Brief:
T' Patriot is Quasar kit that's transitional. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Blimey! It has a high power body tube and nose cone but clusters three 24mm motors and has surface mount balsa fins. Avast! Blimey! I got t' kit from Apogee and they say it's one o' their best-sellin' Quasar products. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! Blimey! It's a great lookin' kit.

Construction:
Parts: a 34" full length high-power body tube, shiver me timbers, plastic nose cone, steel eye bolt, pre-cut balsa fins, thick illustration board style centerin' rings, ya bilge rat, 24mm clustered motor mount with steel clips, and engine blocks. Self-adhesive decals: six sheets o' full-color decals. Avast! Quasar uses thick plastic for their parachutes and include a swivel, t' shock cord is elastic, shiver me timbers, and they include reinforcement rings.

It arrived in a huge hang tag bag. Aye aye! Arrr! T' first thin' t' build be t' motor mount. Arrr! I scraped off some o' t' foil inside t' end o' t' tube t' glue t' thrust rings. Avast! T' cluster centerin' rings on Quasars build without a hitch, me hearties, shiver me timbers, and other manufacturers could take lessons. Arrr! No sanding, ya bilge rat, no loose parts, matey, just a perfect fit.

T' surface mount balsa fins glue on easily. Ahoy! EMRR fin tip #29: It's like makin' a slot only you lightly cut the top body tube layer, then peel off that first layer. Blimey! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! I prepared them for paint with one coat o' thinned Elmer's Wood Filler.

Finishing:
Two coats o' high-build automotive primer, sanded, me hearties, then used catalyzed automotive urethane for t' overall white. Then lightly sanded and added t' red rattle-can enamel Krylon t' t' fin can. Aye aye! Paintin' enamel over smooth automotive paint results in a smoother, glossier enamel. Begad!

This kit comes with six sheets o' self-adhesive decals. They are good quality and give the finished kit a wonderful scale look. Arrr! Cons: instructions are nay quite at t' level o' t' best kit makers.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
First flight on three C-11s was perfect. Avast, me proud beauty! Apogee's motor chart predicts 294 feet and that seems about right. Blimey! T' steel clips make prep a snap. For a school demo on t' football field, you can't beat it. Avast! Aye aye! T' three motors create a lot of smoke and fire. Begad! I can't wait t' fly this on 3 F12 Blackjacks. Avast! Begad! It should be spectacular. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! No cons.

Recovery:
T' parachute is plastic but thicker than typical low-power parachutes. Avast, me proud beauty! It should last longer, but it's also heavier. T' shock cord mount is paper tri-fold. Avast! It's functional, arrr, me bucko, but most builders will want t' add Keelhaul®©™®. T' eye bolt on t' nose cone is huge and heavy-duty. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
PROs: Extremely impressive lookin' rocket, quick build, best-in-show fit for cluster parts, high-quality foil lined motor tubes, matey, lots o' different motor options, ya bilge rat, matey, clusters can be loud and smoky.

Cost. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! T' Quasar model is $47.99, while most 2.6" models this size usin' t' Madcow nose cone are $59 t' $69.

CONs: Balsa fins, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, tri-fold paper mount, me hearties, ya bilge rat, cluster may be challengin' t' light.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5