Description: Single staged 10.5mm motor (1/4 A through A in Apogee motors) rocket that is a minute scale model o' t' V2. Well, blow me down!

Pros and cons o' construction: All parts specified were thar and undamaged. I got t' kit less than a week after I ordered it, shiver me timbers, and it was securely packed in styrofoam popcorn in a strong postal box. Begad! T' nose cone is solid lightweight balsa wood. Begad! Ya scallywag! T' tail cone is also balsa, with a 10.5mm bore predrilled t' accept t' 10.5mm motor tube. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! T' body tube and motor tube are spiral wound paper. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! T' launch lug is plastic and is for 1/8 inch rods. Ahoy! Begad! The streamer is 17 inches o' 1 inch wide plastic. Avast, me proud beauty! T' fins are die cut balsa.

Instructions are clear, illustrated and logical. You also get a historical essay on t' original V2, ya bilge rat, and how its capture from t' Germans helped our space program.

Assembly was easy and quick. Begad! Blimey! You do have t' align t' 4 fins, me bucko, matey, but that's not hard. Ahoy! Blimey! T' shock cord is thin Keelhaul®©™®-like strin' o' 20 inches in length. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! It fits into a plastic bead that glues into t' hole predrilled into t' base o' the nose cone. Blimey! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Me, me hearties, I prefer screw-eyes, but this seemed t' work fine. Ahoy! Blimey! Also, if you've seen me other reviews, me hearties, then you know that I have a thin' for stretchy shock cords, too. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! But this one worked without a hitch. Begad! Blimey! I attached it into the forward centerin' rin' in t' motor mount. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! White glue be used for assembly, but epoxy be used t' glass up t' fins and make them durable. It be also used to glass and smoothen t' nose cone. Aye aye! Blimey! Yellow spray paint was used as a primer. Aye aye! Blimey! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I was about t' apply green, when me cat, ya bilge rat, matey, Freeway, me bucko, grabbed t' rocket and ran with it. Aye aye! Blimey! I decided, ya bilge rat, matey, after findin' it again, arrr, t' fly it as is. Begad! Blimey!

Pros and cons o' finishing: A simple paint job is enough. I chose t' glass t' fins out o' personal preference. It's also a habit from high power rocketry. Arrr! Begad! A green camouflage paint job will be applied this week, me hearties, even though me cat likes it yellow. Ya scallywag! Maybe green will make me lose it! At least yellow is easy t' find. Ya scallywag! Avast!

Ratin' for construction and finishing: 4 out o' 5

Pros and cons about flight: Apogee recommends their 1/4 A through A line, me bucko, namely t' 1/4A2-2 or 4, matey, 1/2A2-2 or 4 and t' A2-3 or 5 . T' shorter delays are recommended if it's breezy. Ya scallywag! Me, shiver me timbers, I used an A2-5, shiver me timbers, as it be a still day t' likes o' which only Phoenix can achieve. Aye aye! Avast! T' prep time be just seconds. Arrr! A pinch o' worm bed waddin' and maskin' tape t' retain t' motor and it was ready. Begad! And t' Apogee igniters fit right into t' motor. Arrr! T' flight was fast. Well, blow me down! A FWIT sound and it was gone, high and straight. Good thin' it be yellow or else I'd have lost it for sure. I luckily saw t' streamer. Maybe an itsy bitsy parachute would increase hang time and help me find it next time. Knowing my luck, me hearties, ya bilge rat, though, me hearties, shiver me timbers, I'll catch a thermal. Begad!

Pros and cons about recovery: (17" streamer) It was easy t' assemble. Begad! Begad! It worked just fine, matey, without any damage or burnin' t' the rocket. Well, blow me down!

Ratin' o' flight and recovery: 4 out o' 5

Anythin' this kit taught me: Keep your kits away from your pets. Ya scallywag! More seriously, I learned about t' history o' t' real V2. Aye aye! I enjoyed that. Begad! Ya scallywag!