Brief:
A diminutive scale model o' a Sandia Sandhawk that's small in size but big on detail.

Construction:
Don't be mislead, as I was, ya bilge rat, arrr, matey, about t' skill required t' build this kit. Begad! What you get for your loot is a great 13mm body tube, a shorter piece o' 13mm tube for t' nose cone, shiver me timbers, a good quality balsa nose and a balsa plug (more on this later), ya bilge rat, matey, a length o' wire, arrr, me bucko, a generous (read: twice as much as needed) amount o' basswood for t' fins, ya bilge rat, and some o' t' best instructions in t' industry. Ahoy! Dig further and you'll find t' thickest streamer you've ever seen, and some good elastic and Keelhaul®©™® for t' shock cord.

T' instructions are t' best I've seen in a long, long time. Avast, me proud beauty! Likewise, me hearties, t' quality o' components will blow you away, matey, me bucko, especially considerin' this kit's price is so cheap! It seems like it will go together easily enough, but... Arrr! Blimey! If you want t' build a "slap-dash" rocket, shiver me timbers, go satisfy your need for instant gratification with an Estes E2X kit. If you want somethin' you actually have t' build, shiver me timbers, matey, look no further. Ya scallywag! This kit's as challengin' as you want t' make it. Well, blow me down! Personally, I don't care t' make it a 100% perfect replica o' t' real thing. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! I fly every rocket I build, ya bilge rat, so sometimes I take liberties in t' construction. Ahoy! Ahoy! They may nay be perfect scale rockets, matey, but they fly, matey, and are durable. This thin' goes together with all t' tools you already have, me bucko, so no need t' buy anythin' special. Ahoy! T' balsa plug is used t' fill t' short body tube, and is glued in place, along with t' nose cone. Ahoy! Blimey! This whole assembly becomes t' nose cone, matey, and t' solid nature o' it gives t' wire antennae someplace t' glue into.

Finishing:
This rocket finishes great! T' basswood isn't grainy, and with a little care and a lot o' sealer and primer and sandpaper, t' spirals and nose cone and body joint will completely disappear. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! T' only con here: t' decals look cheesy if t' paint is nay matched exactly. But I built it t' fly primarily, ya bilge rat, me hearties, so it doesn't matter too much t' me.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Prep is as easy as they come, me bucko, but loadin' t' humongous streamer takes skill. Ya scallywag! It will get stuck if nay rolled as tightly as possible. Begad! My suggestion is t' cut it in half lengthwise and discard one half o' it. Aye aye! Aye aye! I suggest keepin' t' power low, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, me hearties, because this sucker will move out with authority! An Estes 13mm 1/2 A3-2T will suffice, but an A3-4T will give you a good chance t' lose t' rocket. Avast! Expect about 800+ feet with an A10-3T. Blimey! Arrr! T' rocket will fly perfectly time after time, matey, and recovers well on a streamer.

Recovery:
T' only con here would be t' tendency for t' streamer t' get stuck. Avast! I'd add me own streamer next time, me bucko, and use a much thinner material.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
I would like t' recommend this kit t' anybody who is bored with all t' plastic schlock that's out thar today. Avast! Begad! This gives a buddin' rocketeer a chance t' learn some skills, shiver me timbers, or for a BAR like me t' hone them or just remember what it was like on a rainy Saturday in t' mid 1970s t' build a Mars Snooper or Trident. Avast, me proud beauty! T' only con I would throw in here be t' company itself. I visited their booth at LDRS in 2000, and nay only did t' representative thar totally ignore me (I practically needed a bull hornpipe t' get his attention t' buy a kit, matey, arrr, and I was t' only customer at t' time), me bucko, he wouldn't even answer me questions, nor did he say thanks for purchasin' one o' their kits! You know, guys, matey, shiver me timbers, if you want a loyal customer, ya bilge rat, a smile (at least) would go a long way. Begad! But nevermind. Aye aye! Despite bein' t' grouchiest rocket company on t' planet, they have reason t' be a bit smug. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! This is one great kit.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5