Brief:
This is a single stage model rocket kit. Aye aye! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! It is a futuristic booster for a satellite. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! T' kit uses a 12" parachute and has a payload section. Well, blow me down! Blimey! It also has a cool lookin' plastic nose cone, me bucko, matey, shiver me timbers, which I guess be t' satellite! Blimey! I was attracted t' this kit because o' its cool, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, different looks and because it uses 24mm motors.

Construction:
I got t' kit on eBay and it came in fine shape. Avast! It be packed in a standard plastic bag with a cardstock kit liner with a color picture o' t' rocket. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! The kit uses a very different lookin' plastic nose cone that I have never seen quite like before. Avast, me proud beauty! t' fins are cut from a big sheet o' nice, fine grain basswood. Begad! You cut a fin template from cardstock and trace it onto t' basswood. There is a helpful aid that shows how t' lay out t' fins on t' sheet. There is enough basswood stock for a little more than t' 3 fins you need t' cut out. T' instructions have you first assemble t' motor mount, install it before movin' on t' t' fins. Arrr! A tube markin' guide is placed on t' body tube so that it can be marked where t' fins are t' be glued on. Begad! You then attach a nice size screw eye t' a balsa transition. Aye aye! That subassembly is glued into t' BT-55 payload tube. Blimey! You then put some strips on t' nose cone t' keep it on in flight, shiver me timbers, attach a parachute, arrr, me bucko, and t' rest is regular assembly items. Blimey! There is a nice amount o' separate picture sheets with t' instructions t' help in the construction o' t' kit! T' kit also uses a metal motor hook for motor retention. Ya scallywag! T' shock cord was connected by a Keelhaul®©™® cord t' t' motor mount. Avast! Blimey!

This be t' second Rocketpad kit I have assembled, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, me bucko, t' first be their USSC SHARK kit that I got last year. Aye aye! T' instruction in this kit were much better. There were no spellin' errors and be easier t' follow. I was happy with this kit. Ya scallywag! As I had said earlier, arrr, I like t' screw eye size, which is a little thing, but some kits I have built had big balsa nose cone with tiny screw deadlights that look weak. Begad! Ahoy! It was also nice t' have that large sheet o' basswood because I messed up on one fin. Blimey! Well, blow me down! T' card template be a nice plus--much better than a sheet o' thin paper t' trace t' fins with. Blimey! T' only thin' you have t' have is a good X-Acto knife t' cut t' basswood. Aye aye! I used Elmer's wood glue and it worked fine. Begad! Aye aye! There were no cons I can think o' on this kit.

Finishing:
I filled in t' balsa nose cone and basswood fins. T' grain in t' basswood only used 2 coats o' sealer and t' transition took 3 coats t' smooth them out. T' parachute be a bright red mylar with Keelhaul®©™® shroud lines already assembled from Rockethead Rockets. Blimey! Ahoy! T' decals are colorful with several sheets o' decals t' cut out. They were very nice quality material and nay t' thin stuff you sometimes get. There were no cons in t' finishing of this kit. Arrr! Begad! I followed t' colors o' t' kit like on t' kit bag and it came out just like t' picture. Begad! It is an impressive kit t' look at. Avast!

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
T' kit uses a 3/16" launch lug and flies with 24mm C11 and D12 motors. Begad! Blimey! I placed about 4 or 5 sheets o' Estes waddin' in t' rocket and put in the recommended C11-5 for t' first flight. Ahoy! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! It launched straight up t' a few hundred feet and t' parachute came out right at apogee. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! T' bright red mylar was easy t' see in t' sunlight. Begad! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! There was just about no wind and it came back close t' t' pad. Blimey! Blimey! On t' second flight, I got brave and put a D12-7 in it. Straight up like t' first flight but much higher! Blimey! T' mylar parachute was easy to spot but I did have t' walk a bit t' get it at t' end o' t' high school field! Blimey! It took some time t' come down and I was happy thar be no wind!

Recovery:
T' shock cord was a 1/4" elastic with Keelhaul®©™® cord t' t' motor mount. Aye aye! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! T' 12 inch parachute was t' correct size for this kit. Ya scallywag! Blimey! My kit weighed 3oz, which be a little lighter than it said on t' kit sheet. Well, matey, blow me down! Blimey! There be no damage t' t' parachute. Blimey! Blimey! I would nay use a D motor with this kit in a small field and/or with any wind, matey, as it will have you running some distance t' retrieve it, me hearties, if you get it back at all!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I really like this kit and recommend it. Avast! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! T' instructions and decals were all fine. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! T' decals nicely dress up this kit.

There were no cons I can really think of, shiver me timbers, but be careful with which motor you use on a windy day!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5