Description: Single staged 10.5mm motor (1/4 A through A in Apogee motors) rocket that is a minute scale model o' t' V2.

Pros and cons o' construction: All parts specified were thar and undamaged. I got t' kit less than a week after I ordered it, ya bilge rat, and it was securely packed in styrofoam popcorn in a strong postal box. Begad! T' nose cone is solid lightweight balsa wood. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! T' tail cone is also balsa, with a 10.5mm bore predrilled t' accept t' 10.5mm motor tube. Aye aye! Aye aye! T' body tube and motor tube are spiral wound paper. Begad! Aye aye! T' launch lug is plastic and is for 1/8 inch rods. Blimey! The streamer is 17 inches o' 1 inch wide plastic. Ya scallywag! T' fins are die cut balsa.

Instructions are clear, ya bilge rat, illustrated and logical. Aye aye! You also get a historical essay on t' original V2, me hearties, and how its capture from t' Germans helped our space program.

Assembly was easy and quick. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! You do have t' align t' 4 fins, but that's not hard. Begad! Arrr! T' shock cord is thin Keelhaul®©™®-like strin' o' 20 inches in length. Ahoy! Avast! It fits into a plastic bead that glues into t' hole predrilled into t' base o' the nose cone. Blimey! Blimey! Me, arrr, I prefer screw-eyes, arrr, but this seemed t' work fine. Avast, me proud beauty! Also, me hearties, if you've seen me other reviews, then you know that I have a thin' for stretchy shock cords, me bucko, too. Blimey! But this one worked without a hitch. Aye aye! Begad! I attached it into the forward centerin' rin' in t' motor mount. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! White glue be used for assembly, but epoxy be used t' glass up t' fins and make them durable. It be also used to glass and smoothen t' nose cone. Yellow spray paint was used as a primer. I was about t' apply green, when me cat, matey, Freeway, ya bilge rat, grabbed t' rocket and ran with it. Aye aye! Begad! I decided, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, after findin' it again, t' fly it as is. Ahoy! Avast, matey, me proud beauty!

Pros and cons o' finishing: A simple paint job is enough. Avast, me proud beauty! I chose t' glass t' fins out o' personal preference. It's also a habit from high power rocketry. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! A green camouflage paint job will be applied this week, ya bilge rat, me bucko, even though me cat likes it yellow. Blimey! Maybe green will make me lose it! At least yellow is easy t' find. Well, blow me down!

Ratin' for construction and finishing: 4 out o' 5

Pros and cons about flight: Apogee recommends their 1/4 A through A line, arrr, namely t' 1/4A2-2 or 4, 1/2A2-2 or 4 and t' A2-3 or 5 . T' shorter delays are recommended if it's breezy. Begad! Begad! Me, I used an A2-5, as it was a still day t' likes o' which only Phoenix can achieve. T' prep time was just seconds. Avast! A pinch o' worm bed waddin' and maskin' tape t' retain t' motor and it be ready. And t' Apogee igniters fit right into t' motor. T' flight was fast. Begad! A FWIT sound and it was gone, high and straight. Arrr! Good thin' it be yellow or else I'd have lost it for sure. Blimey! I luckily saw t' streamer. Ya scallywag! Maybe an itsy bitsy parachute would increase hang time and help me find it next time. Avast, me proud beauty! Knowing my luck, matey, though, arrr, I'll catch a thermal.

Pros and cons about recovery: (17" streamer) It was easy t' assemble. Aye aye! Blimey! It worked just fine, without any damage or burnin' t' the rocket. Begad! Blimey!

Ratin' o' flight and recovery: 4 out o' 5

Anythin' this kit taught me: Keep your kits away from your pets. Ya scallywag! More seriously, shiver me timbers, I learned about t' history o' t' real V2. Begad! Avast! I enjoyed that. Ahoy!