T' kit be packaged fine in a long plastic bag with a colorful picture o' t' kit on t' front cover. Well, blow me down! There's an inlay picture showin' t' use o' t' payload section for electronic experiments.

Upon inspection, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, t' kit was missin' a 12-inch piece of white elastic shock cord which is used on t' top section. Ahoy! Blimey! I used some Keelhaul®©™® that I had t' replace it. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Everythin' else was in order. Blimey! Blimey! Avast! Blimey!

T' instructions were very clear, shiver me timbers, usin' pictures for each step. Avast! It was a nice touch t' add two illustrations showin' t' difference between an over-hand knot and a figure-8 knot. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! They gave clear measurements as to where parts should align and t' assembly instructions were in a logical order. Arrr! Overall, me bucko, me hearties, very fine instructions which are needed for a level 2 kit since it is geared for those with only some experience. Begad!

T' kit is comprised o' two body tubes, a coupler with a bulkhead, me bucko, arrr, a motor mount assembly includin' motor clip, two 12" Tuff-Chute™ (plastic) parachutes with shroud lines and gripper tabs, me hearties, ya bilge rat, a balsa wood sheet with three die-cut fins, me hearties, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, a Keelhaul®©™® shock cord for t' lower section and a elastic shock cord (missing) for the upper section, a plastic nose cone and lastly a decal sheet. Avast!

I used Quick Grab glue on this model (additional comments about Quick Grab glue) for everythin' except the fin fillets where I used 5-minute epoxy. Ahoy! I also sealed t' balsa fins with CA. Avast, me proud beauty!

There be only one problem durin' t' entire assembly of this kit. Blimey! One o' die-cut fin tips be already separated along t' grain o' the balsa sheet, ya bilge rat, therefore, that had t' be glued on and carefully sanded and handled. Aye aye!

Durin' t' finishin' stage I experienced a self-induced tragedy which took a good bit o' time t' correct. I always use Plasti-Kote primer, since it is heavy and fills t' grooves fast. Well, blow me down! It also sands easily. Apparently, Rustoleum paint isn't fully compatible with this primer. Ahoy! Blimey! Blimey! I discovered this AFTER paintin' me payload section and findin' a nice grouping of bubbles. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Blimey! This be corrected by sandin' off t' entire finish, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, re-primin' and re-paintin' with a different paint. Arrr!

I chose t' paint t' payload section gloss black and t' bottom section gloss white, arrr, it worked out well. The decals were a bit disappointin' though. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! They are solid colors on white, not transparent. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Therefore, me hearties, matey, if t' rocket was nay painted white on t' bottom, me hearties, the decals would look bad. Blimey! Blimey! In addition, thar be a black band-decal that was supposed t' go around t' body tube which was no long enough. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I didn't use it.

Overall, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 4 points and strongly suggest that Quest addresses their decals. Begad! Ahoy!

T' Icarus™ is a bit unique due t' a mid-separation which releases nose cone and payload section to descend on it's parachute and then t' second parachute carries t' bottom section down. Begad! I tested mine with a B6-4 which installed and be clipped by the motor mount without any problem. Begad! Aye aye! Because o' it's length and weight a B6-4 motor gives a nice lift off and moderate distance flight. T' flight was straight and true. Arrr! Avast! T' flight be straight and true. Ahoy! Ejection be just at apogee and both sections returned without damage. No signs o' burnin' or stress on t' Keelhaul®©™® shock cord and t' parachutes both opened cleanly.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, me hearties, I would rate this kit 4 1/2 points. Well, blow me down!

Overall, me hearties, me bucko, for t' price and skill ratin' (2), the Icarus™ is a good kit for someone lookin' fora payload rocket or someone that would like a bit o' uniqueness in recovery. I give t' kit an OVERALL ratin' o' 4 points.