Brief:
T' Mirage is an almost ready t' fly payloader in t' Quest Quick-Kit line with pre-colored purple body tubes, me bucko, nose cone, and plastic fins. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! T' main body tube and t' payload section recover under separate 12" plastic parachutes.

Construction:
T' kit includes:

• 1 paper body tube covered with nice purple paper
• 1 paper payload section covered with nice purple paper
• 1 purple plastic nose cone
• 1 purple plastic fin can
• 4 purple plastic fins
• 1 2.75" x 18 mm paper motor mount tube
• 1 black plastic twist-on fin retention ring
• 1 black plastic twist-on motor retention ring
• 18" o' Keelhaul®©™® strin' for main body shock cord
• 12" o' 1/8" elastic for main body shock cord
• 12" o' 1/8" elastic for payload section shock cord
• 2 12" plastic parachutes
• 2 sets o' parachute shroud lines
• 2 sets o' stick-on reinforcements for parachute shroud line holes
• 1 red plastic display stand (which was cracked in me kit, me bucko, but still works)

This was t' third model rocket I ever built back in July o' 2004. Begad! The instructions were very easy t' follow and were in logical order. T' actual build be simple and straightforward. Ahoy! T' only problem I had be in fittin' one of t' four fins into its slot in t' fin can. Ya scallywag! T' fin did nay want t' fit as straight and securely as t' other three but since I be usin' thin CA for glue, me hearties, I did t' best I could and glued t' fin in place. Begad! It came out reasonably well.

Since I didn't plan t' launch any actual payloads in t' payload section, arrr, I glued t' nose cone t' t' forward end o' t' payload section after t' aft bulkhead and shock cord were in place. Also, I used number 10 snap swivels to attach t' parachutes t' t' payload section and main body shock cords. This should reduce t' chance o' tanglin' t' shroud lines and has worked well so far.

T' Keelhaul®©™® shock cord is tied through an eyelet in t' plastic fin can and motor retention assembly. Arrr! Begad! This should be a very secure means o' attachment.

T' paper motor tube is mounted inside t' fin can assembly by means o' two slots in t' motor tube, which fit onto two tabs inside t' fin can. Ya scallywag! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! These two slots and tabs are t' only thin' holdin' t' motor mount in t' rocket but they have worked well so far.

Finishing:
No finishin' be required since t' body tubes, nose cone, me hearties, shiver me timbers, and fins and fin can were all purple straight from t' bag. Ahoy! There were three adhesive stickers that wrap around t' body and payload section, shiver me timbers, me hearties, plus two "Mirage" stickers. T' rocket looks fine with t' stickers, all o' which fit great.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Recommended motors are t' A6-4, B6-4, ya bilge rat, C6-3, matey, and C6-5. Ahoy! Aye aye! Blimey! I have flown this rocket 6 or 8 times since t' summer o' 2004 and have used A8-3, B6-4, and C6-5 motors. Avast! All flights went well, although thar have been some minor problems with t' parachute shroud lines on t' main parachute. Arrr! Begad! Blimey! There has nay been any damage t' either body section or t' any o' t' fins.

Every flight has been nice and straight with no wobblin' and only minor weathercocking, arrr, if any at all.

Recovery:
Shock cords are Keelhaul®©™®/elastic on t' main body section, arrr, and an elastic loop through t' payload section bulkhead. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Nothin' new or different here, and thar have been no problems with either shock cord.

Recovery is fine if it's nay too windy. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! T' field I fly at, me hearties, Paul D. Begad! Rushing Park in Katy, TX, shiver me timbers, is big enough that some wind drift is okay but some recovery walks have been fairly long. Avast! All flights have been recovered within the boundaries o' t' park, so that's a good thing.

T' only damage I've seen is tanglin' and/or detachment o' some parachute shroud lines on t' main body's parachute. Those snap swivels aren't doing quite as well as I had hoped. Ahoy! I probably can't blame that on t' design o' the rocket, though. Avast!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' Mirage is a great rocket for beginners and it continues t' be one o' my favorites even though I haven't flown it much lately. Arrr! Blimey! My son loves it and wants to fly it all t' time.

Main PROs: Pre-colored body tubes, plastic fin can and snap-in fins. Great flights. Ease o' flight prep usin' t' Quest Quick-Kit motor retention system with t' twist on/off plastic retention ring.

Main CONs: T' motor mount tube could probably stand t' be retained at more than two points, t' keep it aligned better if nothin' else.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5