Brief:
1/10 Scale Model o' t' Canadian Soundin' Rocket, t' Black Brant VA. It is a single stage rocket with parachute.

Construction:
T' kit consists o' one 1.72" main body tube, one smaller aft tube, me hearties, me hearties, balsa nosecone, arrr, motor mount parts, me hearties, vinyl and waterslide decals, ya bilge rat, 20 laser cut parts for t' fins, arrr, 24" o' Keelhaul®©™®, and 33 inches o' 3/8" elastic shock cord. It includes detailed instructions as well. Avast, me proud beauty! T' model is a three fin and body tube type.

T' instructions twelve B&W 8.5" x 11" pages. Begad! The instructions include a very nice engineerin' drawin' o' t' model with marking information. T' motor mount instructions were clear and straightforward. Ya scallywag! The tail assembly be t' most complicated part o' t' model. Blimey! T' instructions take two full pages. Begad! I did find some o' t' marking/test fit/gluin' instructions confusing. Blimey! Ya scallywag! It is a lot o' text t' read through. Ahoy! Aye aye! I would recommend readin' it through several times and breakin' t' build down into smaller sections. Ya scallywag! The fins mount t' t' aft tube only. Begad! Avast! T' aft assembly is then glued t' t' primary body tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! A note o' caution: In t' same paragraph that has you test fitting the aft tube also has you gluin' in t' motor mount. Blimey! T' full size sanding instructions were very nice.

Finishing:
I personally had difficulty in gettin' a smooth finish on t' balsa nose cone. My first coat o' primer was too thick. Ya scallywag! When I started t' sand it smooth, shiver me timbers, the paint lifted off and became uneven. It took seven more coats o' a thinner primer t' get a minimum acceptable finish. Avast! Begad! T' rocket is red overall with one white fin. Aye aye! I chose t' build and paint t' rocket red without t' one white fin. T' one white fin was painted separately then glued on after drying. Aye aye! Blimey! T' decals went on without difficulty.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
First flight be on t' recommended D12-5. Avast, me proud beauty! T' model uses a standard metal retention clip. Recovery waddin' was used. Arrr! T' rocket lifted off with ease and was a very straight flight. Begad! Begad!

Recovery:
Ejection was normal although t' delay be closer t' 4 seconds. T' chute opened and t' rocket settled down. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! It was noticed that thar was some separation at ejection. Begad! After recovery, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, it be discovered t' separation was half o' one o' red fins. Arrr! It tore along t' balsa grain. Ya scallywag! Begad! There was also a crescent shape dent in t' nose cone. Avast! I suspect that t' nose cone impacted the body tube durin' ejection.

Flight Rating: 2 out o' 5

Summary:
I feel t' highlight o' this rocket is that it is a scale model o' t' Black Brant. I really like this family o' rockets and ARG has made a whole collection in t' same scale. Arrr! T' con was t' fin separation durin' flight. Ahoy! I would consider some type o' reinforcement for t' fins, either tissue or fiberglass. Alternatively, ya bilge rat, matey, new fins could be cut with t' grain goin' t' opposite direction.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5