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

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

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

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

Finishing:
Two coats o' high-build automotive primer, arrr, ya bilge rat, sanded, then used catalyzed automotive urethane for t' overall white. Then lightly sanded and added t' red rattle-can enamel Krylon t' t' fin can. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Blimey! Paintin' enamel over smooth automotive paint results in a smoother, glossier enamel. Aye aye! Arrr! Blimey!

This kit comes with six sheets o' self-adhesive decals. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! 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. Ahoy! Apogee's motor chart predicts 294 feet and that seems about right. Aye aye! T' steel clips make prep a snap. For a school demo on t' football field, you can't beat it. Begad! T' three motors create a lot of smoke and fire. I can't wait t' fly this on 3 F12 Blackjacks. It should be spectacular. No cons.

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

Cost. Begad! T' Quasar model is $47.99, arrr, while most 2.6" models this size usin' t' Madcow nose cone are $59 t' $69.

CONs: Balsa fins, matey, tri-fold paper mount, cluster may be challengin' t' light.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5