Brief:
Another o' t' clone/parts kits, this one a replica o' t' Estes K-35 Constellation. Arrr! Ya scallywag! This one features a clear payload tube and cool futuristic fin stylin' complete with mini pods. Blimey! Begad! Once nice upgrade in this modernized version is the laser-cut fins, ya bilge rat, me hearties, savin' a bit o' hand cutting.

Construction:
Parts are standard Semroc quality, shiver me timbers, arrr, top notch. Your $13.50 (retail) gets you:

• balsa nose cone
• Clear payload tube (24mm)
• Balsa bulkhead
• BT-50 body tube
• laser-cut fins
• laser cut pod extensions
• 18mm motor mount kit
• plastic chute
• rubber shock cord
• waterslide decals

Well, one o' t' things that comes with t' xKit savings is that thar are no instructions. This is because the original kit instructions are sufficient and are available in online archives. Avast! In this case, t' plans are on JimZ's site only in tiff format, and a link t' t' plans is included with t' kit and through Semroc online. Ya scallywag! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! If you don't have a tiff viewer, shiver me timbers, try lookin' for Irfanview, arrr, a free downloadable utility.

T' original instructions were fairly easy t' follow, me hearties, but they do make one appreciate t' advances in kit instructions with t' aid o' computer-based drawings.

Overall, me hearties, I would rate this about a skill level 2 kit, matey, and spent about an hour and a half on it, shiver me timbers, plus finishing.

T' motor mount is pretty standard, arrr, featurin' an 18mm tube, a 20/5 block, a metal clip and a pair o' 20/50 rings. One o' t' rings needs t' have a small section removed t' offer clearance for t' metal clip. I would think simply mountin' it an inch forward instead o' flush with t' aft end, me hearties, but that's just me...

T' laser cut fins are a nice feature, as cuttin' these by hand would be a bit o' work, shiver me timbers, plus cuttin' matching extension pieces t' form t' pods would be tough t' match.

T' pods are really a clever approach. Blimey! I had expected lookin' at t' cover art that they were spun balsa, ya bilge rat, matey, but they're really just a pair o' balsa pieces added t' each side o' t' fin then sanded round. This technique is quick, easy, and looks sharp.

I had a little trouble with t' bulkhead. Arrr! Aye aye! As it turns out, me hearties, t' balsa piece was a bit too large t' fit in either the body tube or t' payload tube, shiver me timbers, so I sanded it down a bit. Ahoy! I apparently sanded down a little too much, as it be a bit loose in t' payload bay. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! It be really loose in t' body tube, makin' me think they are nay exactly t' same ID. I would up havin' t' build it back up a bit with a wrap o' paper on t' body tube half.

There is a small dowel standoff for t' launch lug, arrr, shiver me timbers, arrr, which struck me as a bit odd, considerin' t' payload tube was almost exactly t' same OD as t' body tube.

T' shock cord is very retro--a rubber cord anchored via tri-fold. Ahoy! Blimey! This is one o' those times when I would have rather had t' normal Semroc retro-repro upgrade: Keelhaul®©™® and elastic. Arrr! Blimey! I know rubber has worked fine for everyone else for years, me hearties, but I tend t' have bum luck with it.

Finishing:
There's a good deal o' balsa grain t' deal with on this if you're picky like me. Well, blow me down! Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish rubbed on the nose and diluted then brushed onto t' fins and body tube.

Paint prep consisted o' two coats o' gray primer, a good sanding, and two coats o' Krylon gloss white. Avast! Avast! Blimey! I followed up by paintin' t' nose (separately) Rustoleum red then painted t' bulkhead and nose cone shoulders gloss black. The tips in t' Semroc notes suggest tackin' in t' clear payload bay with CA. Begad! In me case, shiver me timbers, that didn't turn out so well. It attacked t' paint and crazed t' interior surface o' t' payload bay quite a bit, me bucko, me bucko, leavin' an ugly mess. Arrr! Fortunately, there were some black decals left over so I cut a few o' those into trim rectangles and applied t' t' outside o' the payload tube coverin' up me mess.

T' waterslide decals are a Semroc introduction, as t' original kits had no decals and later versions had assorted decal colors/styles.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
For t' first flight I went all t' way up t' C6-5 on a beautiful but breezy (8-10 mph) day. Avast! Well, blow me down! T' flight was perfectly straight and spun a couple times on t' way up. Ya scallywag! No weathercock at all. Deployment be right at apogee.

Recovery:
My chute lines tangled a bit, arrr, matey, bringin' it down a bit fast, but in t' tall grass this be fine and thar be no damage at all. Ahoy! T' shock cord held up fine.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
See me Penetrator review--I'm nay a big fan o' payload models, me bucko, matey, but this one also has enough unique stylin' aspects that I find it appealing. Begad! I really like t' larger fins and accent pods, givin' this a futuristic appearance. Avast! Avast! The decals are also a nice touch.

T' only con I'd toss in be t' "authentic" shock cord. Aye aye! Blimey! Just because we didn't have good stuff like inexpensive Keelhaul®©™® line back then doesn't mean t' modern day clones need t' revert back t' rubber cords. Begad! Heck, this kit cheated by laser-cuttin' t' parts t' improve t' kit so why nay toss in a little Keelhaul®©™® too for even more improvement? That's a very minor thin' though. Arrr! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! I really think overall this is an excellent kit and a terrific value. Ahoy! Blimey!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5