Brief:
T' space needle is a single stage two piece rocket that stands 10 feet(!) tall. Well, blow me down! At deployment it separates into a 3 foot and a 6 foot section. Each section has an 18" parachute.

Construction:
Rogue Aerospace is a quality manufacture o' rocket kits. Avast! T' Space Needle is no exception. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! T' kit requires a special handlin' charge due t' three 3' long body tubes. Avast! Ahoy! T' instructions are easy t' follow. Ahoy! Aye aye! T' model number is #10001. Arrr! This could have been their first kit. Avast, me proud beauty!

T' motor mount, a shock cord and fins are mounted on one 3' tube, ya bilge rat, becoming the lower section. Ya scallywag! One tube, a coupler and a balsa bulkhead become t' middle section. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! T' last 3' foot and t' balsa nose cone (10" long + shoulder) become t' upper section. T' instructions state t' make sure t' coupler is very tight betwixt t' upper and middle section. Avast, me proud beauty! These sections are nay glued together so t' rocket can be transported easily. Begad! Blimey!

I added an elastic shock chord betwixt t' upper and middle section in case the two sections should separate. Well, blow me down! Begad! I also drilled three 1/16" holes in the middle tube above t' bulkhead so t' 'six' foot section could vent as it ascended t' prevent accidental separation. Begad! Ya scallywag! Neither o' these steps are in the instructions.

T' nose cone is glued on, thus sealin' t' two tubes when assembled. The bulkhead can be reinforced with a hardwood dowel (supplied) t' create a better anchor for t' eyelet that holds t' shock chord for t' upper section 'chute. This requires a 3/16" and 3/8" drill bits. Begad! Begad! I did this.

Finishing:
Paintin' a 10' rocket seemed a bit o' a problem as t' tallest rocket I have painted before was 2'. Aye aye! I painted t' two upper tubes 1/2 a tube at time. Arrr! I held the tube and spray painted 1/2 t' tube. Well, blow me down! Let t' tube dry and painted t' other half. Blimey! Aye aye! I painted t' lower section by placin' a broom handle down t' tube which then rested on t' motor mount. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! This allowed me t' paint t' entire tube and then set it down on t' broom handle t' dry. Ahoy! T' 'SPACE NEEDLE' decal is a large delicate decal. Blimey! Well, blow me down! Be sure t' slide it onto t' body tube in t' direction of t' tube. I tried t' put t' decal on around t' tube and almost lost the decal as it did a nasty job o' curling. Blimey!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' recommended motors are a D12-5 and an E6-6. Ahoy! T' E6-6 is an Apogee engine. Begad! I flew me Space Needle on a D12-5, and a E15-7 and a D12-5. Blimey! I would nay recommend the E15-7. Arrr! Aye aye! It is a bit strong and could result in crimping. Avast! It is important to pack t' 'chutes lose so they open. T' upper stage will nay come down as a javelin if t' chute doesn't open. Aye aye! It drifts down horizontally. It's t' lower section that can be a problem as t' fins can hit hard. Ahoy! Blimey!

T' waddin' is a Nomex® sheet (provided) as with all Rogue kits. Ya scallywag! It should be packed properly. Arrr! I some how tangled t' shock chord and did nay get a good chute deployment losin' a fin on t' last launch. T' only problem I had be at the launch site. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' two 3/16"ID 3" long launch lugs are mounted 1.5" from t' ends o' t' lower tube. Thus one must have 34.5" of launch rod t' launch t' Space Needle. Arrr! Blimey! Due t' t' breeze t' day o' launch I had t' put t' rocket on t' 36" launch rod just before launch as the rocket was swayin' in t' breeze on t' pad. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! Blimey! I would say if you have access to 1/4" launch rods, ya bilge rat, me hearties, ya bilge rat, I would use 1/4" launch lugs or only launch on a calm day. Begad! Blimey!

Recovery:
T' shock cord is tied t' t' motor mount before assembly. Begad! It shouldn't come undone. Begad! Blimey! With this model that is over 5' o' shock cord. Begad! T' D12-5 is just about right for time o' deployment. Well, blow me down! Avast!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
An impressive rocket at any launch. 10' o' rocket that weighs only 8 oz. Blimey! Should be on a 1/4" rod for launchin' on breezy days.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5