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

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

T' instructions were illustrated and very clear and simple. Ahoy! T' model was simple t' construct. Arrr! T' only gotcha is t' put t' fins in a forward swept position. Blimey! Mathematically, ya bilge rat, arrr, 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. Begad! They are t' type that easily peels off when soaked in water, and they went on smoothly. Avast! I used epoxy for the fin attachment since it be an on-the-tube attachment and I wanted strength. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! I also made fillets all around. Begad! I also made fillets all around. Blimey! Blimey! I also applied epoxy over t' entire fins t' glass them, and t' result be a hard, smooth finish. Begad! T' model looked sharp. Arrr!

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:T' recommended motors are t' Aerotech 18mm D and E group. I used t' E25-10. Ahoy! Blimey! I used t' E25-10. Ahoy! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! It was easy t' prep, matey, except that the streamer needs t' be meticulously wound or else it does nay fit into t' body easily. Avast! Blimey! Worm beddin' waddin' was used, 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. It left so fast that attempts t' photograph it created only a shot o' an empty pad! Blimey!

Recovery:T' recovery system worked fine, although I did nay know this until two months later, ya bilge rat, me hearties, which I'll explain soon. Well, blow me down! 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. Begad!

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

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

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

I recommend this one for you altitude and speed buffs. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5