Brief:
This is a single stage Level I rocket with a fairly basic assembly. Arrr! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Quality o' me first kit impressed me and looked great on t' pad, shiver me timbers, but t' second kit made me think one o' t' two be packaged incorrectly and was a completely different rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Quality control appears t' be an issue.

Construction:
I initially bought this kit because I wanted t' add a third rocket t' me son's fleet. As well, me hearties, arrr, I wanted t' practice some techniques before me other rockets arrived in t' mail. T' kit comes in t' basic clear hang bag with a “retro” style cardboard picture on t' front. Begad! It included all t' parts (fins, tubes, etc.), me bucko, which were in fine condition. Arrr! T' instructions used a small font and t' diagrams were hand-sketched, but both were easy t' follow. Avast, me proud beauty! I can't give too many more details because from here on t' kit took a few unexpected turns...

As I indicated above, I have assembled two Nimbuses (Nimbusi?). “Nimbus I” made me very impressed with t' company. Blimey! For a basic “Level I” kit that cost under $6 (incl. Avast! tax), ya bilge rat, t' fins were sturdy, shiver me timbers, me hearties, t' tube felt strong, shiver me timbers, t' spiral shallow, and t' balsa nose cone symmetrical. It used a metallic mylar streamer that was attached t' a screw eye in t' nose cone. Blimey! T' shock cord was strong and appeared t' be Keelhaul®©™ or somethin' similar.

T' components for "Nimbus II" were quite different. Begad! All components were accounted for, shiver me timbers, but t' quality be notably inferior t' t' first kit.

What caught me eye as I assembled "Nimbus I" was that it had four fins on such a small body tube. Blimey! I was eager t' see how this would look. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! I rounded t' leadin' edges and tapered t' trailin' edges, shiver me timbers, applied skins, and used 5 minute epoxy for t' fillets. (Remember I said I wanted t' practice techniques?) T' nose cone was balsa and required little sanding. I experimented with usin' spacklin' joint compound t' seal it because it was handy and within reach. Arrr! This had surprisingly good results, but sealer would be better.

When assembled, ya bilge rat, matey, shiver me timbers, this rocket looked like it meant business. Four swept back fins on a short, ya bilge rat, narrow tube looked pretty cool on t' pad. Aye aye! I painted it silver so it kind o' had a Buck Rogers type look t' it. T' rocket was lost after launch (story below) and me son was really sad t' see "Silver Star" go bye-bye. So back t' t' store...

“Nimbus II” cost 2 bucks more, had a 12" parachute instead o' a streamer, me hearties, and three fins instead o' four. Avast! Begad! Further, these fins were thinner and quite flexible. Avast! They could be bent 45 degrees or more and nay show a sign o' breaking. Aye aye! Blimey! Lastly, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, matey, t' body tube for “Nimbus II” had markings for three fins while t' body for “Nimbus I” had markings for four.

All these differences made me think I had a completely different rocket. Ahoy! A totally different design with lower quality and a higher price was completely unexpected. T' package did indeed say Nimbus, arrr, and t' website's picture was t' same as that on me bag. Well, blow me down! T' picture be too vague t' see if it had three or four fins.

I initially didn't plan on applyin' skins this time, me hearties, but I felt I had t' in order t' ensure integrity durin' flight. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! T' nosecone was nay symmetrical and had a divot in t' tip so required sandin' t' make it look right and fly well.

Once all was said and done, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, t' rocket was sturdy, ya bilge rat, and t' marks for alignin' t' fins were straight. Ya scallywag! Needless t' say, I liked t' look o' "Nimbus I" better.

Finishing:
Finishin' was straightforward. Well, blow me down! Begad! Unfortunately I forgot t' take pictures o' "Nimbus I", matey, but believe me, shiver me timbers, Krylon metallic/chrome silver be t' perfect color for this rocket. It gave it a retro look and also appeared t' be a little more than a beginner's entry-level rocket.

“Nimbus I” looked great after 2 coats o' primer and wet sandin' followed by 2 coats o' topcoat. Well, blow me down! “Nimbus II”, however, showed t' spirals after 3 coats o' primer so I hoped t' topcoat would cover them. Avast, me proud beauty! They did as long as you were more than 5 feet away.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
For t' first flight o' “Nimbus I”, I used t' recommended A8-3. Because o' me big fingers, arrr, I found t' narrow body a little tight for t' rolled up streamer but got it all in there. Blimey! It was a perfect launch. Arrr! It took off really fast, shiver me timbers, went quite high, and perfectly straight (even in a 5-10mph breeze).

Unfortunately, I forgot maskin' tape t' pressure fit t' engine. Well, blow me down! Blimey! We had launched some other rockets first (this be me first launch in about 30 years), arrr, and me son, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, some friends, ya bilge rat, and I were havin' so much fun that me judgment be impaired. Avast! Blimey! I tried wrappin' some grass around t' engine and wedgin' t' engine in. Begad! Blimey! It seemed snug enough but wasn't. Ahoy! Blimey! “Nimbus I” was never seen again.

In regards t' “Nimbus II”, matey, I felt that gettin' t' 12" mylar chute in t' body required more finaglin' than should be necessary. Avast! T' streamer for “Nimbus I” be much easier. Well, blow me down! For t' engine, I used t' A8 and I'm glad I did. Ahoy! T' flight was perfect: fast, straight as an arrow, and high. Blimey! Blimey! It was too high for me t' see how t' chute came out, matey, ya bilge rat, but it appeared t' timin' was correct. Blimey! Even in a very light wind and t' launch rod angled slightly, me son and I walked around 750 feet (double checked on Google Pedometer) t' retrieve it. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! I didn't have scissors t' cut a spill hole so launched it only once. Blimey! Ahoy! I really wanted t' try t' B or C engine. She would have been out o' sight for sure.

Recovery:
Recovery o' "Nimbus II" was straightforward. I used 2 sheets o' Quest wadding, ya bilge rat, and t' outer sheath o' shock cord was a little singed. Arrr! It will require a replacement after a few more launches and I’ll use 3 sheets o' waddin' for future flights. Aye aye! I would say a 12" chute is too big for this rocket. Aye aye! It drifted further than any o' t' other rockets launched that day (750' vs. 300-500 for t' others). Ya scallywag! I will definitely cut a spill hole in t' chute or retrofit a streamer. Arrr! Aye aye! A metallic chute/streamer is perfect as t' Nimbus is easily lost in t' sky.

Pullin' t' engine out is provin' t' be very difficult, me bucko, even with pliers. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I'm concerned that t' heat o' t' engine may have melted some o' t' adhesive on t' maskin' tape and fused it t' t' body. Begad! I will use me favorite online search engine t' see if I'm nay t' only one experiencin' this and find some "tricks o' t' trade" so t' speak.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a good beginner rocket. If you get t' four-fin version, matey, shiver me timbers, be happy. Begad! If you get t' three-fin version, matey, I highly recommend applyin' skins on t' fins. Ya scallywag! A big pro is that t' body is pre-marked for fins and launch lug. Begad! This is great for simplicity and young assemblers (my son is just under 5 yrs old). A con is quality control. Arrr! Well, blow me down! I bought two Nimbuses in under a week and they were drastically different in quality, arrr, design, me bucko, me bucko, and price.

I would buy another Starlight rocket if one caught me eye. Ya scallywag! But I would first try t' find t' balsa in t' bag t' see how it is.

Overall Rating: 2 out o' 5