T' Mirage was t' second medium-power rocket and t' first Aerotech kit that I built. In addition, this kit be t' largest rocket that I have ever built, towerin' 87" (that's 7'- 3"!).It is 2.6" in diameter and weighs 31 ounces.It flies with 29mm motors. Ya scallywag! Blimey! In a nutshell, it's a whole lot o' rocket!

T' kit comes with three body tubes with couplers, plastic nose cone, matey, arrr, and launch lugs. Blimey! Due t' mid-separation, matey, shiver me timbers, it comes with t' hardware necessary t' attach two 8 foot shock cords and two nylon parachutes (one 22" and one 30"). T' motor mount hardware includes a LABYRINTH coolin' mesh and ejection baffle, me hearties, which eliminates t' need for wadding, as well as a motor retention hook. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! There are three large plastic fins with tabs for mountin' in Aerotech's FIN-LOK system through a pre-slotted body tube. Blimey! Lastly, thar be a large Mirage decal. Arrr!

T' Aerotech web site indicates that this kit comes with a 24mm adapter. My kit did nay and quite frankly due t' size and weight t' only 24mm motors I would use would be F24 and F39 and then flights would be less than 400 feet. Ya scallywag! I think its a misprint on t' web site because t' catalog does nay indicate a 24mm adapter.

There are six pages o' clear, illustrated instructions. Aye aye! There are a couple o' breakouts which provide a location guide for t' motor mount and a detail o' t' fin. Well, blow me down! T' remainin' illustrations provide adequate information for assembly. Ahoy! T' instructions also provide clear batten down t' hatchess on use o' glue, such as, nay puttin' it on t' shock cord since it will weaken it and t' avoid gettin' glue into t' FIN-LOK ring's. Avast, me proud beauty! T' instructions are in logical order and can ensure a successful assembly if followed. Aye aye!

T' instructions suggest usin' medium viscosity CA, matey, however, I used 5 and 30-minute epoxy. Begad! Blimey! In doin' so, I had t' wait a few extra minutes betwixt steps, me hearties, however, I still built t' entire kit in about one and a half hours.

T' assembly o' this large rocket be very easy and thar were no problems. Well, blow me down! Avast! Blimey! All o' t' parts fit and went together as described. Blimey! Blimey! T' most difficult part o' this rocket is dealin' with it's height. If you're nay extra careful, arrr, you will certainly hit t' ceilin' a few times. Ahoy! Avast! Blimey! Also dealin' with it's size adds a challenge t' finishing.

Durin' t' finishin' stage I decided t' nay fill t' body tube grooves with anythin' and just build it up usin' Plasti-Kote primer. Begad! This be nay t' best decision. Ahoy! This was nay t' best decision. It took about 5 coats, sandin' inbetween each one, arrr, matey, before t' grooves were filled. T' nose cone was one o' t' biggest problems due t' t' moldin' grooves left on each side.

Once fully primed, ya bilge rat, I chose t' paint t' rocket with a deep maroon metallic automotive lacquer. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! I painted t' entire rocket this color. Well, blow me down! Then I took a can o' chrome paint and sprayed t' nose cone and t' upper section o' t' rocket, shiver me timbers, nay protectin' anythin' from over spray. Ahoy! Blimey! I think this gave a nice "fade-in" look. Begad!

T' kit comes with one decal with t' name Mirage™ on it, shiver me timbers, however I did nay choose t' use it at first. I have since gone back and used it. I followed t' directions completely and cut out t' decal, ya bilge rat, peeled t' back off, me hearties, dipped it into some soapy water then applied it t' t' body. Aye aye! Aye aye! I adhered nicely. Blimey!

Overall, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 5 points. Ahoy! I didn't find a single problem. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad!

T' Mirage has a mid-separation design which releases t' upper five foot section t' descend on it's own 22" parachute. Well, blow me down! T' second 30" parachute carries t' bottom, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, fin and motor, section down.

