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, arrr, ya bilge rat, and it was securely packed in styrofoam popcorn in a strong postal box. T' nose cone is solid lightweight balsa wood. Begad! T' tail cone is also balsa, with a 10.5mm bore predrilled t' accept t' 10.5mm motor tube. T' body tube and motor tube are spiral wound paper. Well, blow me down! T' launch lug is plastic and is for 1/8 inch rods. The streamer is 17 inches o' 1 inch wide plastic. Begad! T' fins are die cut balsa.

Instructions are clear, me hearties, illustrated and logical. Well, me hearties, blow me down! You also get a historical essay on t' original V2, arrr, arrr, and how its capture from t' Germans helped our space program.

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

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

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

Pros and cons about flight: Apogee recommends their 1/4 A through A line, me hearties, namely t' 1/4A2-2 or 4, shiver me timbers, 1/2A2-2 or 4 and t' A2-3 or 5 . Arrr! T' shorter delays are recommended if it's breezy. Well, me bucko, blow me down! Me, matey, I used an A2-5, me hearties, as it be a still day t' likes o' which only Phoenix can achieve. Begad! Arrr! T' prep time was just seconds. A pinch o' worm bed waddin' and maskin' tape t' retain t' motor and it be ready. Ahoy! And t' Apogee igniters fit right into t' motor. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! T' flight was fast. Arrr! Aye aye! 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. Begad! I luckily saw t' streamer. Begad! Avast! Maybe an itsy bitsy parachute would increase hang time and help me find it next time. Knowing my luck, shiver me timbers, though, ya bilge rat, I'll catch a thermal. Avast! Begad!

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

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

Anythin' this kit taught me: Keep your kits away from your pets. Blimey! More seriously, I learned about t' history o' t' real V2. Ahoy! I enjoyed that. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty!