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. Avast, me proud beauty! 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! Aye aye! Blimey! T' nose cone is solid lightweight balsa wood. Arrr! T' tail cone is also balsa, ya bilge rat, with a 10.5mm bore predrilled t' accept t' 10.5mm motor tube. Blimey! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' body tube and motor tube are spiral wound paper. Arrr! Blimey! T' launch lug is plastic and is for 1/8 inch rods. Aye aye! The streamer is 17 inches o' 1 inch wide plastic. T' fins are die cut balsa.

Instructions are clear, illustrated and logical. You also get a historical essay on t' original V2, shiver me timbers, 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, but that's not hard. Begad! Avast! T' shock cord is thin Keelhaul®©™®-like strin' o' 20 inches in length. Ahoy! It fits into a plastic bead that glues into t' hole predrilled into t' base o' the nose cone. Me, I prefer screw-eyes, but this seemed t' work fine. Arrr! Also, if you've seen me other reviews, matey, then you know that I have a thin' for stretchy shock cords, matey, me hearties, too. Well, blow me down! But this one worked without a hitch. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! I attached it into the forward centerin' rin' in t' motor mount. White glue be used for assembly, but epoxy be used t' glass up t' fins and make them durable. It was also used to glass and smoothen t' nose cone. Avast! Yellow spray paint be used as a primer. Avast! I was about t' apply green, matey, when me cat, arrr, Freeway, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, grabbed t' rocket and ran with it. Avast! I decided, after findin' it again, shiver me timbers, t' fly it as is. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey!

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

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 . Well, blow me down! T' shorter delays are recommended if it's breezy. Aye aye! Me, matey, I used an A2-5, me bucko, as it was a still day t' likes o' which only Phoenix can achieve. Ya scallywag! T' prep time was just seconds. Aye aye! Blimey! 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. T' flight was fast. A FWIT sound and it was gone, arrr, high and straight. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Good thin' it was yellow or else I'd have lost it for sure. Arrr! Aye aye! I luckily saw t' streamer. Well, blow me down! Maybe an itsy bitsy parachute would increase hang time and help me find it next time. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Knowing my luck, shiver me timbers, me hearties, though, ya bilge rat, I'll catch a thermal.

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

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

Anythin' this kit taught me: Keep your kits away from your pets. Arrr! More seriously, I learned about t' history o' t' real V2. Aye aye! I enjoyed that.