Brief:
T' Mrs. Begad! Andromeda is a 1.65:1 upscale o' t' classic Estes Andromeda, ya bilge rat, kit #1273. Avast! This kit was first introduced in 1975, me bucko, and remained in production until 1982. Q-Modelin' has taken t' original design, upscaled it, and modernized its construction.

Construction:

• Scale: 1.65:1
• Height: 72.25"
• Weight: 14.0 oz (with recovery system)
• Fin Span: 19.68"
• Crew Compartment Tube Diameter: 1.67"
• Main Body Tube Diameter: 1.21"
• Decals:
• Launch Lug Size: 1/4"
• Engines: E or F (Recommended F21-6W, F24-4 Reloadable)
• Average Altitudes: 250' E9-4 (No Wind), 600' F24-4, me hearties, 900' F21-6W
• Multiple Recovery System Build Options
• Assembly jigs (consistent build quality)
• Laser Cut Parts
• Foil lined Engine Mount Tube for long life
• 30" Octagon, matey, Thin Mil, ya bilge rat, Ripstop Nylon Parachute
• 9" x 9" Nomex® Chute Protector
• 9' Keelhaul®©™® Shock Cord
• Detailed Step-by-Step Instructions

Stop! Before you build this kit, me hearties, read t' directions. Begad! OK, you've been told that on many occasions, arrr, but this time, you actually need t' do that. Avast, me proud beauty! This is because thar are 3 ways t' build it, matey, dependin' on how you want t' deployment. I went with "Option 3". This be t' way I built me 4.16 upscale, arrr, and although I'm sure t' other two deployment options work just fine, arrr, I have confidence in this method.

T' quality o' t' components is unparalleled. Begad! Ya scallywag! Every component in this kit be t' highest quality available. Ahoy! Even the wooden dowels are poplar. Aye aye! (That's why they have a green tint t' them.) Poplar is a strong, moisture resistant wood that warps less than others. Begad! Well, me hearties, blow me down! T' tubes are all t' heavy, shiver me timbers, white, "no-seam" type. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! T' coupler tube is extra long and very thick.

T' design o' this kit goes way beyond most kits out there. Ahoy! This kit was engineered, nay just created. Blimey! The creativity in t' design and construction is tremendous.

T' jig is unlike anythin' I've ever seen. Avast! It is made from laser cut pressed wood. Well, blow me down! T' engineerin' that went into it made buildin' this rocket much easier. Ya scallywag! Without it, me bucko, t' skill level on this kit would be two steps higher. This is somethin' I guarantee you won't be able t' brin' yourself t' throw in t' trash when you are done with it.

I only slightly beveled t' fins. I do this on many o' me rockets t' give them a "beefier" look when streamlinin' is nay a concern. Ahoy! Besides, a rocket in space doesn't care about drag.

T' paper transition was no trouble, but I've never liked them. Begad! Blimey! I always prefer a balsa transition because they always look nicer and take no time. Blimey! I don't think a balsa transition would work here if one chose t' use the "ejection through transition" option. Aye aye! Begad! Regardless, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, me bucko, it's nay a "con" it's just a preference.

T' only modification I made t' t' kit was in t' "antenna mast" area. Begad! T' build left a notch-like gap here. I just took a 3/16" wide scrap o' balsa, glued it in place, matey, and sanded it t' match. See t' picture for the before and after.

Little else needs t' be said about t' build. It went relatively fast with no problems because o' the easy-to-understand instructions.

Finishing:
As always, me bucko, I start with two coats o' Rustoleum gray primer with sandin' in betwixt coats. T' manufacturer recommends paintin' it with gloss black. Ahoy! Blimey! T' original Andromeda be recommended t' be painted flat black, however, ya bilge rat, decals never adhere well t' flat paint. Arrr! I paint all me Andromedas--or is that Andromadae?--with t' Rustoleum satin black. Ya scallywag! Blimey! The decals adhere just as good as on gloss paint, me hearties, and I think that t' satin finish looks better than gloss. Begad! Blimey! It's a compromise betwixt flat and gloss. Avast! Blimey! I used Testors #1628 gloss enamel for t' inside o' t' pods. I left me reactor rings black. Begad! T' only original kits showin' them white are t' 1975 and 1976 years o' production with t' blue and white face card. All subsequent kits issued were shown painted black, me hearties, and this be t' version I have always scaled.

