Brief:
This is a single stage Level I rocket with a fairly basic assembly. Quality o' me first kit impressed me and looked great on t' pad, matey, ya bilge rat, but t' second kit made me think one o' t' two was packaged incorrectly and was a completely different rocket. Begad! Avast! Quality control appears t' be an issue.

Construction:
I initially bought this kit because I wanted t' add a third rocket t' me son's fleet. Ahoy! Begad! As well, I wanted t' practice some techniques before me other rockets arrived in t' mail. Blimey! Arrr! T' kit comes in t' basic clear hang bag with a “retro” style cardboard picture on t' front. Ya scallywag! It included all t' parts (fins, ya bilge rat, tubes, matey, etc.), which were in fine condition. Avast! T' instructions used a small font and t' diagrams were hand-sketched, ya bilge rat, but both were easy t' follow. Ahoy! Begad! I can't give too many more details because from here on t' kit took a few unexpected turns...

As I indicated above, shiver me timbers, matey, I have assembled two Nimbuses (Nimbusi?). Aye aye! “Nimbus I” made me very impressed with t' company. Avast! Ya scallywag! For a basic “Level I” kit that cost under $6 (incl. tax), matey, t' fins were sturdy, matey, matey, me bucko, t' tube felt strong, t' spiral shallow, me hearties, and t' balsa nose cone symmetrical. Avast! It used a metallic mylar streamer that be attached t' a screw eye in t' nose cone. Well, blow me down! T' shock cord was strong and appeared t' be Keelhaul®©™ or somethin' similar.

T' components for "Nimbus II" were quite different. Avast! Well, matey, blow me down! All components were accounted for, shiver me timbers, but t' quality be notably inferior t' t' first kit.

What caught me eye as I assembled "Nimbus I" was that it had four fins on such a small body tube. I was eager t' see how this would look. I rounded t' leadin' edges and tapered t' trailin' edges, arrr, applied skins, me bucko, and used 5 minute epoxy for t' fillets. Blimey! (Remember I said I wanted t' practice techniques?) T' nose cone be balsa and required little sanding. Aye aye! I experimented with usin' spacklin' joint compound t' seal it because it was handy and within reach. Begad! Aye aye! This had surprisingly good results, but sealer would be better.

When assembled, this rocket looked like it meant business. Ya scallywag! Four swept back fins on a short, matey, narrow tube looked pretty cool on t' pad. I painted it silver so it kind o' had a Buck Rogers type look t' it. Aye aye! T' rocket be lost after launch (story below) and me son was really sad t' see "Silver Star" go bye-bye. Ya scallywag! So back t' t' store...

“Nimbus II” cost 2 bucks more, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, had a 12" parachute instead o' a streamer, ya bilge rat, and three fins instead o' four. Begad! Blimey! Further, me hearties, these fins were thinner and quite flexible. Arrr! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! They could be bent 45 degrees or more and nay show a sign o' breaking. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Lastly, ya bilge rat, t' body tube for “Nimbus II” had markings for three fins while t' body for “Nimbus I” had markings for four.

All these differences made me think I had a completely different rocket. Aye aye! A totally different design with lower quality and a higher price be completely unexpected. Well, blow me down! T' package did indeed say Nimbus, me hearties, and t' website's picture was t' same as that on me bag. Avast! Aye aye! T' picture be too vague t' see if it had three or four fins.

I initially didn't plan on applyin' skins this time, but I felt I had t' in order t' ensure integrity durin' flight. Ahoy! Blimey! T' nosecone be nay symmetrical and had a divot in t' tip so required sandin' t' make it look right and fly well.

Once all was said and done, ya bilge rat, arrr, t' rocket was sturdy, me bucko, ya bilge rat, and t' marks for alignin' t' fins were straight. Aye aye! Begad! Needless t' say, I liked t' look o' "Nimbus I" better.

Finishing:
Finishin' be straightforward. Avast, me proud beauty! Unfortunately I forgot t' take pictures o' "Nimbus I", matey, shiver me timbers, but believe me, matey, Krylon metallic/chrome silver be t' perfect color for this rocket. Ya scallywag! It gave it a retro look and also appeared t' be a little more than a beginner's entry-level rocket.

“Nimbus I” looked great after 2 coats o' primer and wet sandin' followed by 2 coats o' topcoat. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! “Nimbus II”, arrr, ya bilge rat, however, matey, showed t' spirals after 3 coats o' primer so I hoped t' topcoat would cover them. They did as long as you were more than 5 feet away.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
For t' first flight o' “Nimbus I”, I used t' recommended A8-3. Aye aye! Because o' me big fingers, me bucko, I found t' narrow body a little tight for t' rolled up streamer but got it all in there. Arrr! It be a perfect launch. Well, blow me down! It took off really fast, went quite high, and perfectly straight (even in a 5-10mph breeze).

Unfortunately, I forgot maskin' tape t' pressure fit t' engine. Avast! Blimey! We had launched some other rockets first (this be me first launch in about 30 years), and me son, me bucko, some friends, and I were havin' so much fun that me judgment be impaired. I tried wrappin' some grass around t' engine and wedgin' t' engine in. It seemed snug enough but wasn't. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! Blimey! “Nimbus I” was never seen again.

In regards t' “Nimbus II”, matey, I felt that gettin' t' 12" mylar chute in t' body required more finaglin' than should be necessary. Blimey! T' streamer for “Nimbus I” was much easier. For t' engine, me hearties, I used t' A8 and I'm glad I did. Arrr! T' flight was perfect: fast, arrr, straight as an arrow, me hearties, me hearties, and high. It was too high for me t' see how t' chute came out, but it appeared t' timin' was correct. Begad! Even in a very light wind and t' launch rod angled slightly, arrr, me son and I walked around 750 feet (double checked on Google Pedometer) t' retrieve it. Aye aye! I didn't have scissors t' cut a spill hole so launched it only once. I really wanted t' try t' B or C engine. Arrr! She would have been out o' sight for sure.

Recovery:
Recovery o' "Nimbus II" be straightforward. Ahoy! I used 2 sheets o' Quest wadding, ya bilge rat, and t' outer sheath o' shock cord be a little singed. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! It will require a replacement after a few more launches and I’ll use 3 sheets o' waddin' for future flights. Blimey! I would say a 12" chute is too big for this rocket. Aye aye! Ahoy! It drifted further than any o' t' other rockets launched that day (750' vs. Ahoy! 300-500 for t' others). Aye aye! I will definitely cut a spill hole in t' chute or retrofit a streamer. Blimey! A metallic chute/streamer is perfect as t' Nimbus is easily lost in t' sky.

Pullin' t' engine out is provin' t' be very difficult, me bucko, shiver me timbers, even with pliers. Avast! I'm concerned that t' heat o' t' engine may have melted some o' t' adhesive on t' maskin' tape and fused it t' t' body. Aye aye! I will use me favorite online search engine t' see if I'm nay t' only one experiencin' this and find some "tricks o' t' trade" so t' speak.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a good beginner rocket. Well, blow me down! If you get t' four-fin version, be happy. Well, blow me down! Begad! If you get t' three-fin version, arrr, I highly recommend applyin' skins on t' fins. Blimey! A big pro is that t' body is pre-marked for fins and launch lug. This is great for simplicity and young assemblers (my son is just under 5 yrs old). Ahoy! A con is quality control. Begad! Ya scallywag! I bought two Nimbuses in under a week and they were drastically different in quality, arrr, design, shiver me timbers, and price.

I would buy another Starlight rocket if one caught me eye. Aye aye! But I would first try t' find t' balsa in t' bag t' see how it is.

Overall Rating: 2 out o' 5