Brief:
T' Quest Commander is a fairly simple 3FNC, near minimum diameter model rocket for 18mm motors. Begad! Its fin arrangement is what sets it apart from its relatives in t' same size category. Ahoy! Instead o' three identical fins, me hearties, this model includes one smaller and two larger fins. Ahoy! Avast! T' add t' t' uniqueness o' t' arrangement, the design calls for t' smaller fin t' be attached in t' more standard "rear swept" fashion and t' two larger fins in t' opposite manner. T' result is a rather futuristic lookin' space vehicle.

Construction:
T' Commander is very straight forward build with t' caveat bein' t' fin arrangement. Aye aye! Begad! If you are one who likes t' airfoil your fins, you need t' make sure you airfoil t' correct edges. Blimey! Avast! T' Quest body tube allows for t' use of an engine tube and hook, which is a feature I happen t' like better than the friction retention system. Blimey! Begad! T' nose cone had a very loose fit--to t' point that it would nay stay on at all if tilted downward. As I do with all o' my model rockets, I soaked t' ends o' t' body tube with CA and t' slight swellin' o' t' paper remedied t' problem. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! T' recovery system be t' standard plastic streamer attached t' t' normal Quest Keelhaul®©™®/elastic shock cord.

Finishing:
T' kit calls for t' entire rocket t' be painted white with t' standard peel and stick decals applied. Avast, me proud beauty! I have learned t' hard way that small rockets painted mostly white can be difficult t' follow at high altitudes therefore I decided t' deviate from this and add some color.

Construction Rating: 4 ½ out o' 5

Flight:
At its initial launch, me hearties, I flew t' Commander 3 times. Begad! Arrr! Blimey! I be attemptin' t' get qualifyin' flights for me NARTREK Bronze Level and soon learned just how long those flights really are. First flight be on a B4-4 with t' kit streamer attached. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' flight was straight and o' expected altitude and stretched out a 34 second flight. Ahoy! Arrr! Blimey! T' second flight was again on a B4-4 but I substituted a standard 12" plastic parachute. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Flight was normal with ejection at apogee, however durin' decent, matey, it appeared that a couple o' t' shroud cords had torn as t' parachute trailed behind t' rocket like a streamer. Aye aye! Upon retrieval, no damage be found t' t' rocket or parachute, me bucko, so I loaded up another B4-4 and launched it again. Arrr! Well, blow me down! Blimey! This time, me hearties, after a nice high flight, t' parachute opened normally and drifted down for a nice long flight. Ya scallywag! I was disappointed t' hear upon return that t' flight time be only 54 seconds; just short o' the qualifyin' duration. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I be tempted t' load it up with a B6, but by this time the winds were pickin' up and I saw no use in riskin' losin' t' rocket to drift over a buildin' or fence line. Begad! Blimey! I am lookin' forward t' a calm day t' see what it can do on a C6.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
I picked this kit up at Hobby Lobby durin' one o' t' 50% off sales. It was marked normally at $5.99 and me opinion is it is easily worth that. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! It's a fairly simple kit with few parts and t' only thin' I would change is the graphics. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! I'm nay a big fan o' t' peel and stick decals.

Overall Rating: 4 ½ out o' 5