Brief:
1/10 Scale Model o' t' Canadian Soundin' Rocket, ya bilge rat, t' Black Brant VA. Arrr! Avast! It is a single stage rocket with parachute.

Construction:
T' kit consists o' one 1.72" main body tube, arrr, one smaller aft tube, matey, balsa nosecone, shiver me timbers, motor mount parts, vinyl and waterslide decals, me bucko, 20 laser cut parts for t' fins, me bucko, 24" o' Keelhaul®©™®, and 33 inches o' 3/8" elastic shock cord. Begad! Arrr! It includes detailed instructions as well. T' model is a three fin and body tube type. Blimey!

T' instructions twelve B&W 8.5" x 11" pages. Well, blow me down! The instructions include a very nice engineerin' drawin' o' t' model with marking information. Arrr! T' motor mount instructions were clear and straightforward. The tail assembly be t' most complicated part o' t' model. T' instructions take two full pages. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! I did find some o' t' marking/test fit/gluin' instructions confusing. Arrr! It is a lot o' text t' read through. Arrr! Avast! I would recommend readin' it through several times and breakin' t' build down into smaller sections. The fins mount t' t' aft tube only. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! T' aft assembly is then glued t' t' primary body tube. A note o' caution: In t' same paragraph that has you test fitting the aft tube also has you gluin' in t' motor mount. Avast! T' full size sanding instructions were very nice.

Finishing:
I personally had difficulty in gettin' a smooth finish on t' balsa nose cone. My first coat o' primer be too thick. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! When I started t' sand it smooth, arrr, me hearties, the paint lifted off and became uneven. It took seven more coats o' a thinner primer t' get a minimum acceptable finish. T' rocket is red overall with one white fin. Well, blow me down! I chose t' build and paint t' rocket red without t' one white fin. T' one white fin was painted separately then glued on after drying. Arrr! Aye aye! Blimey! T' decals went on without difficulty. Begad! Blimey!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
First flight was on t' recommended D12-5. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' model uses a standard metal retention clip. Aye aye! Recovery waddin' was used. Begad! T' rocket lifted off with ease and was a very straight flight. Well, blow me down! Avast!

Recovery:
Ejection was normal although t' delay be closer t' 4 seconds. T' chute opened and t' rocket settled down. Avast! Begad! It was noticed that thar be some separation at ejection. Blimey! After recovery, it be discovered t' separation was half o' one o' red fins. Arrr! Avast! It tore along t' balsa grain. Avast, me proud beauty! There be also a crescent shape dent in t' nose cone. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! I suspect that t' nose cone impacted the body tube durin' ejection.

Flight Rating: 2 out o' 5

Summary:
I feel t' highlight o' this rocket is that it is a scale model o' t' Black Brant. I really like this family o' rockets and ARG has made a whole collection in t' same scale. T' con was t' fin separation durin' flight. I would consider some type o' reinforcement for t' fins, either tissue or fiberglass. Alternatively, new fins could be cut with t' grain goin' t' opposite direction.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5