Brief:
This is an updated version o' t' FlisKits Corona. Arrr! Ya scallywag! T' prepare t' Corona for t' release o' t' optional Corona-2 booster, shiver me timbers, FlisKits now includes laser cut plywood fins instead o' balsa fin stock and a pattern so t' builder no longer has t' cut out t' fins.

Construction:
There are 3 minor changes t' t' build o' t' Corona:

T' builder has t' choice o' buildin' t' motor mount with or without t' metal retainer hook.

1. If you plan on buildin' and usin' t' Corona-2, then you have t' build it without t' motor hook!
2. T' aforementioned laser cut 1/16" thick birch plywood fins. Ya scallywag! Aside from bein' single piece fins, they also include a tiny lip on t' aft end o' t' tip cord t' properly align t' rin' fin.
3. T' rin' fin should nay be painted if you plan on buildin' and usin' t' Corona-2 because t' paint's thickness could cause t' booster t' nay deploy at sustainer ignition.

T' instructions included plenty o' diagrams and easy-to-understand text t' guide t' builder through construction. T' instructions also did a fantastic job o' pointin' out any potential gotchas that might occur durin' t' build. Begad! With t' new parts, t' build has been simplified--particularly if you are goin' t' build t' Corona-2 afterwards, which is what I did.

T' only step that I deviated from was where I was supposed t' sand a bevel onto t' leadin' and trailin' edges o' t' fins. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! With t' fins bein' so thin, arrr, I decided t' sand t' edges smooth but did nay shape them.

Other than that, I built t' kit completely stock. Well, blow me down! I did nay find any potential flaws in t' design or components o' t' kit. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! T' parts are all top notch and thar be t' attention t' detail like havin' t' Keelhaul®©™/elastic shock cord attached t' t' coupler joinin' t' 2 BT-50 body tubes, which puts it even at its closest quite a ways from t' proximity o' t' motor ejection (although waddin' it still definitely required).

Finishing:
Keep in mind, matey, I didn't glue t' rin' fin on till after I did all o' me paintin' since I was plannin' t' use this in a 2-stage configuration with t' Corona-2!

I began t' finishin' process by applyin' diluted Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish t' t' fins and balsa nose cone and then sandin' them down until smooth with 320 grit sandpaper. Avast! Avast! T' entire rocket be given a couple coats o' Krylon white primer and were sanded with 400 grit sandpaper after each coat. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! T' nose cone be painted Krylon Sun Yellow Gloss separately while t' rest o' t' rocket be painted Krylon Regal Blue Gloss.

For t' rin' fin I pulled out a technique used by folks who build competition models: I used a silver metallic Sharpie Marker t' color t' outside o' t' rin' fin! It did a great job coverin' t' funky blue-green paper o' t' rin' fin and matched up with t' silver automotive pinstripin' I put on t' nose cone for accent.

T' last step was t' attach t' rin' fin. Begad! I started by roughin' up t' tip cord on each o' t' fins with a little sandpaper. Begad! Arrr! Then I smeared some glue at 120 degree intervals on t' inside o' t' rin' fin. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! I carefully slid it along most o' t' length o' t' rocket and into place restin' on each o' t' 3 fins.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
I flew t' Corona twice. Begad! Blimey! First it went solo on a C6-7. Begad! Blimey! T' quick boost was nice and straight t' about 700 feet. No anomalies in flight were observed. Avast! Blimey! It arced over and ejected a second or so past apogee. T' shorter delay o' a C6-5 is probably a better match for single stage flights for a C motor. Ahoy! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! A B6-4 should be an excellent match for this rocket on windy days or if t' launch field isn't big enough t' support such high altitude flights.

T' second flight was on another C6-7 as t' sustainer for t' Corona-2 booster. Ya scallywag! T' booster carried t' rocket upwards in t' neighborhood o' 400 feet before t' sustainer motor ignited perfectly. Avast, me proud beauty! I did nay see any deviation in t' sustainer's trajectory after separation as it continued up t' a good 1200 feet and ejected right at apogee.

Recovery:
T' Keelhaul®©™/elastic shock cord should please t' experienced LPR builders out there. Arrr! Blimey! There is plenty o' both included with t' kit so thar be all but zero chance o' t' nose cone snappin' back.

T' parachute in t' kit be t' user customizable plastic chute that comes with most kits from FlisKits. You have your choice o' a 14", ya bilge rat, 12", or 10" chute. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! I be concerned about t' drift o' t' Corona, me hearties, arrr, particularly when used with t' Corona-2 booster so I opted t' cut it out along t' 12" lines as well as remove t' 2" diameter FlisKits logo in t' center for a spill hole. (I have t' admit that I hate cuttin' out t' manufacturer's product logo from t' plastic chute but that's where they choose t' put it!) I do prefer t' have me rockets recover on t' fast side, arrr, but I almost always launch at sites where thar be plenty o' grass t' absorb t' impact too.

On t' first flight, arrr, me bucko, I think I may have packed t' Estes waddin' a little too far down t' body tube as t' nose cone separated at ejection but t' shock cord and chute didn't fully come out o' t' rocket. Begad! It drag recovered landin' on a pile o' dirt. Begad! Blimey! This put a slight kink in t' body tube just forward o' t' fins. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! There was more damage t' me pride than t' cosmetics o' t' rocket.

T' second flight was t' same day and right after t' first one. Begad! T' chute opened without any issues this time and t' light winds carried t' Corona just out o' t' field. Avast! Thankfully it cleared t' power lines but into an are with quite a few trees. Ya scallywag! Begad! T' rocket gods smiled on me though and allowed it t' land in a small clearing. Avast! There was no damage upon recoverin' it.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
T' Corona is a sleek kit capable o' some impressive altitude on low power motors but is easily tracked durin' flight thanks t' its long profile. Flown as a single stage it will almost certainly always give a good flight but when used as a sustainer with t' Corona-2, it'll get a lot o' attention!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5