T' written instructions where clear and allowed for easy assembly. Avast! They lacked a few helpful illustrations, however, me hearties, I have come t' understand that Rogue is doin' a re-write t' make them even easier t' follow. No special tools were needed.

See my Tube-Fin Rocket Comparison Page

Durin' assembly, matey, I took t' opportunity t' try a new glue called Quick Grab. Ahoy! It promises t' be crystal clear, waterproof and paintable. It was. Aye aye! Avast! It was. Begad! It also claimed t' be fast drying, 40 second grab with light load support after 10 minutes and full load after 24 hours. Begad! It did this, too. It did this, too. In fact, shiver me timbers, t' only problem with t' glue is that it gets a skin quick and therefore has "stringers" o' glue that you have to control. Begad! It did well on fillets and in attachin' t' tube fins, however it is very thick so it didn't do as well when gluin' motor blocks or centerin' rings. I would still recommend it for smaller models (A - D motors) since it gives you fast dryin' time and is much cheaper than CA. Well, blow me down! That bein' said, Rogue recommends CA or white glue.

Assembly be straight forward and relatively quick. Ahoy! I would suggest that once you test fit your first tube fin, you mark t' tube all the way around t' allow t' line up t' tops evenly. Blimey! Also, ya bilge rat, me bucko, me hearties, be sure t' continue the line around t' edge on each o' t' tubes so that all t' slants line up and look correct. Avast! Usin' a fast dryin' glue is best while attachin' t' tube fins, me hearties, because you will most likely have t' hold them in place until they "grab". Usin' maskin' tape could help hold them in place while drying, me hearties, however, avoid a rubber band because it has a tendency t' rotate the tubes at high tension points o' t' rubber band. Ya scallywag!

If t' kit is subject t' damage it would be t' bottom tips o' t' tube fins. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! In me opinion, these tube fins are nay any more susceptible t' damage than regular balsa fins so strengthenin' them by coating them with CA or epoxy would just make good sense.

T' shock cord is mounted t' the motor mount and is strung through t' tube t' attach t' t' nose cone, parachute and Perma-Wadding. T' nose cone is balsa. Avast, me proud beauty! Be sure t' seal t' nose cone with CA, ya bilge rat, me bucko, epoxy or balsa sealer. Begad! Begad! I had t' do a little sandin' on the shoulder o' me nose cone t' make it fit into t' body tube (no big deal).

With t' quality o' t' recovery system, me bucko, me hearties, Nylon chute, Keelhaul®©™® shock cord, and Perma-Wadding, I would have liked t' see a swivel added for attachment. Arrr! Ya scallywag! Blimey! It would have been t' icin' on t' cake. Aye aye! Arrr! Blimey!

Finishin' t' model was unique too. Ahoy! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! I wanted t' simulate the picture by makin' t' "high-thrust magneto-impulse engines" stand out. Begad! Blimey! Therefore, matey, matey, arrr, I choose red for t' inside since I believe when "magneto-impulse engines" get runnin' at fullcapacity, they heat t' surroundin' metal as it's structural integrity is compromised due t' t' incredible forces o' inter-space travel through "hostile territory". Begad! Begad! T' do this, I shielded as much of the existin' rocket as possible and took several passes at sprayin' t' paint right inside t' tubes. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Unfortunately, me hearties, I also wanted t' bottom o' t' body tube red and didn't shield t' inside o' t' motor mount. Be sure t' do that or enjoy a new definition o' "friction fit". Begad! I choose white for t' outside and a silver nose cone. Begad!

T' Hex Courier™ came with a nice water-transfer decal sheet givin' you t' ability t' match t' picture on the instructions or t' spell out somethin' on you own. Ahoy! T' transfer sheet had two of every letter and four o' every number that could be placed together t' spell something. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I chose t' go away from t' example and spelled out Hex Courier™. Blimey! Well, arrr, blow me down! T' decal sheet has t' decals for it t' say "United States Courier Corps". Begad! Ya scallywag!

Preppin' t' model for flight is great because you simple slide t' Perma-Waddin' into t' tube, arrr, fold and wrap t' chute, push in and top it off with t' nose cone. Avast! Blimey! Then add your motor. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Fast and easy. Begad! Blimey!

At a local club's sport launch we prepared t' fly. Avast! After receivin' two nice comments carryin' t' model t' t' launch area we were ready to go with an A8-3. Begad! Three, matey, me hearties, two, one . Blimey! Aye aye! . Begad! . Arrr! whoosh! Hmmmm. Ahoy! Hmmmm. One complete loop, me hearties, a perfect ejection and back t' t' ground with no damage. Ahoy! Tried again with a C6-5 and this time got two complete loops. Blimey! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Definitely unstable. Avast!

After a day or so, me hearties, I added some weight t' t' nose cone and tried again with a C6-5. Ahoy! This time a perfectly straight flight . Arrr! . Avast! . beautiful!

It is important t' note that Rogue Aerospace gets a 5 star for how they have handled this situation. Begad! They have sent a letter t' all those that had previously purchased t' Hex Courier™ and explained that thar may be a stability problem. Avast, me proud beauty! They offered them a replacement kit with shorter tube fins, or told them how much t' shorten them and provided a gift certificate for any trouble. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! This is excellent customer service!

Due t' me experiences, this kit rates a 3 1/2 points, matey, me bucko, but despite t' stability problem o' me model, me hearties, future Hex Courier's™ have been modified t' be stable and therefore these new kits will no doubt be a 4+. Begad! I would recommend that you give Rogue Aerospace's Hex Courier™ a mission o' your own.