Brief:
This is a single stage Level I rocket with a fairly basic assembly. Quality o' me first kit impressed me and looked great on t' pad, but t' second kit made me think one o' t' two be packaged incorrectly and be a completely different rocket. 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. Begad! As well, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, 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. Arrr! Well, blow me down! It included all t' parts (fins, tubes, etc.), which were in fine condition. T' instructions used a small font and t' diagrams were hand-sketched, shiver me timbers, but both were easy t' follow. Begad! I can't give too many more details because from here on t' kit took a few unexpected turns...

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

T' components for "Nimbus II" were quite different. All components were accounted for, me bucko, shiver me timbers, but t' quality was 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. I be eager t' see how this would look. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I rounded t' leadin' edges and tapered t' trailin' edges, applied skins, ya bilge rat, and used 5 minute epoxy for t' fillets. Arrr! (Remember I said I wanted t' practice techniques?) T' nose cone be balsa and required little sanding. Ahoy! I experimented with usin' spacklin' joint compound t' seal it because it be handy and within reach. Begad! Ya scallywag! Blimey! This had surprisingly good results, but sealer would be better.

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

“Nimbus II” cost 2 bucks more, me hearties, had a 12" parachute instead o' a streamer, arrr, matey, shiver me timbers, and three fins instead o' four. Arrr! Further, these fins were thinner and quite flexible. They could be bent 45 degrees or more and nay show a sign o' breaking. Ahoy! Lastly, 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. Aye aye! A totally different design with lower quality and a higher price was completely unexpected. Ya scallywag! Well, me hearties, blow me down! T' package did indeed say Nimbus, ya bilge rat, 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, but I felt I had t' in order t' ensure integrity durin' flight. Ahoy! Aye aye! 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, arrr, ya bilge rat, t' rocket was sturdy, me bucko, ya bilge rat, arrr, and t' marks for alignin' t' fins were straight. Needless t' say, matey, arrr, I liked t' look o' "Nimbus I" better.

Finishing:
Finishin' be straightforward. Blimey! Unfortunately I forgot t' take pictures o' "Nimbus I", but believe me, Krylon metallic/chrome silver be t' perfect color for this rocket. Begad! 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. Begad! “Nimbus II”, ya bilge rat, however, arrr, showed t' spirals after 3 coats o' primer so I hoped t' topcoat would cover them. Well, blow me down! 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”, me hearties, I used t' recommended A8-3. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Because o' me big fingers, I found t' narrow body a little tight for t' rolled up streamer but got it all in there. Ya scallywag! It was a perfect launch. Blimey! It took off really fast, arrr, went quite high, and perfectly straight (even in a 5-10mph breeze).

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

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

Recovery:
Recovery o' "Nimbus II" was straightforward. Ahoy! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! I used 2 sheets o' Quest wadding, ya bilge rat, and t' outer sheath o' shock cord was a little singed. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! It will require a replacement after a few more launches and I’ll use 3 sheets o' waddin' for future flights. I would say a 12" chute is too big for this rocket. Arrr! Blimey! It drifted further than any o' t' other rockets launched that day (750' vs. Blimey! Blimey! 300-500 for t' others). Begad! Blimey! I will definitely cut a spill hole in t' chute or retrofit a streamer. Avast! Blimey! 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. 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. Aye aye! 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, arrr, be happy. Begad! Ya scallywag! If you get t' three-fin version, I highly recommend applyin' skins on t' fins. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! A big pro is that t' body is pre-marked for fins and launch lug. Aye aye! This is great for simplicity and young assemblers (my son is just under 5 yrs old). Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! A con is quality control. Arrr! I bought two Nimbuses in under a week and they were drastically different in quality, ya bilge rat, design, and price.

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

Overall Rating: 2 out o' 5