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. Well, blow me down! T' first kit featured a nice balsa nose cone, but t' second kit, me hearties, while otherwise identical, had a plastic nose cone. But both kits featured a paper body tube, shiver me timbers, arrr, die cut balsa fins, me bucko, a short piece o' elastic, a streamer, and a decal. t' quality o' components be excellent, arrr, except for t' shock cord, which was comically short on each kit.

T' plastic nose cone was a tight fit, me bucko, and needed considerable sandin' before it would fit. Avast, me proud beauty! T' balsa piece fit nicely but had quite a bit o' grain t' it. Well, blow me down! I prefer this t' plastic, arrr, however. Ahoy! At any rate, it is a straightforward build, ya bilge rat, and t' instructions seemed t' be somewhat better than normal Estes fare.

Finishing:
T' balsa nose needed considerable fillin' and sandin' t' be paintable. T' plastic piece was ready t' go right from t' box, me hearties, me bucko, once t' shoulder be sanded. Arrr! I chose t' use automotive primer on t' original, ya bilge rat, me hearties, applyin' thin coats and sandin' in betwixt applications t' get rid o' t' spiral and fin grain. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Then I applied some black enamel, shiver me timbers, followed with a coat o' clear t' keep t' decals on. Well, blow me down! Unfortunately, matey, ya bilge rat, this one disappeared soon. Aye aye! T' second kit be 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, straight flight. Well, blow me down! I followed this with 2 flights on a B6-6, and t' last one was never seen again. Begad! T' subsequent kit be flown on "A" motors only for a while, but I couldn't help tryin' a C6-7. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! Blimey! We lost it too, but fortunately someone in our club found it and brought it t' t' RSO. Aye aye! It has since been modified for 13mm motors, and does well enough on an A10-3T. Aye aye! Blimey! I've never had a recovery failure, 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. A good thin' t' do would be t' double t' cord length, shiver me timbers, at least. Also, t' bottom o' t' fins are gettin' crisp, arrr, though nay quite burnt. Well, blow me down! Overall, though, this is a great flier.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5