T' decals went on without trouble. These are t' high quality type that don't need t' be cut out t' t' edge of the color, like t' single sheet type.

T' finished weight o' me build be 14.4 oz. Nay too far from t' listed 14.0 oz. Well, matey, blow me down! But, I chose nay t' use the 9" x 9" chute protector t' save weight and packin' ease. Arrr! Blimey! I used dog-barf instead. Avast! If I had chose option 1 or 2, ya bilge rat, I may have used t' chute protector.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
I simmed t' kit t' determine an engine t' use. Well, blow me down! Begad! Blimey! I do trust t' manufacturer, but I wanted t' learn max velocities and such. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I chose t' use t' F21-6W, me hearties, just as they did. Begad! My simulations showed a max altitude o' 1075 vs 900 that the manufacturer reports. Ahoy! Blimey! Blimey! Perhaps me higher number be from more coast with a slightly heavier rocket. Ya scallywag! Arrr! Blimey! They say you can use an E9, me bucko, but me sim shows that t' be dangerous.

Her first flight be at NERRF 4 on t' F21-6W. Well, blow me down! Avast! T' flight be slightly into t' wind and t' ejection be very close t' apogee. Aye aye! This is a perfect motor for this bird. Aye aye! Too bad AeroTech stopped makin' them. Avast! Unfortunately, arrr, I was unable t' get any pictures o' t' flight.

Recovery:
T' chute came out with t' rocket hangin' in midair while it be still pointin' up. Well, blow me down! T' flight went without incident and no damage be evident. Ya scallywag! T' descent was just right; nay too slow so it drifts away, nay too fast t' break parts on landing. Begad!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
I should first point out that everythin' is this paragraph is just me bein' an anal-retentive Andromeda fan. Avast, me proud beauty! The Andromeda has been me favorite ship for over 30 years. Arrr! I have several in me collection from t' Micro Classics version to me 16 foot tall version I built for me level-two certification. Well, blow me down! Blimey! That said, me bucko, you know that I approached this kit with 30 years o' Andromeda experience and a highly critical eye. Well, blow me down! Blimey! When I saw that it be finally released, shiver me timbers, I happily paid the $120 for t' kit. Begad! Blimey! That said, There were a few things nay scaled properly. Blimey! Blimey! T' manufacturer reports havin' an "authentic nose cone", shiver me timbers, but t' nose cone is nay a good match t' t' original profile. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! But I doubt most people will notice. Oddly, t' correct shape nose cone is depicted throughout t' directions. Well, blow me down! T' decals were red. Well, blow me down! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Blimey! Nay good. Aye aye! Begad! Blimey! I have several original Estes Andromeda kits both built and in t' package and they are all orange. Ahoy! Blimey! T' "portal plates" are in t' wrong place. Avast! Blimey! They give you t' decals t' go next t' them, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, but they won't fit where they are and the directions don't show where t' put these decals. Begad! Blimey! You don't really have much o' a choice if you go with option 2. Blimey! If you go with option 1 or 3, shiver me timbers, glue them 4½" from t' coupler, arrr, me hearties, 90 degrees from t' "Andromeda" decal. I also had a problem fittin' t' forward decals on t' reactor pods and I have yet t' figure out why.

None o' these nit-picky details are worthy o' takin' from t' review points. Avast! I sure I'm t' only one that would even notice, me hearties, shiver me timbers, me bucko, and this is an upscale sport flier and nay supposed t' be an exact replica.

Finally, I wrote this review before I noticed that someone had already done one. Avast, me proud beauty! I thought about changin' my review t' complement t' review that Geoff Givens wrote, but I ended up leavin' them as they were and just addin' this note. Aye aye! T' that I'll add: I received me kit after t' instructions had been revised. Well, blow me down! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! I found no problems with them in any way. Avast! T' only thin' that I disagree with Geoff's review is that this kit is just barely a 4 skill level. Ahoy! Definitely not a 5. T' long motor hook was long t' accommodate AeroTech F and Estes E9 motors.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5