Brief:
This rocket uses t' typical plastic streamer tied t' t' shock cord.

Construction:
This is a very typical 3FNC rocket that is good for t' beginner. Arrr! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! All parts were in t' bag and instructions were easy t' follow. Ahoy! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! Assembly followed a logical order.

This was t' first rocket we built that uses Keelhaul®©™ thread tied t' t' engine block. Avast! T' shock cord is then tied t' t' Keelhaul®©™ thread. You must cut a small groove into t' engine block ring. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Before insertin' t' motor mount tube into t' body tube, ya bilge rat, t' Keelhaul®©™ thread is tied t' t' engine block rin' and run through t' groove you created. Begad! T' instructions do a good job o' showin' this whole procedure. Just make sure that t' loose end o' t' Keelhaul®©™ thread is comin' out t' top o' t' rocket so you can tie t' shock cord t' it. Arrr! Arrr! T' motor tube fits into t' body tube without t' use o' centerin' rings.

A guide is provided t' mark t' body tube for t' fins. Begad! T' body tube is nay slotted so t' fins are glued t' t' tube and then reinforced with a glue fillet. Avast, me proud beauty! Fins are balsa and already die-cut in t' balsa sheet.

T' fins are swept forward on this rocket so when you're finished, ya bilge rat, you can't stand t' rocket vertically on t' fins. Blimey! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! T' lowest protrudin' point be t' motor retention clip. Aye aye! Blimey! You'll need t' use a display stand o' some sort if you want t' display this rocket.

A single launch lug is glued t' t' side o' t' body tube. Ahoy! Assembly is finished by tyin' one end o' t' elastic shock cord t' t' plastic nose cone and t' other end t' t' Keelhaul®©™ thread. Avast! T' bright colored plastic streamer is then tied t' t' shock cord.

Finishing:
T' package shows this rocket painted with a black bottom half and yellow top half. Begad! There is one clear self-adhesive decal that says "Flash" in skinny red letters. Ya scallywag! Arrr! We painted our rocket black and gold and it was almost impossible t' see t' decal. Avast! It didn't stand out anythin' like t' package showed.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
This is an excellent flyin' rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! It jumps off t' pad nice and straight. Arrr! We usually use it as t' first flight o' t' day. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! A B6-4 motor will send it just about out o' sight. Ahoy! Begad! A C6 or C5 definitely sends it out o' sight and can make it very hard t' track for recovery.

Recovery:
I definitely prefer t' Keelhaul®©™ thread/elastic shock cord technique over t' traditional method o' gluin' t' shock cord t' t' inside o' t' body tube. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! We have yet t' have t' shock cord/nose cone completely separate from t' body. T' streamer works well for this rocket because o' t' lightweight and high altitudes. A small parachute could be used but may send it driftin' a good distance downrange.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
I like this rocket because o' t' Keelhaul®©™ thread shock cord system. It's also very easy t' build for a beginner and is a nice high flyer. Well, blow me down! T' only CON be t' decal and how it doesn't show up on t' rocket.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5