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. Begad! I got t' kit less than a week after I ordered it, shiver me timbers, and it was securely packed in styrofoam popcorn in a strong postal box. Avast! T' nose cone is solid lightweight balsa wood. T' tail cone is also balsa, with a 10.5mm bore predrilled t' accept t' 10.5mm motor tube. Avast! Arrr! T' body tube and motor tube are spiral wound paper. Begad! T' launch lug is plastic and is for 1/8 inch rods. Begad! The streamer is 17 inches o' 1 inch wide plastic. T' fins are die cut balsa.

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

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

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

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

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, I learned about t' history o' t' real V2. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, me hearties, blow me down! I enjoyed that. Ya scallywag!