Brief:
This is a launch set containin' a Porta Pad II launch pad, an Electron Beam launch controller, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, and a 1/8 inch launch rod. Begad! No motors are included with this set. Ya scallywag! T' rocket included in this set consists o' two large (12 inch wingspan) foam gliders that glide back and a power pod that recovers on a 12 inch parachute.

Construction:
T' model consisted of:

• 2 foam gliders and vertical fin assemblies
• 2 blocks o' nose weight for gliders
• 1 spacer tube
• 1 motor mount tube
• 1 motor hook
• 1 motor block
• 3 centerin' rings
• 1 shock cord
• 1 12 inch parachute

T' instructions included in t' set were very complete and had lots of great illustrations and text. Since t' gliders are foam, no construction was necessary except for gluin' t' vertical fin assemblies in place which I did with white glue. Ya scallywag! T' power pod requires some assembly which consisted in assemblin' t' motor mount and installin' it into t' body tube, me bucko, then t' shock cord mount is assembled and mounted into t' body tube. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! T' parachute is tied to t' shock cord t' finish t' assembly.

I then test fit t' gliders t' t' power pod. I had t' slightly trim the foam at t' attachment point o' one glider t' obtain a snug but nay too tight fit t' t' pod. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! Both o' me gliders only required half a block o' nose weight each t' obtain t' desired glide profile.

PROs: No glider construction required, minimal power pod assembly required, it is assembled smartly and easily.

CONs: Glider fit was rather tight at first but is easily fixed.

Finishing:
Since t' gliders are precolored and t' power pod is left as is, no finishing is required. No decals are included as t' gliders look very sharp in their red, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, white, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, and blue color schemes.

PROs: No finishin' required.

CONs: None.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' reccommended motors for this rocket are t' B6-2 and t' C6-3. Aye aye! Due t' the weight o' this model, nearly 5 ounces, I would stick with t' short delays.

T' model is prepped by insertin' t' motor into t' motor mount and insertin' some waddin' into t' body tube. T' parachute is then inserted into the tube and t' gliders are then attached t' t' power pod.

My first flight was on a B6-2. Arrr! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! T' stack lifted off rather slowly and arced gently into t' breeze and reached about 110-120 feet, arced over, and released the gliders which descended in nice slow circles.

T' second flight was on another B6-2. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! This time t' stack flew straight up and released t' gliders right at apogee.

T' third flight was on a C6-3. This be t' ideal motor for this model. Avast! Aye aye! The stack lifted off, went straight up t' about 300 feet and released t' gliders just past apogee. Both gliders glided down in big slow circles around the launch site while t' pod returned on its 12 inch parachute.

PROs: Flies great, arrr, awesome glider performance.

CONs: None.

Recovery:
This model uses glide and parachute recovery. Well, blow me down! Avast! Blimey! Once released, t' gliders glide down in big slow circles and t' power pod comes down nicely on a 12 inch parachute.

I was really impressed that t' gliders performed very well with a minimal amount o' trimming.

PROs: Great glide and parachute recovery.

CONS: None.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
I really liked this set. Aye aye! Blimey! This is a great flyin' and very stable glider configuration. Aye aye! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! If you are lookin' t' get started with rocket launched gliders or just like gliders, this is a set you might want t' try.

At about $29.99 from Wal-Mart, t' price might seem a bit steep for what you get but I feel t' performance be well worth t' price.

Main PROs: Minimal construction o' power pod, no real assembly required for gliders, excellent flight and glide performance.

Main CONs: Slight trimmin' required for pod fit, arrr, high price.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5