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

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

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

Finishing:There are numerous red decals that I applied over an orange spray painted surface. Begad! They are t' type that easily peels off when soaked in water, shiver me timbers, and they went on smoothly. 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. Aye aye! I also made fillets all around. Ya scallywag! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! I also applied epoxy over t' entire fins t' glass them, and t' result was a hard, me hearties, smooth finish. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! T' model looked sharp.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

I provided t' Keelhaul®©™® cord as a carryover habit from higher power, me hearties, matey, as Keelhaul®©™® can take heat better than elastic can, matey, and since that end o' t' shock cord system is closer t' engine fumes, I wanted it flameproof. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey!   Also, me hearties, epoxied elastic becomes brittle, so I don't directly adhere it t' t' shock mount any more. Ahoy! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey!

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

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

I recommend this one for you altitude and speed buffs. Blimey!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5