Brief:

An entry level rocket that suffers from some quality control problems. At first glance, me bucko, t' lackluster packagin' had me thinkin' "Siesta" instead, but once I delved into t' project, thar be plenty t' like about this single stage 4FNC rocket.

Construction:
T' package was t' typical plastic "hangin' bag" that allowed most o' t' components t' be seen without openin' t' bag. Ya scallywag! As a plus (or minus, in this case) t' balsa fins were wrapped inside t' instructions, along with t' decals, me bucko, matey, for protection. Arrr! It was apparent that Custom had their sights set on t' market that Estes abandoned when t' latter went t' those ho-hum prebuilt plastic rockets. Avast! Custom's offerin' featured real balsa that required actual construction, which is loads better at teachin' kids and/or beginners about proper construction techniques. Aye aye! So far, matey, me hearties, so good.

T' plastic nose cone had t' most castin' flash I have ever seen, but it was easy t' remove with an Xacto knife in a few seconds. T' first quality control problem be here: t' nose cone was way too loose in t' body tube, and would fall out every time it be pointed down. This could be easily fixed with maskin' tape, ya bilge rat, but that detracts from t' overall finished look. Begad! T' second glitch be t' fin stock. Arrr! These fins were o' t' poorest quality I have ever seen. They were warped, grainy, and really flimsy, though at least t' die-cut fins popped out with ease. Well, blow me down! No way would this thin' fly straight. Custom also took a page from Estes' playbook and included a really short piece o' flat elastic shock cord, ya bilge rat, and utilized Estes' method o' mountin' with t' tri-fold paper and glue. Avast! Avast! Well, it has worked millions o' times, arrr, me bucko, and this is a low power rocket, shiver me timbers, so why not? And t' body tube be slightly crimped on one end, ya bilge rat, but I had other plans for this end by this point. Begad! T' rest o' t' components were excellent.

T' instructions were among t' easiest I have ever seen, me hearties, though I didn't really use them. Ahoy! I especially liked t' paintin' instructions t' best, because this kit be designed for a beginner, and gave a couple o' good tips. I decided at first t' build this rocket usin' t' same materials and techniques that a kid would use on his or her first rocket, but t' warped fins and loose nose cone smartly made me change me mind. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! While it might fly, me bucko, it certainly wouldn't fly straight, so some modifications were in order.

First o' all, ya bilge rat, I placed t' fin stock betwixt a paint can and a large dictionary for a few days, ya bilge rat, me hearties, and this flattened them out satisfactorily. Blimey! Blimey! I decided against maskin' tape for t' nose cone, ya bilge rat, and instead mixed balsa sandin' dust with 30 minute epoxy, shiver me timbers, let it set up a while, and slathered it onto t' shoulder o' t' nose cone and into a deep depression at t' tip, which be originally covered by t' castin' flash.

I built t' motor mount per t' instructions, matey, which went together surprisingly well. Begad! Blimey! At least Custom has these parts down pat. Blimey! Blimey! Once everythin' dried, me hearties, I attached t' fins with Elmer's School Gel. Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! This particular adhesive dries quickly, arrr, but remains tacky enough t' move things around if needed. Aye aye! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! A decent choice for a beginner.

Once t' fins were tacked on, me hearties, I drilled small holes at t' root edge through t' tube, ya bilge rat, then used several thin coats o' 30 minute epoxy t' attach t' fins with epoxy rivets and t' seal t' horribly grainy fins. Ahoy! T' result is a bulletproof fin attachment and a much smoother surface. Aye aye! T' shock cord be mounted accordin' t' t' instructions, me hearties, me bucko, but I substituted much thinner paper and attached another 100 cm (about 3 feet) o' flat elastic shock cord.

Prior t' painting, me hearties, however, I decided t' repair t' crimped body tube by cuttin' t' end o' t' tube into sections, arrr, then folded t' flaps down t' create a boat tail. I then filled in t' gaps with slow dryin' CA and balsa dust, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, then again coated t' whole thin' with epoxy. Once sanded and painted, matey, me bucko, this added a lot t' t' looks o' t' rocket.

Finishing:
Once t' nose cone was sanded down, ya bilge rat, t' entire rocket was sealed, sanded, me bucko, and painted gloss white. Aye aye! T' nose be painted Calypso Blue that was left over from a model car me son built, and t' water based decals were attached. Avast, me proud beauty! T' whole thin' be then coated in several thin coats o' clear enamel.

Other than t' miserable fin quality and loose nose cone, matey, t' rest was easy t' finish. I would prime t' whole rocket next time with Krylon gray primer, ya bilge rat, then apply t' white gloss paint, me bucko, but it still worked out well, ya bilge rat, and barely any spiral is visible on t' body tube. T' decals, which didn't look good t' me on t' packaging, look dynamite on t' actual rocket. Well, blow me down! Once t' defects were addressed, me hearties, ya bilge rat, this turned out t' be a good rocket. But t' defects in t' original materials made me decide on a 3 1/2 rating.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
Custom recommends usin' really low powered 18mm motors for t' first flight, but I refuse t' purchase 18mm A motors. Arrr! Ahoy! Why? Well, I built a 13mm t' 18mm adaptor in a few second with stuff already in me parts bin. Since 13mm motors are cheaper than 18mm motors, and thar are 4 t' a pack instead o' 3, ya bilge rat, it makes better economic sense. Begad! O.K. Well, blow me down! Begad! so I'm cheap. Well, blow me down! But if you buy this stuff in bulk, arrr, it adds up. Anyway, ya bilge rat, with an A10-3T on board, t' rocket will fly decently high with a slow takeoff. Blimey! Perfect for a small field. Arrr! T' prep is easy, shiver me timbers, matey, me hearties, just add some wadding, stuff in t' very long streamer, me bucko, and attach t' nose. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Put it on t' launcher and fire away. Well, blow me down! Avast! Recovery is excellent on this long streamer. Begad! Aye aye! But if you are goin' t' use a C6-7, you'd better have a big field, some assistant trackers, and no wind. Begad! This one really gets up thar in a hurry! T' only con be t' weak motor retention clip, which is more like a Quest clip than Estes, arrr, in that it has absolutely no springiness t' it. Avast, me proud beauty! But t' motors stay in, and I give t' flights a solid 5.

Recovery:
T' extra long plastic streamer is a nice touch. Avast! I would definitely add at least double t' shock cord that Custom provides. Ahoy! This rocket is durable, and should be around for many launches, arrr, shiver me timbers, matey, IF you keep t' power low!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
I like t' fact that somebody is addressin' t' gap Estes left when they abandoned beginnin' rocket builders. They now only feature kits that go together with no skill, me hearties, and kids don't learn anythin' from that. Avast! Arrr! This one required some real rocket construction techniques, matey, and t' shabby quality o' t' fins and nose would ironically help a kid learn how t' build a better rocket by overcomin' obstacles. I would nay recommend this as a first or second kit due t' t' poor quality pieces I found inside, me bucko, arrr, but it would be great for someone who has built a couple and may be lookin' for a challenge. Blimey! Don't let t' dull packagin' addlepate you- this is a great rocket.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5