Brief:
T' Patriot is Quasar kit that's transitional. Begad! It has a high power body tube and nose cone but clusters three 24mm motors and has surface mount balsa fins. I got t' kit from Apogee and they say it's one o' their best-sellin' Quasar products. It's a great lookin' kit.

Construction:
Parts: a 34" full length high-power body tube, matey, plastic nose cone, steel eye bolt, matey, arrr, pre-cut balsa fins, ya bilge rat, thick illustration board style centerin' rings, ya bilge rat, 24mm clustered motor mount with steel clips, and engine blocks. Arrr! Avast! Self-adhesive decals: six sheets o' full-color decals. Begad! Quasar uses thick plastic for their parachutes and include a swivel, t' shock cord is elastic, and they include reinforcement rings.

It arrived in a huge hang tag bag. Avast! Ya scallywag! T' first thin' t' build be t' motor mount. I scraped off some o' t' foil inside t' end o' t' tube t' glue t' thrust rings. Begad! Arrr! T' cluster centerin' rings on Quasars build without a hitch, and other manufacturers could take lessons. Aye aye! No sanding, me bucko, arrr, no loose parts, just a perfect fit.

T' surface mount balsa fins glue on easily. Begad! Avast! EMRR fin tip #29: It's like makin' a slot only you lightly cut the top body tube layer, then peel off that first layer. I prepared them for paint with one coat o' thinned Elmer's Wood Filler.

Finishing:
Two coats o' high-build automotive primer, ya bilge rat, sanded, me hearties, then used catalyzed automotive urethane for t' overall white. Then lightly sanded and added t' red rattle-can enamel Krylon t' t' fin can. Paintin' enamel over smooth automotive paint results in a smoother, me hearties, me hearties, glossier enamel.

This kit comes with six sheets o' self-adhesive decals. They are good quality and give the finished kit a wonderful scale look. Cons: instructions are nay quite at t' level o' t' best kit makers.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
First flight on three C-11s be perfect. Begad! Apogee's motor chart predicts 294 feet and that seems about right. Aye aye! T' steel clips make prep a snap. Arrr! For a school demo on t' football field, shiver me timbers, me bucko, me hearties, you can't beat it. Ya scallywag! T' three motors create a lot of smoke and fire. I can't wait t' fly this on 3 F12 Blackjacks. Begad! Begad! It should be spectacular. Begad! No cons.

Recovery:
T' parachute is plastic but thicker than typical low-power parachutes. Ya scallywag! It should last longer, but it's also heavier. T' shock cord mount is paper tri-fold. Begad! It's functional, but most builders will want t' add Keelhaul®©™®. T' eye bolt on t' nose cone is huge and heavy-duty. Aye aye! Well, me hearties, blow me down!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
PROs: Extremely impressive lookin' rocket, quick build, shiver me timbers, matey, best-in-show fit for cluster parts, high-quality foil lined motor tubes, matey, lots o' different motor options, arrr, clusters can be loud and smoky.

Cost. Well, me hearties, blow me down! T' Quasar model is $47.99, while most 2.6" models this size usin' t' Madcow nose cone are $59 t' $69.

CONs: Balsa fins, me hearties, shiver me timbers, tri-fold paper mount, me bucko, cluster may be challengin' t' light.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5