Brief:  This is a minimum diameter, me hearties, ya bilge rat, single staged rocket with forward swept fins, me bucko, designed t' break mach usin' Aerotech 18mm D and E engines. Arrr!

Construction:Everythin' was there, arrr, nothin' damaged.   T' fins are 1/8 inch thick precut plywood. Blimey! T' body tube is spiral wound paper. Blimey! I had the option o' gettin' fiberglass parts all around, but chose paper for lower cost. Begad! T' launch lug is also spiral wound paper, and is 1/8 inch diameter. Blimey! The nose cone is ogive, solid machined balsa. Aye aye! Begad! T' streamer is metallic mylar, blue on one side, arrr, me bucko, and silver on t' other, and it is 48 inches long by 1 inch wide.

T' instructions were illustrated and very clear and simple. Begad! Blimey! T' model was simple t' construct. Avast! Blimey! T' only gotcha is t' put t' fins in a forward swept position. Aye aye! Blimey! Mathematically, you might think that this would increase drag, matey, ya bilge rat, but maybe nay so at t' speeds this little rocket can attain. Well, blow me down! Blimey!

Finishing:There are numerous red decals that I applied over an orange spray painted surface. Arrr! Well, me bucko, blow me down! They are t' type that easily peels off when soaked in water, ya bilge rat, and they went on smoothly. I used epoxy for the fin attachment since it be an on-the-tube attachment and I wanted strength. Blimey! Aye aye! I also made fillets all around. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! I also made fillets all around. I also applied epoxy over t' entire fins t' glass them, and t' result be a hard, ya bilge rat, smooth finish. Ahoy! T' model looked sharp. Blimey!

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:T' recommended motors are t' Aerotech 18mm D and E group. Avast! I used t' E25-10. I used t' E25-10. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! It was easy t' prep, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, except that the streamer needs t' be meticulously wound or else it does nay fit into t' body easily. Ahoy! Worm beddin' waddin' be used, me hearties, and t' motor was retained usin' tape. T' model nay only flew straight, shiver me timbers, it made a loud pop as it practically teleported off t' pad. Blimey! It left so fast that attempts t' photograph it created only a shot o' an empty pad!

Recovery:T' recovery system worked fine, although I did nay know this until two months later, ya bilge rat, which I'll explain soon. T' shock cord is 3 feet of black 1/8 inch wide flat elastic attached t' t' inside wall o' t' body tube via a small loop o' Keelhaul®©™® cord which I provided and a folded paper mounting. Avast! Blimey!

I provided t' Keelhaul®©™® cord as a carryover habit from higher power, arrr, as Keelhaul®©™® can take heat better than elastic can, ya bilge rat, and since that end o' t' shock cord system is closer t' engine fumes, I wanted it flameproof. Arrr!   Also, arrr, epoxied elastic becomes brittle, arrr, so I don't directly adhere it t' t' shock mount any more. Begad!

Nobody saw where t' model went, arrr, except t' say, me hearties, matey, "Damn high. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Blimey! "So I gave it up for lost after a two-hour search in t' searin' desert heat and bought another. Aye aye! Two months later, it be found in flyable condition!!! Blimey!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:Sturdy, can survive extreme sun and some rain.   very fast mover. Aye aye! About t' only thin' I'd change is t' make it a parachute t' give me a chance t' spot it better. Avast! Arrr! Maybe it'd drift a mile, me bucko, but part o' t' fun is gettin' models back. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr!

I recommend this one for you altitude and speed buffs.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5