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

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

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

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

Pros and cons o' finishing: A simple paint job is enough. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Blimey! I chose t' glass t' fins out o' personal preference. Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! It's also a habit from high power rocketry. Begad! Blimey! A green camouflage paint job will be applied this week, me hearties, arrr, even though me cat likes it yellow. Aye aye! Blimey! Maybe green will make me lose it! Blimey! 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 . Ahoy! T' shorter delays are recommended if it's breezy. Avast, me proud beauty! Me, me hearties, I used an A2-5, arrr, as it be a still day t' likes o' which only Phoenix can achieve. Avast! T' prep time was just seconds. Avast! A pinch o' worm bed waddin' and maskin' tape t' retain t' motor and it was ready. Blimey! Aye aye! And t' Apogee igniters fit right into t' motor. Aye aye! T' flight was fast. Aye aye! A FWIT sound and it be gone, matey, high and straight. Good thin' it was yellow or else I'd have lost it for sure. Aye aye! I luckily saw t' streamer. Ya scallywag! Maybe an itsy bitsy parachute would increase hang time and help me find it next time. Well, blow me down! Knowing my luck, though, matey, I'll catch a thermal. Ahoy!

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

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

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