Brief:
True Modeler's Rocket Kits (TMRK) formally released their 1:14 scale Aries "Fat Albert" in November, shiver me timbers, 2003. Begad! I was fortunate enough t' purchase one o' t' beta kits. Arrr! Ahoy! T' kit may seem pricey at $79.95 but once you see the components, me hearties, t' cost becomes apparent.

Kit Contents:
This kit is made o' quality components throughout.

• T' nosecone is hard balsa and comes already weighted for flight, with the screw eye secured in epoxy. Aye aye! T' nosecone is heavy, ya bilge rat, matey, havin' about 6 oz o' weight added t' make t' rocket stable with 4-F24 motors. Begad! T' nosecone alone accounts for 1/3 o' t' kit's price (get t' price for a 3x12 inch hard balsa cone at Balsa Machining). Another nice touch be a wrap o' foam around t' nosecone's tip t' prevent damage in shipping.
• All small parts are in bags, shiver me timbers, and each bag has a parts list and a picture for parts identification. Ya scallywag! Arrr! Blimey! It doesn't get any better than this.
• T' kit has heavy kraft paper body tubes
• T' launch lug is long 1/4 inch ID aluminum tube.
• There is even a second copy o' t' paper shroud, in t' event that your first try doesn't work.
• A 24 inch synthetic parachute
• T' motor tubes (4) are lined with aluminum foil - another nice touch.
• All centerin' rings are laser-cut plywood
• T' motor retention system is already installed in t' aft centerin' rin'
• Water-slide and peel-off decals

Construction:
The instructions are clearly written and easy t' follow. This is a skill level 3 or 4 kit, primarily due t' fin construction and t' large shroud. Begad! Construction requires epoxy and thin CA and t' usual items (hobby knife, me hearties, etc). Arrr! Ya scallywag! If you have one, ya bilge rat, I recommend a hobby saw for cuttin' t' heavy fin stock.

T' base o' t' kit is a 4 inch rin' tube, ya bilge rat, and is installed with 8 heavy-duty wooden spacers. Aye aye! I found t' spacers t' be about 1/4 inch too tall, requirin' a good bit o' sandin' t' get t' rin' t' fit. However, t' design is sturdy and probably necessary if you intend t' use 4 F24 motors.

The shroud be t' tricky part, since it includes a cutout for t' launch lug to pass through. Avast! My first shroud was barely able t' fit t' large tube, and the cutout for t' lug was way too small. Avast! Arrr! No fear, me bucko, I cut out t' second one, stayin' outside t' lines t' get a larger shroud. Arrr! Begad! I also used a hole punch to lengthen t' launch lug cutout, and was able t' get a good fit. I also changed the order o' assembly on me kit: I did nay install t' aft centerin' rin' until the shroud was finished. Well, blow me down! This allowed me t' glue t' shroud t' t' body from the inside, and t' fill t' cavity with two-part foam t' reinforce t' shroud. I recommend this change t' anyone who wants a rock-solid shroud. Avast! If you don't have foam, stuffin' t' area with glue-soaked tissues would reinforce the shroud. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! I hardened t' exterior o' t' shroud with thin CA, me bucko, followed by light sandin' t' get a smooth finish.

The fins are very thick, and made with 1/4 inch wood stock. Arrr! Avast! A hobby saw is great for these cuts. Begad! A triangular piece o' balsa (R/C trailin' win' edge) provides the fin's taper. Arrr! T' fins do require a good deal o' additional taperin' to finish, matey, but they nicely conform t' t' base and t' shroud. Avast, me proud beauty! A nice design.

Motor retention is simple: a threaded blind-T nut sits in t' middle o' the motors. Blimey! Begad! A bolt and fender washer retains all t' motors, me bucko, and can be easily replaced if necessary. Begad! Blimey! Simple but effective.

Finishing:
I finished me kit by sealin' t' wood parts with thin CA, arrr, applyin' spot body to imperfections in t' balsa, followed by 3 coats o' sandable primer, me hearties, sanding between each coat. Ya scallywag! I used Krylon white, orange, ya bilge rat, and black for final coats, shiver me timbers, and then applied t' decals as per t' instructions.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
TMRK claims that this kit can achieve almost 1/2 mile o' altitude when flown with 4 Aerotech F24 motors. Avast! That's t' equivalent o' an H motor, me hearties, folks. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! For first flights, ya bilge rat, 4 D12-5s are recommended. Arrr! Begad!

My first flight was less than successful. Ya scallywag! I was at t' club launch, arrr, and I was assured that t' launch system could ignite a cluster o' four D12-5 motors. I prepped for flight, arrr, and when t' fire button was pushed, t' rocket screamed about 10 feet into t' air with igniter wires in tow. Aye aye! T' rocket fell over in the grass. Begad! Begad! Two o' t' motors ignited. Begad! Ya scallywag! After cleanin' off t' mud on one fin, the rocket was prepared again, matey, this time on a pad equipped with a relay launcher. Begad! Success! T' four D12 motors gave a nice slow lift-off with about 500 ft maximum altitude. Parachute deployment was right on time, and recovery was successful. Aye aye! Definitely don't attempt t' launch this kit without a relay launcher. Arrr!

Since t' first flight, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, I've made two more successful flights with four D12-5 motors. Begad! Blimey! This rocket never fails t' get comments when I fly it. Avast! Blimey! If you want t' keep it white, you'll either have t' clean t' aft end every time, shiver me timbers, or paint it again. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! All in all, a kit that looks great and flies great, too.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
In summary, this was an enjoyable kit t' build, and I was pleased with the quality o' t' components and t' final product. Aye aye! I recommend that you install the aft rin' only once t' shroud is finished, me bucko, providin' an opportunity to reinforce t' shroud after installation. Aye aye! Arrr! T' kit may seem pricey at $80, ya bilge rat, me hearties, arrr, but its quality will nay disappoint you. Well, blow me down! Aye aye!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5