Brief:
This a beautiful, exquisitely detailed 1/17.5 'Super Sport Scale' model kit o' t' USA's first satellite launch vehicle.

This rocket can be flown usin' either a 29mm motor canister (for F, G and H motors) or a (4) 24mm cluster canister. Ahoy! Aye aye! Both 'quick change' mounts are interchangeable and secured with a solid retention system. This is a fun to build, fun t' fly rocket that will definitely get attention at any launch. Aye aye! Is this kit for everyone? I would hope so, matey, but be forewarned this is nay something that you will throw together t' night before a launch. True Modeler's Mission Statement starts off with "Our desire is t' brin' t' art o' model rocketry back t' t' roots from whence it came. Begad! T' True Modeler's Rocket Kits are designed t' take you back t' a time when model rocketry placed t' emphasis on "modeling."

For more see True Modeler's website site (link on title).

Construction:
T' main body is one very solid 32" long, me bucko, me hearties, 4.0" diameter tube. Blimey! Ya scallywag! The fins are impressively laser cut, 'through t' wall' and assembled from 6 pieces into t' 4 solid fins. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! Centerin' rings and motor mounts are all made from aircraft quality plywood and require only a fair amount o' fitting. Avast! Begad! T' top assembly, with transition, satellite pod and extension 'tip' is recovered through a 'cradled' 18" parachute while t' main body is recovered by a solidly anchored 36" parachute.

As impressive as t' photos on TMRK's website were, openin' t' eagerly awaited package (my girlfriend's Christmas gift t' me!) only reinforced my impression that this rocket would smartly become a favorite o' mine. Aye aye! All o' the materials (with a few minor concerns, noted later) were o' t' highest quality and appropriate for a solid, many times t' fly, matey, medium powered, me hearties, ya bilge rat, highly detailed model rocket. True Modeler clearly put as much effort and thought into t' assembly instructions as they did in t' design and quality of materials o' this kit. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! A 12 page, me hearties, clearly written and illustrated 'book' guides you through t' assembly process. Arrr! Each major subassembly is 'kitted' in it's own package and clearly explained makin' it almost impossible t' make an error.

T' order o' assembly is 1) Booster Assembly, me bucko, 2) Motor canisters, shiver me timbers, 3) nose assembly, me bucko, matey, 4) Satellite and Tub, 5) Paintin' and decals, me hearties, matey, and finally, ya bilge rat, 6) Final assembly and flight prep. As TMRK says "you will find this kit nay too difficult t' build, but you must follow t' instructions exactly as they are written and in t' order they are written. Upon completion, me hearties, you will have a master piece you'll be proud t' display and fly." I couldn't agree more!

Finishing:
Finishin' this rocket is pretty much a straightforward process for any experienced rocket builder, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, but here I will note three concerns. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! First, was the rather light weight 'fishing' snap hook swivel that attaches t' an eyebolt on the transition below t' satellite tub and helps cradle t' nose assembly (like the Estes Saturn V and Mercury Redstone). Well, me hearties, blow me down! Blimey! Second were t' decals. There are 4 large "UE" letters (it designates t' 29th Redstone booster built, me hearties, the 2nd and 9th letters o' t' 'Huntsville' Redstone arsenal). Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! While I have never been especially adept at decals I did find these especially delicate and brittle. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I managed t' apply only one o' t' 4 satisfactorily. Arrr! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! Thirdly, were t' 4 antennae on t' nose section. Well, matey, blow me down! Blimey! I found that these were very delicate and I managed t' break 3 o' the 4 (with an assist from me grandson!) durin' finishing. Begad! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Finally, shiver me timbers, me bucko, I dispensed with them entirely. T' paintin' scheme is relatively simple and very clearly illustrated.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I was rather nervous about flyin' this model because it was me first launch at my local club (Sacramento Area Rocketry Group - SARG) and because I had simply liked how this one looked and didn't want t' wreck it. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! I checked all me prep several time and debated whether t' use an F40-4W Aerotech reload or an Aerotech G80-7T. Begad! After consultation with a couple o' more experienced members I decided on t' G80. Ahoy! Basically, matey, I wanted t' make sure I had plenty o' power and didn't want t' risk a cato due t' faulty reload motor assembly on me part. Well, blow me down! As I checked in I received more than a few inquiries about t' model and a number of compliments as well. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! My first attempt t' load t' rocket on t' launch rod revealed 'sticky' launch lugs - I had obviously gotten paint on t' inside of the lugs. Ahoy! A little light sandin' solved this. I'll have t' admit a small case of butterflies as t' countdown reached 'launch' and t' Copperheads lit the motor. T' G80 lifted t' "J1JC" smartly off t' rod and STRAIGHT up! It appeared that chute deployment, both o' them thankfully, me hearties, occurred exactly at apogee - after a nice coast. In spite o' slight mishap I be very happy with the flight and again received several compliments on t' flight. Blimey!

Recovery:
T' only problem I experienced occurred durin' chute deployment. Ya scallywag! The lightweight snap hook on t' nose section which I noted earlier was pulled apart and instead o' comin' down gently cradle at 45 degrees t' nose section came down straight on t' satellite extension tube which broke. TMRK recommends that you don't glue this delicate extension into t' tub assembly so this will be rather easy t' replace and maybe nay install on future flights! Other than this detail t' main shock cord is solidly attached t' a Keelhaul®©™® cord which is eyebolted solidly into t' t' upper plywood centerin' ring. Both chutes are high quality rip stop nylon solidly shrouded and grommeted. Begad! Only a little mud and t' above noted damage (which TRMK is replacin' at no charge) marred t' otherwise perfect maiden flight o' me TMRK 'J1JC' and it WILL fly again, often, arrr, and at me first opportunity. Ahoy!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Overall, arrr, I could hardly be happier with this kit. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! T' detail o' t' rocket requires that several parts be delicate and I am more than happy t' manage those details. Aye aye! Another plus is that Mark and Scott at True Modeler are very helpful whenever needed. Blimey! My experience with this kit would lead me t' highly recommend this TMRK kit and TMRK generally. Ahoy!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5