Brief:

This be t' Centuri Nike Smoke (KS-15) that be offered from 1969 through 1981. It's a 1/10 scale model o' t' NASA weather rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! It be called a large scale kit back then. Avast, me proud beauty! There was a later Quest kit that had a three piece nose cone and plastic fins, yet this be t' original with balsa fins, one piece nose cone and a coolin' baffle. Well, blow me down!

Construction:

Original package contained :

• ST-16 13" Body Tube
• PNC-167 Nose Cone (Unique for this kit)
• 18mm engine tube, arrr, hook and three piece baffle with cap
• Plastic centuri chute, me hearties, shroud lines with round stickers
• Simple decals that just say "UNITED STATES"
• 1/8" balsa fin stock (4 fins)
• 1/8" launch lugs (off set t' clear nose cone)
• Very plain and clear instructions (C) 1971
• Fin alignment guide
• Rubber Band shock cord

This is a very easy t' build kit and it's coolin' baffle is unique. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! It takes a experienced MODROC builder about an hour while watchin' TV at t' same time. Since it's a vintage kit I have retained t' original shock cord, arrr, yet I have added a Keelhaul®©™® mount and nylon cord with a 12" red cloth chute. Arrr! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey!

Finishing:

Very simple t' finish. Ahoy! Blimey! Just a coat o' white and then two UNITED STATES text decals. Begad! Blimey! Instructions suggest paintin' three o' t' fins yellow and one red, me bucko, but I did nay do that. Ahoy! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! A US Flag decal was added t' make it unique. Well, blow me down! Blimey!

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:

First flight on a B6-3 was just fine but it popped a fin at landin' (when I caught it). Well, blow me down! Better white glue fin fillets will be added. Arrr! While t' baffle should nay required use o' wadding, ya bilge rat, a piece o' lettuce or two works fine as well. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! As this is an extremely rare vintage kit (imagine tryin' t' find another nose cone?) I probably won't be flyin' it much. Arrr! Stronger fillets will let it see some C6-5 flights soon.

Recovery:

Impossible t' rate t' original plastic chute as it was so old I did nay use it. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' original chute be fine I am sure as this is nay a complicated rocket. T' cloth chute works fine and t' body tube is large enough for it. Begad! The original rubber band will ride in it every time but nay be used. Arrr! It's mounted with an Estes type fold over mount inside t' body tube just above t' end of the baffle. T' kevlar mount I added is through t' end o' t' baffle. Avast, me proud beauty!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:

This was a wonderful rocket kit, shiver me timbers, big for back then and it looks nice and will perform perfectly. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! A snap t' build. Begad! If you can find one o' these old kits, me bucko, ya bilge rat, it's a great way t' go back and revisit t' early years o' model rocketry.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5