Brief:
This is an upscaled version o' an old Estes kit. Well, blow me down! Avast! Blimey! Also, ya bilge rat, it has a new unique decal that makes it really stand out! Blimey! I have built other Rocket Pad kits and they seem t' get better with each one. Ahoy! Blimey! This is a single stage rocket usin' 24mm C11 and D motors. Arrr! It uses an 18" parachute, arrr, balsa fins, plastic nose cone, and a machine turned balsa boat tail--not paper--in t' rear. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! Blimey! T' kit was packaged in a poly bag with t' parts inside all neat & undamaged. Aye aye! Begad! Blimey! The package kit description be on large card cardstock with a clear picture o' the kit.

Construction:
There is an 18" BT-60 body tube that looks like t' type Estes uses, me hearties, a sheet o' 3/32" balsa, a fin template for t' 3 fins, and a quality plastic nose cone. T' motor mount is with an 8" long BT-50 tube that is glued into t' boat tail along with a laser cut fiber centerin' rin' at t' top of the motor tube t' center inside t' main body tube. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! There is a length of Keelhaul®©™® cord that is tied t' t' motor block in t' top o' t' motor tube. Ya scallywag! Also included is a blank motor case t' push up t' motor block into t' proper location. Aye aye! Arrr! T' shock cord is a 1/4" white elastic type. Blimey! T' kit is rated skill level 3 and I think that's a good assessment. Avast, me proud beauty! T' fins are made from quality balsa like t' last Rocket Pad kit I built, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, and you don't need t' use any CA t' make t' fins stronger.

The instructions guided you through 30 steps on 3 pages. Well, blow me down! There is included a few photo pages t' show how different parts o' t' rocket go together. Ahoy! The instructions are like a lot most LPR kits. You start by assemblin' t' motor mount t' t' balsa boat tail, me bucko, matey, motor block, me hearties, and Keelhaul®©™® cord mount. Avast! T' boat tail on this kit was better than t' last RP kit I built, with a finer grain balsa and t' fit was just right. Avast! T' only thin' you have to be careful about in assemblin' this kit is when you push in t' motor block with t' blank motor casing. Begad! Ya scallywag! You must push it in t' t' mark on t' casin' in one motion and smartly pull it out. Aye aye! Blimey! Just don't stop for a second or it could get stuck in t' wrong spot. Arrr! Arrr! T' rest o' t' construction is straight forward, mark t' fin placement with t' enclosed fin markin' guide, matey, cut t' fins, and match sand them. Aye aye! Arrr! Then you sand t' root edge o' t' fins t' make sure they contour t' t' slope on t' boat tail--that be t' only real tough part o' this build, shiver me timbers, but that is why it's a skill level 3 kit. Avast, me proud beauty! Take your time with this step and thar shouldn't be any problems! Finally, you assemble t' recovery system and add fillets t' t' fins and launch lug. Blimey! T' weight o' me kit when all done was 3.4 oz. Aye aye! Close t' what was listed for t' kit. Begad! I would say t' build has no CONs as long as you follow t' instructions.

Finishing:
Finishin' is just like most any LPR rocket kit with balsa: seal t' fins with a sealer, make sure you sand any mold marks from t' nose cone (although mine did not need much at all), and then paint it. Arrr! I used Krylon Gloss White as the photo on t' header card showed. Ahoy! By t' way, ya bilge rat, t' boat tail sealed with only 3 coats. T' decals were consistent with t' nice quality ones that came in other Rocket Pad kits and they look "way cool" as me son said it! Yea they are cool! They make t' kit! I used a Gloss clear over t' decals t' protect them.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
T' motor retention is by friction fit so I wrapped a length o' maskin' tape around t' motor and put in a few sheets o' recovery wadding. Avast! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! There was no wind the day I launched it. It lifted off t' pad with lots o' smoke in a straight line and a very stable flight t' maybe 300 feet. Arrr! Arrr! We went out a few days later on a day with some wind & launched it with a D12-5 for its second flight. It be a straight flight again but real high! I had another problem with my camera and did nay catch t' liftoff.

Recovery:
T' mylar parachute had plenty o' room in t' BT-60 tube. Ya scallywag! T' shock cord is tied t' t' Keelhaul®©™® cord and t' nose cone, where t' chute is connected. Recovery was good on the first flight as it came down slowly about 15 feet from t' pad. Avast, me proud beauty! I love days when thar be no wind! However, me hearties, it did drift a bit as t' wind gave a gust but still a good recovery for its second flight. Begad! Aye aye! There were no con's in recovery, no damage on touch down, me hearties, even t' balsa boat tail be fine. Avast! Blimey!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Rocket Pad kits continue t' get better with each release! As long as you follow the instructions, this kit should be no problem t' build and provide excellent flights.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5