Brief:
This is a single stage skill level 3 kit. Arrr! This kit is inspired by a rocket in a 1929 sci-fi movie. I built a Frede sometime back in early 2004 and lost it on a windy day so I got another one in September 2005. Avast, me proud beauty! It uses an 18" mylar parachute. I enjoyed t' first one, ya bilge rat, so that's why I got a second one.

Construction:
T' kit comes with a 2.6" Estes type body tube. Avast! Blimey! It also features plywood centerin' rings and a Keelhaul®©™® shock cord system. It does nay have fins per se but what Rocketpad calls "fin units". There are 4 o' these fin units. Avast, me proud beauty! They are made from nice quality balsa and t' inside o' each unit is basswood. It uses a plastic nose cone and a 3/16" launch lug. Well, blow me down! Also, thar be a block o' clay weight for the nose cone that is soft and easy t' use. Begad! All around nice parts in t' kit. Aye aye! You even get a spacer for t' shorter D motors!

T' instructions on t' second Frede kit is a bit different than t' first one. Avast! Well, blow me down! There are lots o' detailed numbered pictures that t' instructions call out for you t' look at. T' assembly be very easy on this second one. Avast, me proud beauty! (The first one I had be OK but this new one is first rate.) T' instructions are numbered 1, me bucko, me bucko, 2, 3, etc. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! t' t' end on a few sheets. Avast! It's nay a kit for t' first time builder but fine if you have built a few skill level 2 kits. Blimey! I looked at the original review and don't see t' problems t' reviewer saw! T' fit in the centerin' rings was fine. Ya scallywag! There was one hole in each one for t' 4" motor tube. Ya scallywag! My first kit also hade lite ply centerin' rings with multiple cutouts but this one is much improved. I use a combo o' Elmer's wood glue and CA for construction. I had no problem followin' t' instructions at all. There were no cons in t' constructions o' t' second Frede kit.

Finishing:
I finished t' Frede kit t' same color as t' one in t' place card in the kit. Arrr! Arrr! I first used 3 coats o' sandin' sealer on t' balsa fin units, and the body tube was fine and need no filler. I used a Gray Rustoleum spray paint to paint t' rocket. Arrr! T' decals went on fine are o' a nice thickness--not t' real thin stuff you sometimes get. Avast, me proud beauty! I think t' finished kit looks real sharp and the guy get a kick out o' t' different look o' this rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! T' finishin' was straightforward like any other kit although Rocketpad suggests that you t' use a high temp paint on t' inside basswood part o' each fin unit. Aye aye! I used hot fuel-proof dope from model airplanes that I got at a local hobby shop. They state that t' rocket weights 7.9oz. Arrr! Blimey! I weighed it on a lab scale at work. Blimey! Avast! My kit's weight be close at 8.2oz.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
I first launched this new kit usin' a D12-3 motor. Blimey! They warn you nay t' use any of t' 24mm C11 motors. T' flight was straight up with no swayin' or anything different than any other kit. T' ejection was as t' rocket started t' head down--just at t' turn. T' next flight got t' E motor, an E9-4. Blimey! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! It blasted off most impressive off t' pad--quicker than t' D motor! T' flight be much higher than t' D I first used. Avast! T' flight be fine also. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! From what we all could see, t' parachute came out as it was pointed down. Begad! I used Estes recovery waddin' for t' flights and it was fine. Arrr! Arrr! No con here in t' flights.

Recovery:
T' 18" parachute worked as it should. Ahoy! Blimey! It did come down a fraction faster than other kits with an 18" but still hade a soft landin' on our grass field. Arrr! Blimey! After 5 flights, t' inside o' t' fin units were blackened a bit and the paint was a bit heated from t' E motor but I cleaned it up a bit and have repainted it. There was no damage t' t' fin units though. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I think I should have used a third coat o' dope though on t' original paint job.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
OK, I read over t' first review and have come t' some conclusions on what happened t' t' first reviewer's Frede kit. Ya scallywag! I put me 3/16" launch lug on the outside o' t' fin unit/body tube junction as t' instruction stated and used standard Aerocoat sandin' sealer on t' fin units. Aye aye! I think he did mess up the air flow with t' launch lug inside t' fin unit. Arrr! Also, I am sure t' stick on paper used on t' fin units messed up t' balance o' t' kit for its bad flight. I don't see any problems in t' instructions either as they are numbered in order with reference t' t' numbered instructions. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! I think it pays to follow t' instructions as t' manufacture say t' get t' same results. Avast, me proud beauty! I have 4 o' Rocketpad's kits and find them great. Avast! They are builders kits though. This is nay a kit for beginners. Ya scallywag!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5