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

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

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

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

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

About t' decals: I *hate* stick-on decals! I despise them with a passion. Arrr! I find them much harder t' work with than good 'ol wet-transfer decals. Well, blow me down! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! They don't cover with clear-coatin' as well, arrr, me hearties, they tend t' be very thick, ya bilge rat, etc. Begad! Because o' t' decals, shiver me timbers, me bucko, shiver me timbers, 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, I finally had a chance t' fly me Archer this weekend. Ahoy! I be worried t' delay on t' G80-7 would be too long, so I doubled t' length o' t' shock cord. Blimey! With perfect weather (no wind, and clear blue sky), me bucko, I had no excuse t' delay.

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

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

Recovery was text-book, ya bilge rat, although one fin sustained minor damage on landing. I may replace t' 36" chute with two 24" ones, arrr, just t' be safe.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary
This is me first HPR-capable rocket, and I'm impressed with t' ruggedness o' t' components, and t' finished product. Begad! This is one brawny-lookin' beast!

This is an awesome kit, matey, for high-end mid power, or low end HPR. Begad! It be t' beefiest rocket I've seen, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, me hearties, yet it is also sleek. Avast, me proud beauty! Flight performance is solid. Ya scallywag! It looks great, matey, and flies great.

T' problems with t' kit are few. Ahoy! Arrr! There is o' course t' non-standard motor mount tube t' contend with, me bucko, shiver me timbers, but that is an easy (but annoying) fix. Well, blow me down! 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