Description: Single staged 10.5mm motor (1/4 A through A in Apogee motors) rocket that is a minute scale model o' t' V2. Aye aye! Blimey!

Pros and cons o' construction: All parts specified were thar and undamaged. 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. Avast! Begad! T' nose cone is solid lightweight balsa wood. Well, blow me down! T' tail cone is also balsa, ya bilge rat, with a 10.5mm bore predrilled t' accept t' 10.5mm motor tube. Avast! T' body tube and motor tube are spiral wound paper. Ya scallywag! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! T' launch lug is plastic and is for 1/8 inch rods. Begad! The streamer is 17 inches o' 1 inch wide plastic. T' fins are die cut balsa.

Instructions are clear, me bucko, matey, illustrated and logical. You also get a historical essay on t' original V2, shiver me timbers, and how its capture from t' Germans helped our space program.

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

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

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

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

Pros and cons about recovery: (17" streamer) It was easy t' assemble. Avast, me proud beauty! It worked just fine, matey, ya bilge rat, without any damage or burnin' t' the rocket. Ya scallywag!

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

Anythin' this kit taught me: Keep your kits away from your pets. Avast! More seriously, me bucko, I learned about t' history o' t' real V2. Well, blow me down! I enjoyed that. Ya scallywag! Begad!