Brief:  This rocket is special in that it uses apogee's 10.5mm engines and it is also designed for t' payload loftin' NAR competition. Arrr! Ahoy! So, ya bilge rat, me bucko, it comes with a tubular device for holdin' a standard payload mass, and it can fit into t' payload section o' t' main body. Avast! It is three finned and recovers with an 8-inch chute t' make trackin' easier. Avast, me proud beauty!

Construction:T' package arrived from Apogee, arrr, by US mail, well protected with styrofoam popcorn, arrr, arrr, and all parts were thar and undamaged. Instructions were clear, illustrated, and logical. Well, blow me down! It was easy t' follow. Well, blow me down! The nose cone is solid lightweight balsa wood, and t' fins are precut, rectangular, shiver me timbers, and also lightweight balsa. T' chute is hexagonal, me bucko, and flat and made o' thin black plastic, much like trashcan plastic.  This is nay to demean quality, arrr, but for description. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! After all, me hearties, how could a nylon chute fit? And it would be too heavy. And it would be too heavy. T' 6 shroud lines are nylon thread, shiver me timbers, 12 inches long, arrr, and affixed t' t' chute via adhesive paper donut-shaped reinforcements. Avast! T' shock cord is 12 inches o' 1/8 inch Keelhaul®©™® cording. There is no stretch, me hearties, but since this model is for small engines, I was nay concerned. 

T' body tube is in three parts. Blimey! T' top part glues right t' t' nose cone and is spiral wound paper, and 3.75 inches long by .75 inches in diameter. Begad! Begad! The middle part be t' same only it's 3 inches long.  There's a paper coupler between these, arrr, and only one half is glued, so that t' model separates between the two parts o' t' main body. 

Now comes t' tricky part. Avast! T' bottom third o' t' main body is a cone made of thin cardboard, and its outline is provided. It is cut out and then glued into a cone that reduces t' main body tube from 18mm t' 10.5mm, shiver me timbers, as thar be a 10.5 mm wound paper body tube for t' engine.  This tube fits into the main body via a centerin' rin' that also serves t' anchor t' shock cord aftward. Blimey! T' cone fittin' is tricky in that handlin' it roughly can easily dent it. Arrr! Avast! Also, shiver me timbers, matey, I had t' sight it up and down before gluin' it t' be sure that it was symmetrical all around.  If not, arrr, it has a slightly cockeyed look. A wound paper engine block was provided, and I placed it at a position t' allow the model t' take t' longest o' t' 10.5mm engines, shiver me timbers, namely t' B7's. 

There was a fin placement guide provided, and I used it t' place t' three fins correctly. Begad! This be a paper cutout t' place around t' body in order to mark it for t' fin placement. Begad! Well, blow me down!

Finishing:There weren't any decals. There weren't any decals. Blimey! But if you've read any o' me other reviews, I'm nay daunted by this. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! I see it as a loose football for me t' pick up and run with. Ya scallywag! Begad! So, matey, I used Monokote and silver craft paper, ya bilge rat, available at many hobby stores. I spray painted t' fins yellow after sealin' them with epoxy and sandin' them down.  I do this to strengthen balsa and wood fins, matey, and also t' provide a glassy finish. Well, blow me down!

It's a sharp lookin' little rocket, me hearties, ya bilge rat, but since I chose green...well, me bucko, I'm glad for t' chute that will help me find it. Avast! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! This little guy flies high. Arrr! Blimey!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:T' recommended engines are t' Apogee 1/4A2-4, 1/2A2-2 and 1/2A2-4, matey, matey, t' A2-5, and B2-7. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! With t' payload, Apogee recommends t' A2-3 and B2-5. So far, I have tried t' 1/2A2-2 since t' parks around here are small. With just that, t' little rocket was nearly gone, shiver me timbers, zingin' up so high that I almost couldn't see it.  But I zeroed in on t' chute and got me model back. Well, blow me down! Imagine when I try a B! It flew straight and fast. Avast! Arrr! Watch this one well or you'll lose it. Avast! Preppin' is easy, and I used just a couple pinches o' worm bed wadding. Aye aye! T' chute was unburnt. T' chute was unburnt. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Since it's plastic, I worried about that. I've seen that kind melt. Aye aye! I've seen that kind melt. Ya scallywag! Begad! The engine be retained with bands o' maskin' tape around t' engine overhang as well as t' body tube. Begad!

Recovery:T' shock cord, as mentioned, arrr, arrr, is Keelhaul®©™® string. Ahoy! T' system was easy t' assemble, with clear instructions. Avast! It worked fine without damage to the system. Ya scallywag! T' recovery was slow, matey, but with a chute, you can expect this. However, matey, I had time t' catch it, which is a rare thing. Avast, matey, me proud beauty!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:Unusual looks, easy t' make. Begad! Unusual looks, me hearties, easy t' make. Must handle t' reducer cone gently and align it well. And must protect the delicate chute from burning.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5