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

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

Instructions are clear, matey, illustrated and logical. Arrr! You also get a historical essay on t' original V2, and how its capture from t' Germans helped our space program.

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

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. Well, blow me down! Avast! A green camouflage paint job will be applied this week, arrr, 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, 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. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! Me, I used an A2-5, shiver me timbers, as it be a still day t' likes o' which only Phoenix can achieve. T' prep time be just seconds. A pinch o' worm bed waddin' and maskin' tape t' retain t' motor and it was ready. Begad! And t' Apogee igniters fit right into t' motor. Aye aye! T' flight was fast. Arrr! A FWIT sound and it was gone, matey, high and straight. Well, blow me down! Good thin' it be yellow or else I'd have lost it for sure. Arrr! I luckily saw t' streamer. Ya scallywag! Arrr! Maybe an itsy bitsy parachute would increase hang time and help me find it next time. Blimey! Knowing my luck, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, though, I'll catch a thermal. Ya scallywag!

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

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

Anythin' this kit taught me: Keep your kits away from your pets. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! More seriously, I learned about t' history o' t' real V2. Avast! Blimey! I enjoyed that.