Brief:
An amazingly detailed ant-scale model for a terrific price ($25 retail). Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! This is a Saturn you can actually build and fly without fear o' trashin' your life's work (and a huge investment). Ahoy! Blimey! While t' novice builder can probably handle this, shiver me timbers, it's really best left in t' hands o' an experienced builder.

Construction:
T' small box is definitely packed with parts and details. Aye aye! Aye aye! Here are t' highlights o' what is included:

• BT-60 lower thrust structure tube
• BT-60 S-IVB body tube
• BT-20 upper spacecraft tube
• Balsa transition (command module) and nose cone
• BT-20 motor tube
• Fiber centerin' rings
• Balsa fin stock, dowels, ya bilge rat, and various doodads for details
• 15" white plastic garbage bag chute with Keelhaul®©™ cords
• Elastic shock cord

As I noted in me Saturn V review, Dr. Blimey! Booty instructions are fairly clear, well illustrated, matey, and loaded with either humorous or annoyin' sarcasm and humor. Begad! Begad! Personally, me hearties, arrr, I like 'em.

Construction starts with a suggestion t' pre-paint several parts. Ahoy! Blimey! My two cents worth here says don't bother paintin' t' short BT-60, as it's completely covered with a wrap later anyway (though t' paint might make for a better fit, ya bilge rat, as t' wrap was a tad long). Ahoy! I'd also suggest holdin' off on paintin' t' transition/nose cone until you've built t' tower, shiver me timbers, at which point you can shoot t' whole assembly at once.

Next, matey, t' motor tube is marked with t' use o' a ghostly floatin' pencil. Lackin' that, I had t' settle for a regular #2 from me tool box. T' tube gets 8 little stringers (spider beams) that serve as support and alignment aids for t' fuel tank tubes. Begad! There are 3 centerin' rings on this tube and they need t' be carefully aligned for t' fuel tank tubes t' fit properly.

T' fuel tanks are made from pre-printed patterns on cardstock. Arrr! This was very handy as it avoids t' need for complicated paintin' and decal schemes. Avast! Ya scallywag! Further aidin' t' builder be t' fact that t' kit includes a wood dowel for use as a mandrel t' roll t' tubes t' t' correct diameter.

T' tower is offered in two versions. Begad! For t' lazy builder, thar's a printed cut-out pattern that can be formed t' loosely resemble a tower. For t' builder, shiver me timbers, thar's a dowel for cuttin' t' tiny legs and a piece o' music wire for cuttin' t' even tinier support struts. Forget t' shortcut, go straight with t' real tower. Arrr! Note though that you're on your own figurin' out where t' struts go as t' illustration do nay very close resemble t' real tower and I wound up consultin' Rockets o' t' World before buildin' me tower.

T' fins are cut from balsa stock and should be painted before attachin' t' t' rocket, me hearties, which was a helpful tip in t' instructions.

Next up be t' nozzle assembly. Blimey! Blimey! See my Saturn V review for details on how these nozzles are built. Begad! Suffice it t' say these are t' hallmark o' t' kit--incredibly detailed and look very expensive but are actually built with pretty cheap materials and a nay too complex buildin' approach.

T' 15" chute is truly cut from a garbage bag and after receivin' lots o' suggestions for alternate colors, me hearties, Wes has finally announced that he's goin' t' switch away from white very soon.

Lastly, thar are several details that can be cut from stock material usin' t' tips provided. Avast, me proud beauty! One issue I had though with these details is that thar are no paint guidelines and only very limited placement notes. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! This applies nay only t' t' decals but t' t' paper wraps as well. Avast, me proud beauty! I had t' consult a few different sources t' make sure I be usin' t' right detail in t' right location.

Finishing:
Since t' kit makes extensive use o' pre-printed wraps, finishin' this is really nay too difficult. Begad! Heck, other than t' fins thar are no two color parts. Ya scallywag! Avast! I do din' t' finish score a bit though, me bucko, for lack o' more clear guidelines for finish colors.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
First flight went up on a fairly light wind day (under 5 mph) and I opted for a C6-3. T' flight was straight as an arrow but spun slightly on t' way up. Begad! With 8 fins, me hearties, I be probably due t' have one canted a bit. Avast! Blimey! T' delay was a bit early but nay enough t' slide this t' a -5.

T' 15" chute worked fine, me bucko, though is a little tough t' pick up in t' sky, arrr, especially out here in t' Ohio winter where everythin' is a shade o' gray for 6 months straight.

Recovery:
Great flight and recovery was no problem. Ya scallywag! Other than a minor beef over chute color, shiver me timbers, matey, I'd say this be flawless. Ahoy! Begad! T' model be recovered without even a scratch.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This is an outstandin' little scale kit and it can fly very well on cheap BP motors. Begad! I'm plannin' on buildin' t' entire Dr. Avast, me proud beauty! Booty line and hopin' they're all as fun and as well designed as this one.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5