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

Pros and cons o' construction: All parts specified were thar and undamaged. Blimey! Blimey! I got t' kit less than a week after I ordered it, matey, arrr, and it was securely packed in styrofoam popcorn in a strong postal box. T' nose cone is solid lightweight balsa wood. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! 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. T' launch lug is plastic and is for 1/8 inch rods. Blimey! Blimey! The streamer is 17 inches o' 1 inch wide plastic. Blimey! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' fins are die cut balsa.

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

Pros and cons o' finishing: A simple paint job is enough. Begad! I chose t' glass t' fins out o' personal preference. Begad! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! Maybe green will make me lose it! At least yellow is easy t' find. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty!

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

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

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

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

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