Brief:
True Modeler's Rocket Kits (TMRK) formally released their 1:14 scale Aries "Fat Albert" in November, arrr, 2003. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! I be fortunate enough t' purchase one o' t' beta kits. Avast! T' kit may seem pricey at $79.95 but once you see the components, matey, shiver me timbers, 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. Well, blow me down! T' nosecone is heavy, havin' about 6 oz o' weight added t' make t' rocket stable with 4-F24 motors. Well, blow me down! 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). Begad! Another nice touch be a wrap o' foam around t' nosecone's tip t' prevent damage in shipping.
• All small parts are in bags, and each bag has a parts list and a picture for parts identification. Well, blow me down! Begad! 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, 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. Aye aye! This is a skill level 3 or 4 kit, ya bilge rat, primarily due t' fin construction and t' large shroud. Avast! Construction requires epoxy and thin CA and t' usual items (hobby knife, etc). Well, blow me down! Aye aye! If you have one, me hearties, arrr, I recommend a hobby saw for cuttin' t' heavy fin stock.

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

The shroud be t' tricky part, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, since it includes a cutout for t' launch lug to pass through. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! My first shroud be barely able t' fit t' large tube, and the cutout for t' lug be way too small. Aye aye! 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. Arrr! This allowed me t' glue t' shroud t' t' body from the inside, me hearties, me hearties, 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. Avast! Ya scallywag! Blimey! If you don't have foam, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, stuffin' t' area with glue-soaked tissues would reinforce the shroud. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I hardened t' exterior o' t' shroud with thin CA, followed by light sandin' t' get a smooth finish.

The fins are very thick, ya bilge rat, and made with 1/4 inch wood stock. Ya scallywag! A hobby saw is great for these cuts. Avast, me proud beauty! A triangular piece o' balsa (R/C trailin' win' edge) provides the fin's taper. Ahoy! 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. Blimey!

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

Finishing:
I finished me kit by sealin' t' wood parts with thin CA, ya bilge rat, applyin' spot body to imperfections in t' balsa, arrr, followed by 3 coats o' sandable primer, sanding between each coat. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! 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. Aye aye! That's t' equivalent o' an H motor, folks. Aye aye! For first flights, 4 D12-5s are recommended. Ya scallywag!

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

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

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
In summary, this was an enjoyable kit t' build, and I be pleased with the quality o' t' components and t' final product. I recommend that you install the aft rin' only once t' shroud is finished, me bucko, providin' an opportunity to reinforce t' shroud after installation. Ya scallywag! Begad! T' kit may seem pricey at $80, arrr, ya bilge rat, but its quality will nay disappoint you. Arrr!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5