Brief:
T' True Modeler's NASA Scout is a 1/30 sport scale model which represents the initial test version o' t' vehicle. Ahoy!

Construction:
T' kit comes with a balsa nose cone and transition, arrr, four body tubes ranging from BT-5 t' BT-60, arrr, centerin' rings, me hearties, precut basswood fins, ya bilge rat, a 16 inch nylon parachute, arrr, arrr, shroud lines, two snap swivels, arrr, elastic shock cord, arrr, me hearties, a screw eye, lead weights, a launch lug, matey, self-stick decal, ya bilge rat, me hearties, two template sheets and an instruction sheet. Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! T' step-by-step text instructions (many accompanied by illustrations) are easy t' follow, matey, me bucko, with assembly broken down in t' several sections: engine tube assembly, arrr, upper body assembly, ya bilge rat, and main body assembly. Begad! Blimey!

My model went together easily, but I found a flaw in me sample: t' engine tube was 1/4 inch too long. Blimey! Ya scallywag! Unfortunately, ya bilge rat, I discovered this after I had followed t' instructions t' glue t' motor block into t' tube. Blimey! I easily fixed the situation, me hearties, arrr, ya bilge rat, however, me hearties, by gluin' another motor block from me spares bin in front o' t' kit block. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! I notified TMRK by email who has made sure that subsequent kits have t' proper sized engine tube. Ahoy! Blimey! If you've got an early edition o' t' kit, however, make sure you measure that tube! Blimey!

Other than that little adventure, shiver me timbers, me hearties, t' kit went together well: I wrinkled the upper shroud formed from t' supplied template card a bit, but it be usable. In case you really mess up though, me bucko, thar be a duplicate shroud template card in the kit, matey, a nice touch by TMRK. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' engine nozzle is also formed from a cardstock shroud, ya bilge rat, matey, along with an external centerin' ring. Ya scallywag! T' nose cone's shoulder must be cut apart t' form a nose block that is glued into t' upper end o' t' top body tube, me hearties, formin' a bay for t' supplied lead weights. Avast! Blimey!

Finishing:
I filled t' nose cone and balsa transition with Elmers Fill 'n' Finish, me bucko, primed the entire rocket, and painted it flat white, matey, with one fin and t' engine nozzle painted silver. I didn't catch onto t' fact that t' decal wrap be a self-stick until after I had dunked it into some water. T' finished model looks good, but I couldn't find any photos o' t' prototype vehicle, which flew with two live stages and three fins, so I have no idea how accurate it is. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' model flew well on its (so far) one and only flight usin' a B6-4. Avast! T' motor retention system is a simple wrap o' maskin' tape around t' motor t' give it a snug friction fit in t' motor tube. Blimey! It rose straight and true, with a weak ejection (not t' fault o' t' model, shiver me timbers, o' course) at apogee. Begad! Fortunately, me bucko, the large 16 inch cloth parachute deployed, gently lowerin' t' model for another flight.

Recovery:
T' instructions called for a standard 'Estes' style shock cord mount (folded paper glued into t' main body tube), ya bilge rat, but I modified it into a 'Quest' style system: a piece o' Keelhaul®©™® tied t' t' motor block that ended in a loop just below t' top o' t' body tube. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! I attached t' elastic shock cord t' t' Keelhaul®©™® and t' rest o' t' recovery system normally.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
BARs like me remember t' 'good old days,' when model rockets were built from kits usin' wood and paper... Begad! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! well, those days are back. Begad! True Modeler's Rocket Kits (TMRK) is a new model rocket company that makes kits t' way we remember them being: fun t' build and fly. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! I really enjoyed buildin' this model, me hearties, since I actually had t' build it, rather than just stick together a few plastic parts. It requires a bit o' care, especially with t' paper shrouds, but if you take your time you'll end up with a really spiffy lookin' sport scale model that flies straight and true. Avast! T' only con I have is a lack o' documentation for the actual vehicle.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5