Brief:  This is a minimum diameter, ya bilge rat, arrr, single staged rocket with forward swept fins, designed t' break mach usin' Aerotech 18mm D and E engines. Well, blow me down!

Construction:Everythin' be there, ya bilge rat, nothin' damaged. Well, blow me down!   T' fins are 1/8 inch thick precut plywood. Avast! Aye aye! T' body tube is spiral wound paper. Begad! I had the option o' gettin' fiberglass parts all around, arrr, matey, but chose paper for lower cost. Aye aye! T' launch lug is also spiral wound paper, arrr, ya bilge rat, and is 1/8 inch diameter. The nose cone is ogive, solid machined balsa. Ya scallywag! T' streamer is metallic mylar, blue on one side, me hearties, matey, shiver me timbers, and silver on t' other, and it is 48 inches long by 1 inch wide.

T' instructions were illustrated and very clear and simple. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! T' model was simple t' construct. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! T' only gotcha is t' put t' fins in a forward swept position. Well, blow me down! Begad! Mathematically, matey, you might think that this would increase drag, me hearties, but maybe nay so at t' speeds this little rocket can attain. Ya scallywag!

Finishing:There are numerous red decals that I applied over an orange spray painted surface. They are t' type that easily peels off when soaked in water, shiver me timbers, and they went on smoothly. Ahoy! I used epoxy for the fin attachment since it be an on-the-tube attachment and I wanted strength. Avast, me proud beauty! I also made fillets all around. Blimey! I also made fillets all around. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! I also applied epoxy over t' entire fins t' glass them, and t' result was a hard, shiver me timbers, smooth finish. Begad! T' model looked sharp.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:T' recommended motors are t' Aerotech 18mm D and E group. Arrr! Ahoy! I used t' E25-10. I used t' E25-10. Begad! It be easy t' prep, except that the streamer needs t' be meticulously wound or else it does nay fit into t' body easily. Worm beddin' waddin' was used, and t' motor was retained usin' tape. T' model nay only flew straight, matey, it made a loud pop as it practically teleported off t' pad. Well, blow me down! It left so fast that attempts t' photograph it created only a shot o' an empty pad!

Recovery:T' recovery system worked fine, although I did nay know this until two months later, which I'll explain soon. Well, blow me down! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! T' shock cord is 3 feet of black 1/8 inch wide flat elastic attached t' t' inside wall o' t' body tube via a small loop o' Keelhaul®©™® cord which I provided and a folded paper mounting.

I provided t' Keelhaul®©™® cord as a carryover habit from higher power, arrr, ya bilge rat, as Keelhaul®©™® can take heat better than elastic can, arrr, and since that end o' t' shock cord system is closer t' engine fumes, matey, arrr, I wanted it flameproof.   Also, me hearties, epoxied elastic becomes brittle, ya bilge rat, so I don't directly adhere it t' t' shock mount any more. Begad!

Nobody saw where t' model went, arrr, except t' say, me bucko, "Damn high. "So I gave it up for lost after a two-hour search in t' searin' desert heat and bought another. Two months later, it was found in flyable condition!!!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:Sturdy, me bucko, me bucko, arrr, can survive extreme sun and some rain. Well, blow me down!   very fast mover. Avast! Ya scallywag! About t' only thin' I'd change is t' make it a parachute t' give me a chance t' spot it better. Begad! Well, arrr, blow me down! Maybe it'd drift a mile, but part o' t' fun is gettin' models back. Avast, me proud beauty!

I recommend this one for you altitude and speed buffs. Blimey!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5