Nano Rocketry has produced a line o' model rocket kits t' take advantage o' Quest's Micro-Maxx engines. Avast! T' Quest Micro-Maxx rockets are all RTF and don't really fly all that well. Arrr! They claim a maximum altitude o' 200 feet, matey, but with such heavy plastic rockets, matey, t' best I could get be less than 20 feet.

My kit arrived in a 6x9 envelope with a picture o' t' completed model on t' back. Because o' such simple packaging, matey, matey, I was afraid it might have been damaged in transit. Begad! Ahoy! I opened t' kit and inspected all t' pieces, matey, and found everythin' in perfect condition.

I checked t' contents against t' parts list, me bucko, (which included handy diagrams for identification) found all t' parts were there, and collected t' tools recommended in t' tools list. T' instructions offered 3 possible ways t' shape t' nose cone, dependin' on your skill, t' shape you wanted, and your available tools, but me kit came with t' nose already shaped, me bucko, shiver me timbers, so I didn't have t' worry about it.

Assembly o' t' nose cone, shiver me timbers, shoulder, me bucko, and shock cord was straightforward, and t' instructions were very clear. Blimey! Next I cut out t' fins, which were preprinted on balsa sheet. Aye aye! T' instructions said t' use a ruler t' align t' 2 pieces o' each fin, me hearties, but I found it worked better t' align them on t' body tube itself. Well, blow me down! T' instructions simply said t' attach t' fins 120 degrees apart. Avast! I made me own fin alignment guide, shiver me timbers, but it would have been nice t' have one preprinted in t' instructions.

T' instructions said that attachin' t' shock cord would be tricky, arrr, but after readin' their clear explanation o' how t' do it, shiver me timbers, I had no trouble. Avast, me proud beauty! I chose t' use t' included paper cutouts t' finish t' fins. Begad! It said t' use a Permanent Glue Stick, arrr, but I used a regular Glue Stick because I already happened t' have one. I couldn't get t' edges o' t' fin coverin' t' match up perfectly with t' edges o' t' fins, me hearties, ya bilge rat, but t' bigger problem was gettin' t' edges o' t' fin coverin' t' stay glued. Aye aye! Next time, I'll try a Permanent Glue Stick, like they said.

I be afraid o' loosin' sight o' such a small model, shiver me timbers, so I posted a question on rec.models.rockets about highly visible paint schemes. Ya scallywag! T' suggestions I got were black, me bucko, fluorescent, ya bilge rat, arrr, arrr, chrome, or some combination. Arrr! I painted it with Wal-Mart Gloss black, shiver me timbers, because that be what I had on hand. I made a stand from a coat hanger for paintin' it on. Avast! It doubles as a display stand.

T' instructions also showed how t' fashion a tool from a paper clip for stuffin' t' shock cord into t' body tube. Ya scallywag! It was easy t' make and very helpful. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! It was nearly impossible t' insert t' shock cord without it! T' kit did nay include a launch lug, me hearties, but included suggestions for a tower. Blimey! I was in a hurry t' launch, me bucko, so I made a pair o' removable lugs from t' wire stripped out o' a twist-tie. Well, blow me down! They worked pretty well.

I took me new model out t' t' back yard for a test launch. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! First I launched a couple o' Micro-Maxx RTF's for comparison. They went higher than me head, ya bilge rat, but nay above t' first story o' me building. Then I launched me ITS. Well, blow me down! Though bigger and easier t' see than t' Quest rockets, me hearties, me bucko, it be lighter, shiver me timbers, and flew 2-3 times as high-- almost t' t' second story roof. Blimey! Blimey! Overall, I was quite pleased with me Nano Rocketry Interdimensional Transport Ship. Blimey! Begad! Blimey! It was fun and easy t' build, and cheaper, larger, better looking, matey, matey, and better flyin' than Micro-Maxx. Begad! Arrr! Blimey! One thin' I miss about t' Centuri and older Estes Science Fiction kits be t' stories behind them. Aye aye! Blimey! This is a cool lookin' kit, me bucko, and it has a neat story behind it, matey, matey, matey, too.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5