Brief:
This is a single stage Level I rocket with a fairly basic assembly. Begad! Quality o' me first kit impressed me and looked great on t' pad, but t' second kit made me think one o' t' two was packaged incorrectly and be a completely different rocket. Blimey! Quality control appears t' be an issue.

Construction:
I initially bought this kit because I wanted t' add a third rocket t' me son's fleet. Arrr! As well, I wanted t' practice some techniques before me other rockets arrived in t' mail. Avast! Begad! T' kit comes in t' basic clear hang bag with a “retro” style cardboard picture on t' front. It included all t' parts (fins, tubes, etc.), me hearties, arrr, which were in fine condition. T' instructions used a small font and t' diagrams were hand-sketched, but both were easy t' follow. I can't give too many more details because from here on t' kit took a few unexpected turns...

As I indicated above, I have assembled two Nimbuses (Nimbusi?). Begad! Well, blow me down! “Nimbus I” made me very impressed with t' company. Begad! For a basic “Level I” kit that cost under $6 (incl. Avast! tax), t' fins were sturdy, t' tube felt strong, shiver me timbers, t' spiral shallow, me hearties, matey, arrr, and t' balsa nose cone symmetrical. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! It used a metallic mylar streamer that be attached t' a screw eye in t' nose cone. Blimey! T' shock cord was strong and appeared t' be Keelhaul®©™ or somethin' similar.

T' components for "Nimbus II" were quite different. Well, blow me down! All components were accounted for, matey, but t' quality was notably inferior t' t' first kit.

What caught me eye as I assembled "Nimbus I" be that it had four fins on such a small body tube. Blimey! I be eager t' see how this would look. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! I rounded t' leadin' edges and tapered t' trailin' edges, matey, applied skins, me bucko, and used 5 minute epoxy for t' fillets. Aye aye! Begad! (Remember I said I wanted t' practice techniques?) T' nose cone be balsa and required little sanding. I experimented with usin' spacklin' joint compound t' seal it because it be handy and within reach. Arrr! Arrr! This had surprisingly good results, shiver me timbers, me hearties, but sealer would be better.

When assembled, me bucko, this rocket looked like it meant business. Blimey! Four swept back fins on a short, narrow tube looked pretty cool on t' pad. Arrr! I painted it silver so it kind o' had a Buck Rogers type look t' it. Ahoy! Arrr! T' rocket was lost after launch (story below) and me son was really sad t' see "Silver Star" go bye-bye. Arrr! So back t' t' store...

“Nimbus II” cost 2 bucks more, ya bilge rat, me hearties, had a 12" parachute instead o' a streamer, and three fins instead o' four. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! Further, these fins were thinner and quite flexible. Aye aye! They could be bent 45 degrees or more and nay show a sign o' breaking. Blimey! Lastly, shiver me timbers, me bucko, t' body tube for “Nimbus II” had markings for three fins while t' body for “Nimbus I” had markings for four.

All these differences made me think I had a completely different rocket. Aye aye! A totally different design with lower quality and a higher price be completely unexpected. Aye aye! T' package did indeed say Nimbus, me hearties, and t' website's picture was t' same as that on me bag. Arrr! Begad! T' picture be too vague t' see if it had three or four fins.

I initially didn't plan on applyin' skins this time, but I felt I had t' in order t' ensure integrity durin' flight. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! T' nosecone was nay symmetrical and had a divot in t' tip so required sandin' t' make it look right and fly well.

Once all was said and done, me hearties, t' rocket was sturdy, arrr, ya bilge rat, and t' marks for alignin' t' fins were straight. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Needless t' say, I liked t' look o' "Nimbus I" better.

Finishing:
Finishin' was straightforward. Unfortunately I forgot t' take pictures o' "Nimbus I", but believe me, Krylon metallic/chrome silver be t' perfect color for this rocket. Avast! Avast! It gave it a retro look and also appeared t' be a little more than a beginner's entry-level rocket.

“Nimbus I” looked great after 2 coats o' primer and wet sandin' followed by 2 coats o' topcoat. “Nimbus II”, ya bilge rat, however, arrr, arrr, showed t' spirals after 3 coats o' primer so I hoped t' topcoat would cover them. Well, blow me down! They did as long as you were more than 5 feet away.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
For t' first flight o' “Nimbus I”, ya bilge rat, I used t' recommended A8-3. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! Because o' me big fingers, I found t' narrow body a little tight for t' rolled up streamer but got it all in there. It be a perfect launch. Well, blow me down! Blimey! It took off really fast, went quite high, and perfectly straight (even in a 5-10mph breeze).

Unfortunately, shiver me timbers, I forgot maskin' tape t' pressure fit t' engine. Well, blow me down! Avast! We had launched some other rockets first (this be me first launch in about 30 years), me bucko, and me son, some friends, and I were havin' so much fun that me judgment be impaired. I tried wrappin' some grass around t' engine and wedgin' t' engine in. It seemed snug enough but wasn't. Ahoy! “Nimbus I” be never seen again.

In regards t' “Nimbus II”, I felt that gettin' t' 12" mylar chute in t' body required more finaglin' than should be necessary. Begad! Avast! T' streamer for “Nimbus I” be much easier. For t' engine, me bucko, I used t' A8 and I'm glad I did. Avast, me proud beauty! T' flight be perfect: fast, arrr, straight as an arrow, shiver me timbers, and high. Aye aye! Blimey! It was too high for me t' see how t' chute came out, shiver me timbers, me bucko, but it appeared t' timin' be correct. Even in a very light wind and t' launch rod angled slightly, me son and I walked around 750 feet (double checked on Google Pedometer) t' retrieve it. Begad! I didn't have scissors t' cut a spill hole so launched it only once. Well, blow me down! I really wanted t' try t' B or C engine. Arrr! She would have been out o' sight for sure.

Recovery:
Recovery o' "Nimbus II" be straightforward. I used 2 sheets o' Quest wadding, and t' outer sheath o' shock cord was a little singed. Blimey! It will require a replacement after a few more launches and I’ll use 3 sheets o' waddin' for future flights. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I would say a 12" chute is too big for this rocket. Ya scallywag! Blimey! It drifted further than any o' t' other rockets launched that day (750' vs. 300-500 for t' others). Avast, me proud beauty! I will definitely cut a spill hole in t' chute or retrofit a streamer. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Blimey! A metallic chute/streamer is perfect as t' Nimbus is easily lost in t' sky.

Pullin' t' engine out is provin' t' be very difficult, me bucko, even with pliers. Well, blow me down! Avast! Blimey! I'm concerned that t' heat o' t' engine may have melted some o' t' adhesive on t' maskin' tape and fused it t' t' body. Aye aye! Aye aye! Blimey! I will use me favorite online search engine t' see if I'm nay t' only one experiencin' this and find some "tricks o' t' trade" so t' speak.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a good beginner rocket. Avast! If you get t' four-fin version, be happy. Ya scallywag! Begad! If you get t' three-fin version, I highly recommend applyin' skins on t' fins. A big pro is that t' body is pre-marked for fins and launch lug. Blimey! Begad! This is great for simplicity and young assemblers (my son is just under 5 yrs old). Arrr! A con is quality control. Begad! I bought two Nimbuses in under a week and they were drastically different in quality, design, arrr, and price.

I would buy another Starlight rocket if one caught me eye. Ahoy! But I would first try t' find t' balsa in t' bag t' see how it is.

Overall Rating: 2 out o' 5