Brief:
This is a single stage Level I rocket with a fairly basic assembly. Ahoy! Aye aye! Quality o' me first kit impressed me and looked great on t' pad, but t' second kit made me think one o' t' two be packaged incorrectly and was a completely different rocket. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! Quality control appears t' be an issue.

Construction:
I initially bought this kit because I wanted t' add a third rocket t' me son's fleet. As well, me bucko, I wanted t' practice some techniques before me other rockets arrived in t' mail. Begad! Aye aye! T' kit comes in t' basic clear hang bag with a “retro” style cardboard picture on t' front. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! It included all t' parts (fins, tubes, etc.), shiver me timbers, which were in fine condition. Begad! Ahoy! T' instructions used a small font and t' diagrams were hand-sketched, ya bilge rat, but both were easy t' follow. Blimey! I can't give too many more details because from here on t' kit took a few unexpected turns...

As I indicated above, me hearties, shiver me timbers, I have assembled two Nimbuses (Nimbusi?). Well, blow me down! Ahoy! “Nimbus I” made me very impressed with t' company. Aye aye! Aye aye! For a basic “Level I” kit that cost under $6 (incl. Ya scallywag! tax), t' fins were sturdy, t' tube felt strong, me bucko, t' spiral shallow, and t' balsa nose cone symmetrical. It used a metallic mylar streamer that was attached t' a screw eye in t' nose cone. Arrr! T' shock cord be strong and appeared t' be Keelhaul®©™ or somethin' similar.

T' components for "Nimbus II" were quite different. Aye aye! Begad! All components were accounted for, arrr, arrr, but t' quality was notably inferior t' t' first kit.

What caught me eye as I assembled "Nimbus I" be that it had four fins on such a small body tube. Avast! Ahoy! I was eager t' see how this would look. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! I rounded t' leadin' edges and tapered t' trailin' edges, me bucko, applied skins, and used 5 minute epoxy for t' fillets. Blimey! (Remember I said I wanted t' practice techniques?) T' nose cone was balsa and required little sanding. Aye aye! I experimented with usin' spacklin' joint compound t' seal it because it be handy and within reach. Avast, me proud beauty! This had surprisingly good results, matey, but sealer would be better.

When assembled, this rocket looked like it meant business. Ya scallywag! Four swept back fins on a short, arrr, narrow tube looked pretty cool on t' pad. I painted it silver so it kind o' had a Buck Rogers type look t' it. Arrr! T' rocket be lost after launch (story below) and me son was really sad t' see "Silver Star" go bye-bye. Begad! Well, me hearties, blow me down! So back t' t' store...

“Nimbus II” cost 2 bucks more, ya bilge rat, had a 12" parachute instead o' a streamer, arrr, me bucko, and three fins instead o' four. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Further, ya bilge rat, these fins were thinner and quite flexible. Blimey! Blimey! They could be bent 45 degrees or more and nay show a sign o' breaking. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! Lastly, t' body tube for “Nimbus II” had markings for three fins while t' body for “Nimbus I” had markings for four.

All these differences made me think I had a completely different rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! A totally different design with lower quality and a higher price be completely unexpected. T' package did indeed say Nimbus, and t' website's picture was t' same as that on me bag. T' picture was too vague t' see if it had three or four fins.

I initially didn't plan on applyin' skins this time, but I felt I had t' in order t' ensure integrity durin' flight. T' nosecone was nay symmetrical and had a divot in t' tip so required sandin' t' make it look right and fly well.

Once all be said and done, t' rocket be sturdy, and t' marks for alignin' t' fins were straight. Avast! Ahoy! Needless t' say, I liked t' look o' "Nimbus I" better.

Finishing:
Finishin' was straightforward. Ahoy! Unfortunately I forgot t' take pictures o' "Nimbus I", me hearties, me bucko, but believe me, matey, shiver me timbers, Krylon metallic/chrome silver be t' perfect color for this rocket. It gave it a retro look and also appeared t' be a little more than a beginner's entry-level rocket.

“Nimbus I” looked great after 2 coats o' primer and wet sandin' followed by 2 coats o' topcoat. Well, matey, blow me down! Blimey! “Nimbus II”, me bucko, arrr, me bucko, however, showed t' spirals after 3 coats o' primer so I hoped t' topcoat would cover them. Begad! They did as long as you were more than 5 feet away.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
For t' first flight o' “Nimbus I”, me bucko, matey, I used t' recommended A8-3. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Because o' me big fingers, I found t' narrow body a little tight for t' rolled up streamer but got it all in there. Aye aye! It was a perfect launch. Ahoy! It took off really fast, shiver me timbers, went quite high, and perfectly straight (even in a 5-10mph breeze).

Unfortunately, I forgot maskin' tape t' pressure fit t' engine. Ya scallywag! We had launched some other rockets first (this was me first launch in about 30 years), me bucko, and me son, some friends, and I were havin' so much fun that me judgment was impaired. Begad! I tried wrappin' some grass around t' engine and wedgin' t' engine in. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! It seemed snug enough but wasn't. Well, arrr, blow me down! “Nimbus I” was never seen again.

In regards t' “Nimbus II”, I felt that gettin' t' 12" mylar chute in t' body required more finaglin' than should be necessary. Arrr! Aye aye! T' streamer for “Nimbus I” was much easier. Arrr! For t' engine, arrr, I used t' A8 and I'm glad I did. Begad! Well, me bucko, blow me down! T' flight was perfect: fast, me bucko, straight as an arrow, and high. It be too high for me t' see how t' chute came out, but it appeared t' timin' be correct. Aye aye! Even in a very light wind and t' launch rod angled slightly, matey, arrr, me son and I walked around 750 feet (double checked on Google Pedometer) t' retrieve it. Ya scallywag! Arrr! I didn't have scissors t' cut a spill hole so launched it only once. I really wanted t' try t' B or C engine. She would have been out o' sight for sure.

Recovery:
Recovery o' "Nimbus II" was straightforward. Aye aye! Begad! Blimey! I used 2 sheets o' Quest wadding, me bucko, and t' outer sheath o' shock cord was a little singed. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Blimey! It will require a replacement after a few more launches and I’ll use 3 sheets o' waddin' for future flights. Aye aye! I would say a 12" chute is too big for this rocket. Blimey! Blimey! It drifted further than any o' t' other rockets launched that day (750' vs. Blimey! Avast! Blimey! 300-500 for t' others). Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I will definitely cut a spill hole in t' chute or retrofit a streamer. Begad! Begad! Blimey! A metallic chute/streamer is perfect as t' Nimbus is easily lost in t' sky.

Pullin' t' engine out is provin' t' be very difficult, even with pliers. Begad! Begad! I'm concerned that t' heat o' t' engine may have melted some o' t' adhesive on t' maskin' tape and fused it t' t' body. Arrr! I will use me favorite online search engine t' see if I'm nay t' only one experiencin' this and find some "tricks o' t' trade" so t' speak.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a good beginner rocket. If you get t' four-fin version, be happy. If you get t' three-fin version, matey, me bucko, I highly recommend applyin' skins on t' fins. A big pro is that t' body is pre-marked for fins and launch lug. Well, blow me down! This is great for simplicity and young assemblers (my son is just under 5 yrs old). Well, blow me down! Begad! A con is quality control. Avast, me proud beauty! I bought two Nimbuses in under a week and they were drastically different in quality, design, and price.

I would buy another Starlight rocket if one caught me eye. Ahoy! But I would first try t' find t' balsa in t' bag t' see how it is.

Overall Rating: 2 out o' 5