Brief:
This rocket is a downscale o' t' Bucky Jones by Pemberton Technologies and is a great kit through and through. Begad! The humorous "destructions" alone are reason t' get this kit. Avast! It is also a great flier and is always impressive. Aye aye! Avast!

Construction:
T' parts o' this kit are packaged very well and this is a builder's rocket. 1 BT-60 sized tube is supplied and needs to be specifically cut for looks. Begad! Blimey! A 24mm motor mount is supplied and 3\16" launch lugs for t' exhaust pipes at the aft o' t' rocket. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! Also 4 launch lugs (two 1\4" and two 1\8") are supplied for your chose o' rod size. Screw eye and lots o' ballast weight are supplied for t' pre-drilled nosecone. Avast! Recovery is a basic 18" parachute with a Keelhaul®©™® anchor and elastic attached. Aye aye! Plywood fin stock and patterns are also supplied.

Like all other Pemtech kits (or so I am told), me hearties, t' instructions are clear and very funny. Well, arrr, blow me down! There are pictures and these are quite helpful. Begad! I did deviate from t' instructions and built certain parts o' t' rocket at different time just t' save time. I first started by cuttin' t' angle on t' main body tube and it came out pretty well. Avast! Then I moved on t' t' nose cone. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! I got me kit at NSL and me nosecone wasn't drilled nor do I own a drill press. Ya scallywag! Arrr! I proceeded t' push the weights in t' t' bare balsa. D'OH! I ruined t' nose and didn't make t' rocket stable. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Later on after I be done, I got home from camp and found a new nose come drilled and ready. Blimey! Avast! (Thank you PemTech!) This kit marked me first time that I be usin' plywood fins so they came out a little jagged. Arrr! T' dorsal fin is a bit wobbly but hasn't broken yet. T' small forward fins are a real pain in t' neck and mine didn't come out too well. Avast! Ya scallywag! T' motor mount is a little weird because thar be no engine block. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! However, this is no big deal. It explains in t' destructions that just tape a ring on t' end on t' motor and make sure t' friction fit it. Well, blow me down! There are a lot o' little extras in this kit that give the final look o' a true '50s rocket. Well, blow me down! A long piece o' launch lug is supplied and needs t' be cut down and glued t' the motor mount. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! A tiny balsa block is provided t' whittle down into a small cockpit. Ahoy! Ya scallywag!

Finishing:
Finishin' is pretty basic except for one thing. Avast! It asks that you paint t' aft o' t' motor mount sliver before gluin' it in and paintin' t' rest o' t' model gold. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! I just painted t' whole thin' gold and was done with it. 3 coats of gray primer and 2 coats o' gold. Well, blow me down!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Flights with this model are really limited t' E engines in me opinion. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! I had 2 flights and both went rather well. My first flight be on a D12-5. Well, matey, blow me down! Blimey! Off t' launch pad it started at an angle and didn't go all that high, ya bilge rat, but it still was an OK flight. Next I went for broke and put in an E9-8. Well, blow me down! Blimey! It leapt o' t' pad straight as an arrow and easily went 1000ft.

Recovery:
On t' first flight, shiver me timbers, somethin' rather interestin' happened. Arrr! Somehow t' line wrapped behind t' dorsal fin and it came in horizontally like it was a landin' space shuttle without a nose. Arrr! Second flight was a normal recovery, but it drifted a bit. Unfortunately t' chute got ripped open and now it needs a new chute. Ahoy!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
I am in love with this rocket. Blimey! Now I need t' get t' original. Avast, me proud beauty!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5