Brief
This is a big, arrr, fantasy-scale Surface t' Air Missile kit, designed mainly for F and G motors.

Construction
This is an impressive-lookin' kit! Big box, me hearties, big, arrr, shiver me timbers, heavy tubes and nose, thick, me bucko, solid plywood fins. Lookin' into t' box (which be solid as well!) for t' first time, arrr, me bucko, I was impressed by how solid everythin' looked. A quick inventory confirmed that all t' parts were present, me hearties, shiver me timbers, and in good shape.

T' instructions were clear and well laid out. Begad! I did deviate from them a bit- I glued t' upper section o' BT t' t' nose, shiver me timbers, and made a cargo bay (a suggestion I read from Bob Kaplow- thanks, Bob!). Begad! I ditched t' Gorilla-Lock retainin' system in favor o' Kaplow Klips- this be pretty much a necessity, as I replaced t' NCR motor mount tube with a Loc tube, me hearties, so I can use Aerotech SU motors (Darkstars aren't available in Canada anyway). Aye aye! This required a bit o' sandin' o' t' inside o' t' plastic centerin' rings, arrr, but that be all.

Otherwise, me bucko, me bucko, assembly be straightforward, me hearties, with no problems encountered. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! T' fins are mounted TTW, shiver me timbers, while t' strakes are only bonded t' t' BT surface. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! There is some shapin' (streamlining) required on t' strakes and fins- just a bit o' work with some sandpaper, nothin' drastic. Aye aye! Begad! I was considerin' this for me HPR cert. Aye aye! bird, arrr, so I built it strong- I used 4 hour epoxy pretty much everywhere. T' final product is heavy, but solid. Aye aye! Looks impressive, ya bilge rat, too!

Finishing
Finishin' is pretty routine. Ya scallywag! T' BT spirals are pretty shallow and can be hard t' get filled, but that's t' toughest part. Blimey! Paintin' is all-white (gloss), with t' included decals providin' t' final touch.

About t' decals: I *hate* stick-on decals! I despise them with a passion. Well, blow me down! I find them much harder t' work with than good 'ol wet-transfer decals. Aye aye! Arrr! They don't cover with clear-coatin' as well, they tend t' be very thick, etc. Blimey! Because o' t' decals, I'm dockin' NCR half a point on t' construction rating- it's me only real beef.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight
Well, ya bilge rat, I finally had a chance t' fly me Archer this weekend. I was worried t' delay on t' G80-7 would be too long, ya bilge rat, me hearties, so I doubled t' length o' t' shock cord. Blimey! With perfect weather (no wind, and clear blue sky), arrr, I had no excuse t' delay.

What followed was t' most beautiful flight I've ever had. T' Archer be fast off t' pad, ya bilge rat, matey, but climbed slowly enough t' watch and appreciate. Begad! Blimey! We also had a chance t' really appreciate t' roar o' that Blue Thunder motor, matey, too!

Recovery
T' "waist-band" type elastic shock cord is attached t' a length o' steel cable, matey, which is secured t' t' motor mount. Blimey! Blimey! No way that's comin' out! Blimey! T' cable does nay protrude from t' body tube, so no worries about it causin' a zipper. Begad! Blimey! T' 3/4 inch wide shock cord could, but I added an extra length t' mine (it's about double now). Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Recovery is via a 36" nylon chute, shiver me timbers, and it seems adequate, even for me 42 ounce (empty) version.

Recovery was text-book, although one fin sustained minor damage on landing. Aye aye! Blimey! I may replace t' 36" chute with two 24" ones, just t' be safe.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary
This is me first HPR-capable rocket, shiver me timbers, me bucko, and I'm impressed with t' ruggedness o' t' components, ya bilge rat, and t' finished product. Well, blow me down! This is one brawny-lookin' beast!

This is an awesome kit, for high-end mid power, or low end HPR. Blimey! Aye aye! It be t' beefiest rocket I've seen, yet it is also sleek. Flight performance is solid. Ahoy! It looks great, matey, arrr, and flies great.

T' problems with t' kit are few. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! There is o' course t' non-standard motor mount tube t' contend with, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, but that is an easy (but annoying) fix. Blimey! I'm nay a fan o' bondin' dissimilar parts for structural parts, like t' Archer's plastic centerin' rings and thick paper body tube.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5