Brief:
A small, lightweight 3FNC rocket with an unusual nose cone.

Construction:
Actually, I built 2 Yankee kits; one t' replace t' initial rocket that disappeared after its third flight. T' first kit featured a nice balsa nose cone, matey, shiver me timbers, but t' second kit, me hearties, while otherwise identical, had a plastic nose cone. Well, blow me down! But both kits featured a paper body tube, me hearties, die cut balsa fins, a short piece o' elastic, a streamer, and a decal. Ahoy! t' quality o' components be excellent, shiver me timbers, except for t' shock cord, which was comically short on each kit.

T' plastic nose cone be a tight fit, and needed considerable sandin' before it would fit. Begad! T' balsa piece fit nicely but had quite a bit o' grain t' it. Avast! Aye aye! I prefer this t' plastic, however. Avast! At any rate, it is a straightforward build, matey, and t' instructions seemed t' be somewhat better than normal Estes fare.

Finishing:
T' balsa nose needed considerable fillin' and sandin' t' be paintable. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! T' plastic piece be ready t' go right from t' box, me hearties, me hearties, ya bilge rat, once t' shoulder be sanded. Begad! I chose t' use automotive primer on t' original, applyin' thin coats and sandin' in betwixt applications t' get rid o' t' spiral and fin grain. Ya scallywag! Then I applied some black enamel, me hearties, followed with a coat o' clear t' keep t' decals on. Avast! Aye aye! Unfortunately, this one disappeared soon. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! T' second kit was simply sanded and sprayed with red and black and was considered finished after t' decals were applied.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Launchin' with an A8-3 produced a good, me bucko, matey, straight flight. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! I followed this with 2 flights on a B6-6, matey, and t' last one was never seen again. Avast, me proud beauty! T' subsequent kit be flown on "A" motors only for a while, matey, but I couldn't help tryin' a C6-7. Begad! We lost it too, me bucko, matey, but fortunately someone in our club found it and brought it t' t' RSO. Aye aye! It has since been modified for 13mm motors, shiver me timbers, me hearties, and does well enough on an A10-3T. Arrr! I've never had a recovery failure, me hearties, but if it did, t' thin' is so light weight it would probably recover just fine.

Recovery:
T' supplied shock cord is just too small. After about 6 flights some wear can be seen on t' end o' t' body tube because o' t' shock cord whippin' it. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! A good thin' t' do would be t' double t' cord length, matey, at least. Begad! Also, me bucko, me hearties, me hearties, t' bottom o' t' fins are gettin' crisp, ya bilge rat, though nay quite burnt. Aye aye! Begad! Overall, though, matey, this is a great flier.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Personally, I prefer t' older balsa nose cone, arrr, but t' plastic one will suffice. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Either way, it's a great beginner kit that a kid will have no problem constructing, and will deliver many good flights, so long as you can find it again. Arrr! Blimey! But add some length t' t' shock cord!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5