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

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

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

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

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

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

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

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

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

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

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5