T' kit uses two launch lugs. Arrr! One is on t' upper section and t' other is on t' bottom section. These two need t' be aligned t' allow for a smooth launch off o' t' guide rod. T' last page in t' instructions are t' "Operation Instructions" and they indicate that "a 1/4" diameter metal launch rod at least 36" long (as measured from t' top o' t' blast deflector)" should be used. Ahoy! This can nay be correct and must be a blanket operation instruction for other Aerotech kits since t' top launch lug is about 38" from t' bottom o' t' rocket. I used a five foot rod and even that seemed a tad bit short.

T' maiden voyage be on an Aerotech Single-Use F25-6. Well, blow me down! Excellent slow and loud lift off. Begad! Excellent slow and loud lift off. Ya scallywag! T' F25 powered t' Mirage to a fully observable apogee (wRASP says about 675 feet), ya bilge rat, then about 2 seconds after apogee t' ejection charge pushed t' upper section away and both parachutes deployed. Avast, me proud beauty! T' upper section came down faster than t' lower section. T' lower section drifted more than t' upper section, so it would be good t' have a flyin' partner t' help in retrieval.

T' second flight be supposed t' be on a G80-7, however, shiver me timbers, after 4 puffs this motor be nay goin' t' ignite. Well, blow me down! So t' second flight be on an Aerotech EconoJet G35-7. Well, blow me down! This flight was also great t' watch with separation at apogee. Aye aye! Begad!

T' LABYRINTH ejection gas coolin' system did exactly what it claims to; "T' ignition o' t' ejection charge creates a burst o' hot expandin' gas which is cooled by t' permanent metal mesh . Avast! . . T' cooled gas flows around t' baffle, matey, pressurizes t' parachute bay and ejects t' nose cone (or payload bay) and parachute." I had no damage t' me shock cords or parachutes.  

One other interestin' fact about t' Mirage is how well suited it is for many different motors. Avast! Ahoy! Accordin' t' wRASP, t' Mirage will have excellent flights (with ejection very near or at apogee) on Single-Use motors, F20-4, me hearties, F25-4, F50-6, G80-7 and RMS motors, F52-5, arrr, G33-5 and G64-7. Begad! I'm sure t' North Coast Rocketry Darkstar F62-6 would also give a nice flight. Ahoy! I look forward t' usin' some o' these other motors!

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, I would rate this kit 5 points.

Overall, me bucko, ya bilge rat, for t' price and ease o' build, t' Mirage is a great kit for someone lookin' for a very large, shiver me timbers, me bucko, mid-powered rocket with little experience. Begad! Arrr! I give t' kit an OVERALL ratin' o' 5 points. Ya scallywag!

T' followin' excerpt is from "Sport Rocketry". T' intention is t' allow guests t' get a basic feelin' about a kit. Blimey! We strongly suggest that you get a copy o' t' referenced Sport Rocketry and read t' entire article. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! Inside you will find many helpful hints in construction as well as other useful information. Avast, me proud beauty! For more information, use t' two links above. Avast, me proud beauty!

"T' Mirage is a tall, me hearties, attractive model standin' 87" tall and 2. Avast, me proud beauty! 6" in diameter. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! Blimey! " 
"Her features are t' Labyrinth ejection charge coolin' system, molded plastic fins, me bucko, arrr, through-the-wall fin mounting, arrr, me bucko, dual parachute recovery, large decal sheet, and complete instructions. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! " 
"Flights with t' F40 were very interesting. Blimey! Begad! Liftoff was slow, me hearties, ya bilge rat, me bucko, but then t' Mirage picked up speed. Avast! " 
"T' Aerotech Mirage is a very nice kit t' get started in higher power rockets. Arrr! Aye aye! Blimey! " 
"She is a large, good lookin' kit that is very easy t' build and fly. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! " 
"On a scale o' one t' ten, this model deserves a ten. Well, blow me down! " 

T' entire article gives t' impression is that this is an excellent kit for a beginner/intermediate modeler. Aye aye!