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

Construction
This is an impressive-lookin' kit! Big box, matey, big, me bucko, heavy tubes and nose, thick, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, matey, solid plywood fins. Blimey! Lookin' into t' box (which was solid as well!) for t' first time, I be impressed by how solid everythin' looked. Avast, me proud beauty! A quick inventory confirmed that all t' parts were present, me bucko, 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!). I ditched t' Gorilla-Lock retainin' system in favor o' Kaplow Klips- this was pretty much a necessity, shiver me timbers, as I replaced t' NCR motor mount tube with a Loc tube, so I can use Aerotech SU motors (Darkstars aren't available in Canada anyway). Begad! This required a bit o' sandin' o' t' inside o' t' plastic centerin' rings, arrr, but that was all.

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

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

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

What followed be t' most beautiful flight I've ever had. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! 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, too!

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

Recovery be text-book, shiver me timbers, although one fin sustained minor damage on landing. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! 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, arrr, and I'm impressed with t' ruggedness o' t' components, and t' finished product. Avast! Begad! This is one brawny-lookin' beast!

This is an awesome kit, me hearties, for high-end mid power, arrr, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, or low end HPR. Well, blow me down! Begad! It be t' beefiest rocket I've seen, yet it is also sleek. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! Flight performance is solid. Aye aye! It looks great, shiver me timbers, arrr, and flies great.

T' problems with t' kit are few. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! There is o' course t' non-standard motor mount tube t' contend with, but that is an easy (but annoying) fix. Begad! 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