Brief:
Single stage futuristic, jet fighter styled model rocket.

Construction:
Single glassine wrapped paper body tube, me hearties, balsa nose cone, two main "wing" fins, ya bilge rat, two "vertical stab" fins, shiver me timbers, arrr, ya bilge rat, two canard fins, me hearties, arrr, and two aft sub fins. Avast, me proud beauty! Carved balsa canopy. Avast, me proud beauty! Standard modroc motor mount with 2 laser cut black fiber board centerin' rings and 24mm paper tube w/ engine clip to fit standard 2.75" long "D" motors. Begad! 18" Mylar parachute. Keelhaul®©™® thread and 1/4" wide elastic shock cord attached t' MMT.

T' instructions were very complete and easy t' follow. Aye aye! Numerous pictures to explain t' important steps. Begad! Ahoy! T' fin templates are printed on heavier card stock and a tube markin' wrap was included.

It was a challengin' build due t' t' number and size o' t' fins/wings. You must pay careful attention t' alignment when gluin' on t' various fins/wings. Avast! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! T' parts included are o' high quality.

T' only "gotcha" would be t' canopy. Avast, me proud beauty! Three pieces o' balsa sheet are glued together t' make a block. Aye aye! Avast! A template is included t' so you can mark t' canopy's basic profile. It is a bit o' work t' shape t' canopy, shiver me timbers, arrr, but if you take your time and follow t' tips given in t' instructions, matey, me hearties, you will be rewarded with a fine lookin' piece o' hand shaped balsa. Ahoy! This is definitely a "builder's" kit.

Finishing:
No special techniques required for finishing. Pick you favorite. Avast, me proud beauty! I filled the wood and tube spirals with Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! A couple o' coats of Rustoleum gray primer, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, sandin' in betwixt coats. Ya scallywag! Final finish is two coats of Krylon gloss black, shiver me timbers, leavin' stripes o' t' flat primer, matey, accented with yellow stripes on t' gray borders. T' finished product is sort o' an "X-Plane" theme.

About t' only thin' missin' would be nice set o' decals. Aye aye! A pre-formed canopy would make t' build go faster.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Flight prep is standard stuff. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! A motor clip retains t' motor. Aye aye! Begad! A handful of "dog barf" wadding, fold t' chute, me hearties, and pack it in. Launch lugs are 1/8" diameter.

T' first flight was on an Estes C11-5. Aye aye! Aye aye! It left t' pad with authority on the C11. Blimey! Aye aye! There was a slight 5mph breeze that day. Ahoy! At approximately 300 feet it started t' weather vane into t' wind at about a 45 deg angle. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! T' delay was a bit long and made for an excitin' dive before t' chute opened. Well, blow me down! Definitely a rocket for calm days.

T' second flight be on a D12-5. Aye aye! Much better flight. Nay as much weathercocking.

Recovery:
T' shock cord be t' popular Keelhaul®©™® thread attached t' t' MMT, extendin' out past t' end o' t' body tube where it is attached t' an elastic shock cord t' t' nose cone. Ya scallywag! Begad! T' mylar chute is attached t' t' nose cone eyelet with a snap clip swivel. Blimey! Begad!

Recovery went well. Ya scallywag! It comes down slow but all t' fin surface does make for a lot of drift. Begad! Arrr! Even with a late ejection on t' C11-5, t' rocket suffered no damage durin' t' recovery. Begad! Begad!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' main thin' with this rocket be t' look. It has t' "cool" factor in abundance.

No real cons. T' complex fin alignment and canopy carvin' makes this a builder's kit. Ahoy! Blimey! Nay for t' inexperienced.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5