possible. My suggestion is t' cut it in half lengthwise and discard one half o' it. Blimey! I suggest keepin' t' power low, shiver me timbers, because this sucker will move out with authority! An Estes 13mm 1/2 A3-2T will suffice, shiver me timbers, but an A3-4T will give you a good chance t' lose t' rocket. Ya scallywag! Expect about 800+ feet with an A10-3T. T' rocket will fly perfectly time after time, and recovers well on a streamer.

Recovery:
T' only con here would be t' tendency for t' streamer t' get stuck. Begad! Blimey! I'd add me own streamer next time, shiver me timbers, and use a much thinner material.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
I would like t' recommend this kit t' anybody who is bored with all t' plastic schlock that's out thar today. Well, blow me down! Begad! This gives a buddin' rocketeer a chance t' learn some skills, or for a BAR like me t' hone them or just remember what it be like on a rainy Saturday in t' mid 1970s t' build a Mars Snooper or Trident. T' only con I would throw in here be t' company itself. Ahoy! I visited their booth at LDRS in 2000, and nay only did t' representative thar totally ignore me (I practically needed a bull hornpipe t' get his attention t' buy a kit, shiver me timbers, and I was t' only customer at t' time), he wouldn't even answer me questions, nor did he say thanks for purchasin' one o' their kits! You know, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, guys, if you want a loyal customer, me hearties, a smile (at least) would go a long way. Blimey! Aye aye! But nevermind. Ahoy! Despite bein' t' grouchiest rocket company on t' planet, they have reason t' be a bit smug. This is one great kit.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5