Description: Single staged 10.5mm motor (1/4 A through A in Apogee motors) rocket that is a minute scale model o' t' V2. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! Blimey!

Pros and cons o' construction: All parts specified were thar and undamaged. Ahoy! I got t' kit less than a week after I ordered it, and it was securely packed in styrofoam popcorn in a strong postal box. Blimey! T' nose cone is solid lightweight balsa wood. Well, blow me down! T' tail cone is also balsa, with a 10.5mm bore predrilled t' accept t' 10.5mm motor tube. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! T' body tube and motor tube are spiral wound paper. Avast! T' launch lug is plastic and is for 1/8 inch rods. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! The streamer is 17 inches o' 1 inch wide plastic. Begad! T' fins are die cut balsa.

Instructions are clear, illustrated and logical. Aye aye! Ahoy! You also get a historical essay on t' original V2, me hearties, and how its capture from t' Germans helped our space program.

Assembly be easy and quick. Ahoy! Arrr! You do have t' align t' 4 fins, me bucko, but that's not hard. Arrr! Well, blow me down! T' shock cord is thin Keelhaul®©™®-like strin' o' 20 inches in length. Begad! It fits into a plastic bead that glues into t' hole predrilled into t' base o' the nose cone. Well, blow me down! Me, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, arrr, I prefer screw-eyes, but this seemed t' work fine. Also, me hearties, shiver me timbers, if you've seen me other reviews, then you know that I have a thin' for stretchy shock cords, too. But this one worked without a hitch. I attached it into the forward centerin' rin' in t' motor mount. Avast, me proud beauty! White glue was used for assembly, but epoxy was used t' glass up t' fins and make them durable. Aye aye! Ahoy! It was also used to glass and smoothen t' nose cone. Arrr! Yellow spray paint was used as a primer. Blimey! I was about t' apply green, me bucko, when me cat, me bucko, Freeway, grabbed t' rocket and ran with it. Ya scallywag! I decided, after findin' it again, t' fly it as is. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty!

Pros and cons o' finishing: A simple paint job is enough. Begad! I chose t' glass t' fins out o' personal preference. Arrr! It's also a habit from high power rocketry. Blimey! A green camouflage paint job will be applied this week, even though me cat likes it yellow. Well, blow me down! Maybe green will make me lose it! At least yellow is easy t' find. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down!

Ratin' for construction and finishing: 4 out o' 5

Pros and cons about flight: Apogee recommends their 1/4 A through A line, me hearties, namely t' 1/4A2-2 or 4, shiver me timbers, 1/2A2-2 or 4 and t' A2-3 or 5 . Ahoy! T' shorter delays are recommended if it's breezy. Me, me hearties, I used an A2-5, me bucko, shiver me timbers, as it be a still day t' likes o' which only Phoenix can achieve. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, matey, blow me down! T' prep time be just seconds. A pinch o' worm bed waddin' and maskin' tape t' retain t' motor and it was ready. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! And t' Apogee igniters fit right into t' motor. Begad! T' flight was fast. Ahoy! A FWIT sound and it was gone, high and straight. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! Good thin' it was yellow or else I'd have lost it for sure. Avast! Begad! I luckily saw t' streamer. Maybe an itsy bitsy parachute would increase hang time and help me find it next time. Aye aye! Knowing my luck, arrr, matey, though, arrr, I'll catch a thermal. Avast, me proud beauty!

Pros and cons about recovery: (17" streamer) It was easy t' assemble. Well, blow me down! It worked just fine, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, without any damage or burnin' t' the rocket. Avast!

Ratin' o' flight and recovery: 4 out o' 5

Anythin' this kit taught me: Keep your kits away from your pets. More seriously, matey, shiver me timbers, I learned about t' history o' t' real V2. Aye aye! Arrr! I enjoyed that. Well, blow me down!