Introduction:
Scale model o' t' U.S. Army's first guided missile. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I got t' Aerospace Specialty Products catalog by sendin' e-mail t' them. ASP has some really cool products, especially for NARRRRR people gettin' into competition. Ahoy! Blimey! It's a basement business, so don't expect call center answerin' systems and full blown retail convenience. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! I bought a couple o' Mylar chutes and decided that I'd give one of their kits a try. Ya scallywag! Blimey!

It's a good solid kit. Quality BT50 size tube with Keelhaul®©™® shock cord anchor, balsa nose cone and basswood fins. Avast! Aye aye! It comes with one o' their 12" mylar chutes. All in all it's a pretty straight forward and simple kit. Well, blow me down! I'll let you know how it flies later. I'm sure this is typical o' ASP, ya bilge rat, so I can comfortably recommend them. Begad! Ahoy! I will definitely buy more stuff from them in t' future. Blimey!

Quality Scale Kit...
This is a scale model o' t' US Army's first guided ballistic missile. Arrr! The Corporal missile was developed about t' time and by t' same folks who developed t' WAC Corporal soundin' rocket (hence t' name similarity). Begad! This kit has a minimum level o' detail and no documentation, so you'll have t' dig that up yourself. Ahoy! It's a great flyin' rocket.

Construction:
Construction is pretty straight forward. Begad! It use thin basswood for t' fins rather than balsa. Arrr! T' conduits on t' sides are balsa strips sanded round. Avast! Aye aye! The nose cone and payload coupler are balsa. T' decals are t' peel and stick on type. If you've spent time buildin' paper and wood models, arrr, this will be a snap. Otherwise, me bucko, me bucko, it makes a great first kit. Begad!

I started out wrappin' t' body tube and payload section with 1/2 oz fiberglass. Aye aye! Begad! I also glassed t' fins. It resulted in a hard, smooth surface. I then installed t' motor mount as per t' directions usin' yellow glue. Avast, me proud beauty! Here my only objection is a lack o' a motor hook. Aye aye! Avast! T' 18 mm tube is inside a 24 mm tube and t' two tubes are flush, so thar's no way t' apply an external wrap of tape. T' only thin' holdin' t' motor in is friction. Well, blow me down! T' payload section/nose cone is quite heavy, so this rocket is a good candidate for a drag separation, so you'll want t' coupler t' fit snug too. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Be careful as inexperienced people could have drag separation, or motor ejection. Blimey!

I attached t' fins with thickened epoxy. Avast! Arrr! T' reason I used epoxy be I could get a strong bond, but I had some time t' work with it. Arrr! Well, me hearties, blow me down! I glued a spent motor onto a scrap piece o' cardboard. Arrr! Aye aye! I placed t' body tube on t' this. Ya scallywag! motor such that t' fins would just touch t' cardboard. Ya scallywag! I be hopin' that I could set t' four finned rocket on a flat surface and it wouldn't rock. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty!

I finished all t' balsa parts t' same way. Aye aye! Blimey! I applied 2 coats o' sanding sealer, me hearties, sandin' with very fine sand paper betwixt coats. Then I mixed some RAKA epoxy with maple flour until it was as thick as very thick syrup. Aye aye! Blimey! I painted this on t' balsa parts. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! There be no sign o' grain after this. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I applied a wrap o' maskin' tape t' t' payload coupler. Begad! Blimey! This isn't really a payload rocket. Begad! Blimey! Payload area is filled with clay. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Blimey!

I applied 2 coats o' scratch fillin' primer, ya bilge rat, wet sandin' betwixt coats with very fine sandpaper. Begad! Finally I applied 3 thin coats o' Krylon White. Well, blow me down! When this was done I carefully applied t' decals. Aye aye! I'm quite pleased with t' results. Won't win any contests, but it looks really nice. Ya scallywag!

Materials get a 4 (on a scale o' 1 t' 5). I deduct a half point for t' lack o' a motor clip and a half point because thar be nay scale data for t' rocket included. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! If they would include a dimensioned drawin' and color drawing, it would be perfect. Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight/Recovery:
I only recommend t' A, me bucko, B and C motors. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! It would handle t' D motors just fine, but it would go very high, very fast and be hard t' track. T' C motor gets it way up there. Begad! It flies very straight, even in windy conditions. Well, blow me down! It's fairly heavy for it diameter and fin area, so it doesn't tend t' weather cock much. Begad! Arrr!

T' supplied parachute is fine, in fact I'm kinda in love with t' ASP mylar chutes. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I attach a snap swivel from a fishin' supply store and use t' ASP parachute on all me model rockets. Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! That parachute has been through a lot. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Get a red one.

It's a fine flier. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a very pretty rocket. Well, blow me down! Avast! T' value for your loot if fantastic. It flies well, matey, matey, high and straight every time. It's large enough that you can just see it a t' end o' a C6-5 boost. T' take off is nice and slow with t' A motor.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5