Brief:
This rocket goes back t' t' time when t' body o' a rocket was so thin it could nay support its own weight. T' rockets relied on t' pressurization o' t' fuel t' keep them from collapsing. T' Dude has a fin/motor mount cage and then a chrome covered nylon "balloon" that is inflated for t' body and nose.

Construction:
There are no body tubes. Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! A simple plastic cage consistin' o' 2 rings and 3 supports get glued together with plastic cement. Begad! T' Dude comes with a pre-assembled motor mount. Blimey! This motor mount slides onto t' fins and is glued in place. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! This motor mount/fin assembly is then glued t' t' cage.

T' instructions were simple t' follow. All you need for supplies is plastic cement. Ahoy! There actually is very little construction required. Well, blow me down! I did need t' do a bit o' trimmin' where t' cage and motor mount/fin assembly joined. Blimey! Begad! Bein' a balloon, t' unit is nay very sturdy. Ya scallywag! Avast! T' balloon attaches t' t' cage with tape. Avast! T' launch lugs (2) are taped t' t' side o' t' balloon. Begad! There is a top rin' that is weighted t' ensure t' stability. This rin' is just taped t' t' balloon. Begad! A line runs from this rin' down t' t' motor mount. There is a 12" parachute that ties t' this string. It is ejected out t' side from t' motor mount.

Finishing:
No finishin' is required. Well, blow me down! Avast! T' chromed balloon looks cool as is.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
T' only recommended motor be t' D12-3. Avast, me proud beauty! T' motor easily slides into t' mount. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! There is a twist rin' t' hold t' motor in place. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Waddin' is required t' protect t' parachute. I feel thar be a problem with launchin' this rocket. Avast! First, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, it comes with a "launch pad" that is a stake you are supposed t' push into t' ground. Good luck if you have hard or rocky soil. Also, t' instructions do state launch with little or no wind. Avast! Aye aye! Since t' balloon is so wide and tall, me hearties, yet light weight, me bucko, me hearties, it catches t' wind very easily. Arrr! I tried flyin' in 5 mph winds with 10 mph gusts. Avast, me proud beauty! Durin' one gust t' rocket leaned over and t' top o' t' stake that holds t' rod broke off. Ahoy! I ended up just puttin' t' rod directly into t' ground. Ahoy! T' rocket stayed upright durin' t' flight. Well, blow me down! In fact, instead o' weather cocking, it sort o' went side-ways with t' wind. Blimey! Ya scallywag! It is a very sloooww flyin' rocket.

Recovery:
As I indicated earlier, t' parachute is located at t' bottom in t' motor mount. Ya scallywag! It is ejected sideways, then moves t' t' top by t' strin' attached t' t' top ring. Begad! T' parachute causes t' rocket t' drift down horizontally instead o' makin' a nose-down ballistic flight. Aye aye! Again, due t' how light t' rocket is compared t' its size, ya bilge rat, it will drift far in t' wind.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a cool lookin' rocket and does impress t' people watching. However, shiver me timbers, thar are several problems. Ya scallywag! Don't try flyin' if thar be any wind. Ya scallywag! T' launch pad is useless. Ahoy! Unfortunately, me bucko, t' rocket uses a 1/4" rod so a standard Estes launch pad can't handle it. Begad! Aye aye! I would try t' find another way t' hold t' rod instead o' t' stake (unless you are launchin' at a beach). Blimey! I've flown t' rocket twice, and I two places where t' seam o' t' balloon let go. Well, blow me down! A little cleapackin' tape fixed that problem.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5