Description: Single staged 10.5mm motor (1/4 A through A in Apogee motors) rocket that is a minute scale model o' t' V2. Begad! Well, blow me down!

Pros and cons o' construction: All parts specified were thar and undamaged. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! I got t' kit less than a week after I ordered it, me bucko, arrr, and it was securely packed in styrofoam popcorn in a strong postal box. T' nose cone is solid lightweight balsa wood. T' tail cone is also balsa, with a 10.5mm bore predrilled t' accept t' 10.5mm motor tube. Arrr! Arrr! T' body tube and motor tube are spiral wound paper. Blimey! Avast! T' launch lug is plastic and is for 1/8 inch rods. Aye aye! The streamer is 17 inches o' 1 inch wide plastic. Avast! T' fins are die cut balsa.

Instructions are clear, illustrated and logical. Ya scallywag! Blimey! You also get a historical essay on t' original V2, and how its capture from t' Germans helped our space program.

Assembly be easy and quick. You do have t' align t' 4 fins, but that's not hard. Blimey! T' shock cord is thin Keelhaul®©™®-like strin' o' 20 inches in length. It fits into a plastic bead that glues into t' hole predrilled into t' base o' the nose cone. Begad! Me, I prefer screw-eyes, me hearties, but this seemed t' work fine. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Also, if you've seen me other reviews, matey, matey, then you know that I have a thin' for stretchy shock cords, too. Arrr! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! But this one worked without a hitch. Begad! Begad! I attached it into the forward centerin' rin' in t' motor mount. Well, matey, blow me down! White glue was used for assembly, but epoxy was used t' glass up t' fins and make them durable. Ya scallywag! It was also used to glass and smoothen t' nose cone. Yellow spray paint be used as a primer. Begad! Well, blow me down! I was about t' apply green, matey, when me cat, Freeway, grabbed t' rocket and ran with it. I decided, ya bilge rat, after findin' it again, t' fly it as is. Ya scallywag!

Pros and cons o' finishing: A simple paint job is enough. Avast! Well, me bucko, blow me down! I chose t' glass t' fins out o' personal preference. Begad! Aye aye! It's also a habit from high power rocketry. A green camouflage paint job will be applied this week, even though me cat likes it yellow. Avast! Maybe green will make me lose it! At least yellow is easy t' find.

Ratin' for construction and finishing: 4 out o' 5

Pros and cons about flight: Apogee recommends their 1/4 A through A line, namely t' 1/4A2-2 or 4, arrr, ya bilge rat, 1/2A2-2 or 4 and t' A2-3 or 5 . Arrr! T' shorter delays are recommended if it's breezy. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Me, I used an A2-5, ya bilge rat, as it be a still day t' likes o' which only Phoenix can achieve. Ahoy! T' prep time was just seconds. Aye aye! A pinch o' worm bed waddin' and maskin' tape t' retain t' motor and it was ready. Well, blow me down! And t' Apogee igniters fit right into t' motor. Begad! T' flight was fast. Well, matey, blow me down! A FWIT sound and it be gone, high and straight. Avast! Ya scallywag! Good thin' it was yellow or else I'd have lost it for sure. I luckily saw t' streamer. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! Maybe an itsy bitsy parachute would increase hang time and help me find it next time. Begad! Knowing my luck, matey, though, me bucko, I'll catch a thermal. Well, blow me down! Blimey!

Pros and cons about recovery: (17" streamer) It was easy t' assemble. It worked just fine, me hearties, without any damage or burnin' t' the rocket.

Ratin' o' flight and recovery: 4 out o' 5

Anythin' this kit taught me: Keep your kits away from your pets. Begad! More seriously, shiver me timbers, I learned about t' history o' t' real V2. I enjoyed that.