Brief:
This is a skill level 1 single-stage rocket with a see through payload section. Blimey! It is a basic three-fin/nose cone design with t' addition o' a plastic bulkhead and a plastic forward payload bay. Through-the-wall fin attachment makes this kit unique among kits this size.

Construction:
T' parts list:

• 1 White body tube with three slots
• 1 Translucent red plastic payload section
• 1 Black plastic one-piece nosecone
• 1 Black plastic bulkhead
• 1 Keelhaul®©™® strin' 18in
• 1 Elastic shock cord 21in.
• 1 18mm motor mount tube
• 1 Engine block (thrust ring)
• 1 Engine hook
• 2 24mm-18mm centerin' rings
• 3 Laser cut 1/8in balsa fins with TTW tabs
• 1 14in mylar parachute (assembly required)
• 1 1/8in launch lug
• 1 Decal sheet

I built this kit simultaneously with me daughter and her friend. Aye aye! They were buildin' them for their 6th grade science project and needed them t' be as nearly identical as possible, so we did all o' t' steps together side by side. Well, blow me down! T' instructions were very clear, ya bilge rat, matey, and t' girls had no problems followin' them. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! T' illustrations were helpful. No special tools were needed.

Through-the-wall fin attachment took more than half t' work out o' gettin' t' fins aligned. Ahoy! Blimey! It is much easier when you only have t' worry about makin' them perpendicular. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' slots were just a tiny bit narrow. Well, blow me down! Begad! Blimey! If you are not careful, shiver me timbers, you can collapse t' body tube when you push t' fins in. Arrr! Sandin' t' fin tabs down a little solved this.

One thin' t' instructions did nay address was t' longitudinal location o' t' fins. Avast, me proud beauty! T' pre-cut fin slots are longer than t' fin tabs, and t' fins overhang t' slot at t' aft end. Arrr! If you locate t' fins at t' back o' the slot, they are perfectly flush with t' end o' t' body tube, and that makes them look like they belong there. Avast, me proud beauty! This leaves an open gap at t' forward end o' t' fin slot, arrr, though. Begad! If t' fin is pushed t' t' forward end o' t' slot, then t' overhang covers t' excess openin' in t' slot aft o' t' fin tab. Avast, me proud beauty! This results in t' fins nay bein' flush at the end o' t' body tube, but I think it is better this way.

This rocket is extremely sturdy. T' combination o' 1/8in balsa and TTW fin construction make for a nearly indestructible rocket.

Finishing:
T' white body tube made this very easy t' paint since t' recommended paint scheme was a white body. I sprayed the body with white enamel, me hearties, then masked off one fin and painted it red.(I didn't have orange.) I left t' black nosecone and coupler unpainted. Overall, me bucko, arrr, it was easy t' make this rocket look good.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' girls launched their rockets six times each in one day. Avast! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! All o' t' flights were made with Estes B6-4 motors. There was very light variable wind. All o' t' flights were straight and consistent. T' rockets made several flights with different masses o' payload (pennies) and measured t' altitudes t' old-fashioned way (trigonometry).

We used dog barf for wadding. A little blue tape be needed t' cure loose nose cones and couplers. Flight turnaround was quick and easy.

I have also flown this with t' PerfectFlite Alt15k altimeter. Aye aye! All that is needed is t' drill a pressure-equalization hole in t' plastic payload section and add a little padding. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! I used a piece o' sponge.

Recovery:
T' Keelhaul®©™® portion o' t' shock cord is anchored t' t' motor mount centerin' ring. Avast! This keeps t' inside o' t' body tube free of obstructions t' t' deployment o' t' parachute. Arrr! T' elastic portion is packed above t' wadding, so it is nay damaged durin' repeated flights. Arrr! We had twelve flights in one day without damage t' t' shock cords.

T' 14in parachute is just right until you get into heavier payloads. With a 30g payload (12 pennies), the rockets came down a little fast.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a great rocket kit. Arrr! Arrr! It is easy t' build and it performs very well. It is great for science projects.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5