Brief:
True Modeler's Rocket Kits (TMRK) formally released their 1:14 scale Aries "Fat Albert" in November, 2003. Aye aye! Arrr! I was fortunate enough t' purchase one o' t' beta kits. Arrr! T' kit may seem pricey at $79.95 but once you see the components, t' cost becomes apparent.

Kit Contents:
This kit is made o' quality components throughout.

• T' nosecone is hard balsa and comes already weighted for flight, with the screw eye secured in epoxy. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! T' nosecone is heavy, havin' about 6 oz o' weight added t' make t' rocket stable with 4-F24 motors. Ahoy! T' nosecone alone accounts for 1/3 o' t' kit's price (get t' price for a 3x12 inch hard balsa cone at Balsa Machining). Avast, me proud beauty! Another nice touch was a wrap o' foam around t' nosecone's tip t' prevent damage in shipping.
• All small parts are in bags, me bucko, and each bag has a parts list and a picture for parts identification. Arrr! Ya scallywag! It doesn't get any better than this.
• T' kit has heavy kraft paper body tubes
• T' launch lug is long 1/4 inch ID aluminum tube.
• There is even a second copy o' t' paper shroud, ya bilge rat, in t' event that your first try doesn't work.
• A 24 inch synthetic parachute
• T' motor tubes (4) are lined with aluminum foil - another nice touch.
• All centerin' rings are laser-cut plywood
• T' motor retention system is already installed in t' aft centerin' rin'
• Water-slide and peel-off decals

Construction:
The instructions are clearly written and easy t' follow. Ahoy! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! This is a skill level 3 or 4 kit, primarily due t' fin construction and t' large shroud. Construction requires epoxy and thin CA and t' usual items (hobby knife, etc). Arrr! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! If you have one, I recommend a hobby saw for cuttin' t' heavy fin stock.

T' base o' t' kit is a 4 inch rin' tube, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, and is installed with 8 heavy-duty wooden spacers. I found t' spacers t' be about 1/4 inch too tall, requirin' a good bit o' sandin' t' get t' rin' t' fit. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! Blimey! However, me bucko, t' design is sturdy and probably necessary if you intend t' use 4 F24 motors.

The shroud be t' tricky part, me hearties, since it includes a cutout for t' launch lug to pass through. Ya scallywag! My first shroud be barely able t' fit t' large tube, and the cutout for t' lug was way too small. Ya scallywag! No fear, I cut out t' second one, stayin' outside t' lines t' get a larger shroud. I also used a hole punch to lengthen t' launch lug cutout, and be able t' get a good fit. I also changed the order o' assembly on me kit: I did nay install t' aft centerin' rin' until the shroud be finished. This allowed me t' glue t' shroud t' t' body from the inside, arrr, and t' fill t' cavity with two-part foam t' reinforce t' shroud. I recommend this change t' anyone who wants a rock-solid shroud. If you don't have foam, me hearties, stuffin' t' area with glue-soaked tissues would reinforce the shroud. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! I hardened t' exterior o' t' shroud with thin CA, arrr, followed by light sandin' t' get a smooth finish.

The fins are very thick, and made with 1/4 inch wood stock. Begad! A hobby saw is great for these cuts. Ya scallywag! A triangular piece o' balsa (R/C trailin' win' edge) provides the fin's taper. Ya scallywag! T' fins do require a good deal o' additional taperin' to finish, but they nicely conform t' t' base and t' shroud. A nice design. Well, blow me down! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down!

Motor retention is simple: a threaded blind-T nut sits in t' middle o' the motors. Aye aye! A bolt and fender washer retains all t' motors, matey, and can be easily replaced if necessary. Avast, me proud beauty! Simple but effective.

Finishing:
I finished me kit by sealin' t' wood parts with thin CA, arrr, applyin' spot body to imperfections in t' balsa, followed by 3 coats o' sandable primer, me bucko, me hearties, sanding between each coat. Ya scallywag! Avast! I used Krylon white, orange, and black for final coats, and then applied t' decals as per t' instructions.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
TMRK claims that this kit can achieve almost 1/2 mile o' altitude when flown with 4 Aerotech F24 motors. Arrr! Avast! That's t' equivalent o' an H motor, folks. Aye aye! Avast! For first flights, 4 D12-5s are recommended. Ya scallywag! Arrr!

My first flight was less than successful. Well, blow me down! I be at t' club launch, shiver me timbers, and I was assured that t' launch system could ignite a cluster o' four D12-5 motors. I prepped for flight, and when t' fire button be pushed, t' rocket screamed about 10 feet into t' air with igniter wires in tow. Ya scallywag! T' rocket fell over in the grass. Arrr! Two o' t' motors ignited. Avast! After cleanin' off t' mud on one fin, the rocket was prepared again, this time on a pad equipped with a relay launcher. Begad! Success! T' four D12 motors gave a nice slow lift-off with about 500 ft maximum altitude. Aye aye! Parachute deployment be right on time, arrr, arrr, and recovery was successful. Definitely don't attempt t' launch this kit without a relay launcher. Arrr!

Since t' first flight, I've made two more successful flights with four D12-5 motors. Well, blow me down! This rocket never fails t' get comments when I fly it. If you want t' keep it white, me hearties, you'll either have t' clean t' aft end every time, shiver me timbers, or paint it again. Ahoy! All in all, a kit that looks great and flies great, ya bilge rat, me bucko, too. Ya scallywag!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
In summary, this was an enjoyable kit t' build, matey, ya bilge rat, and I was pleased with the quality o' t' components and t' final product. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Blimey! I recommend that you install the aft rin' only once t' shroud is finished, shiver me timbers, providin' an opportunity to reinforce t' shroud after installation. Aye aye! T' kit may seem pricey at $80, ya bilge rat, but its quality will nay disappoint you. Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5