Brief:  This is a minimum diameter, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, single staged rocket with forward swept fins, matey, designed t' break mach usin' Aerotech 18mm D and E engines. Begad!

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

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

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

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:T' recommended motors are t' Aerotech 18mm D and E group. Begad! I used t' E25-10. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! I used t' E25-10. Aye aye! Ahoy! It was easy t' prep, shiver me timbers, except that the streamer needs t' be meticulously wound or else it does nay fit into t' body easily. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Worm beddin' waddin' be used, ya bilge rat, matey, and t' motor be retained usin' tape. T' model nay only flew straight, arrr, me bucko, it made a loud pop as it practically teleported off t' pad. 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, me hearties, which I'll explain soon. Begad! Ahoy! 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.

I provided t' Keelhaul®©™® cord as a carryover habit from higher power, matey, 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. Well, arrr, blow me down!   Also, matey, me bucko, shiver me timbers, epoxied elastic becomes brittle, so I don't directly adhere it t' t' shock mount any more.

Nobody saw where t' model went, ya bilge rat, except t' say, shiver me timbers, me bucko, "Damn high. Aye aye! Begad! "So I gave it up for lost after a two-hour search in t' searin' desert heat and bought another. Ya scallywag! Two months later, it was found in flyable condition!!!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

I recommend this one for you altitude and speed buffs.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5