This rocket be another "wow" in me hobby experience because I didn't expect what I found. Aye aye! Blimey! One formulates an idea about what makes a "rugged rocket", but in me case I missed t' boat. Rocket Vision's own words, ya bilge rat, "Unlike kits from other manufacturers, Rugged-Rockets can give you hundreds o' flights for years enjoyment. Begad! T' quality phenolic and fiberglass construction is water resistant and extremely tough." Notice t' word "hundreds". Ahoy! Some kits may start showin' wear after only a few flights. However, I think limitin' factor t' havin' "hundreds" o' flights on a Rocket Vision's kit is t' nay loose it.

CONSTRUCTION:

T' Solar Venture was a newly released kit for 1999. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! It is made up o' a 9 3/8" long, ya bilge rat, 1/16" thick phenolic body tube. This is a very sturdy tube with this thickness for such a short tube and with only a 1 1/8" diameter body. Begad! Begad! Blimey! T' body tube is pre-slotted for t' fins. Begad! Also this body tube does nay have spirals!

It also comes with a motor mount tube which simply slides into t' main body tube t' allow 24mm motors t' fit correctly. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! There are no centerin' rings, thrust rings, or other motor mount hardware. There is a plastic, shiver me timbers, (no spirals) 1/8" launch lug included in t' kit, too.

T' fins are 1/16" fiberglass all pre-cut and ready t' go. Blimey! Begad! T' fins simply fit into t' pre-slotted body tube and glue up against t' motor mount. Ya scallywag! Also t' 3" diameter fin-rin' is phenolic and assembles nicely t' t' fins that have a tab t' hold it in position. Avast! Begad! I have included a picture from Rocket Vision's online assembly guide. Begad! Don't worry, they send hardcopy instructions with t' kit.

Completin' t' body is a very hard plastic nose cone that requires a cross-bar t' be assembled t' it before it is complete. Avast! T' cross-bar is used t' tie t' recovery system to.

T' recovery system is unique in hoe its components are assembled. Ahoy! It has over a 50" piece o' Keelhaul®©™ shock cord after all t' mountin' is complete. Well, blow me down! T' cord is attached t' t' nose cone's cross-bar on t' one end and t' other t' t' inside o' t' body tube. Avast! Begad! This is done by usin' a supplied cut from a piece o' tubin' that gets a small slit cut in it t' secure t' knotted end o' t' shock cord. It is then glued t' t' inside o' t' body tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Here is another picture from Rocket Vision. Begad! Avast!

What is also unique t' t' recovery system is that six inches down from t' nose cone attachment a small rin' is tied t' t' Keelhaul®©™ and then six inches down from that another one is tied t' it. Begad! Well, blow me down! Then after attachin' t' 3 shroud lines t' t' rings on t' 10" white rip-stop nylon parachute, me bucko, a rin' is tied t' each o' t' three shroud line centers. Ya scallywag! There is a 6th rin' that is tied t' another small length o' Keelhaul®©™ which is attached t' a 3 1/2" x 4" piece o' Nomex® permanent wadding. Begad! Then t' three rings from t' parachute are attached t' t' upper rin' on t' shock cord and t' rin' from t' permanent waddin' is attached t' t' lower shock cord ring. Ya scallywag! This makes for a very orderly recovery system and easily removable components.

T' included instructions were complete, orderly and had plenty o' illustrations t' ensure a successful build. Avast! They recommend 5-minute and 20-minute epoxy t' ensure t' "rugged rocket" components hold together for t' many, many flights ahead.

It be great nay workin' with spirals! I simply hit this rocket with a couple light coats o' Plasti-Kote primer. Avast, me proud beauty! I then used a special "hammered look" paint from Rustoleum. This gave t' rocket a unique look.

T' kit comes with a single sheet o' water transfer decals. Arrr! They include t' pilot's windows, shiver me timbers, fuel openings, me bucko, a big USA and various other decals that one might find on a futuristic, matey, me bucko, "advanced, ya bilge rat, matey, thrust-augmented space transport vehicle".

Overall, ya bilge rat, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 5 points. Avast! Ahoy! Excellent, quality materials, matey, and good instructions. Arrr! No spirals is also a major bonus.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

Rocket Vision recommends t' followin' motors which should provide t' estimated altitudes:

Preparation is easy because t' Solar Venture has t' permanent wadding. Begad! Ya scallywag! Simply push it into t' body tube and follow it with t' remainin' shock cord and folded parachute. Avast, me proud beauty! Even though it is easy, ya bilge rat, me hearties, thar be actually quite a bit t' get into that tube.

T' second half t' preparation be t' friction (tape) fittin' o' t' motor mount. Avast! Aye aye! I have t' admit, me hearties, that I be nay terribly excited t' use me 24mm RMS system without positive motor retention. Avast, me proud beauty! But I did. Begad! Begad! After tapin' an ensurin' it be snug, I made 4 flights on this rugged bird.

First flight was on a D9-7. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Now based on t' table above, matey, me bucko, t' altitude shouldn't have been more than 1,000 feet. Ahoy! T' launch be fast comin' off t' 1/8" rod. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Blimey! It seemed a bit shaky by doin' a small vertical adjustment (for lack o' better term) and then roared off into t' sun. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Blimey! I lost track o' it due t' t' sun, however, finally caught a glimpse o' t' parachute and was able t' recover it. Aye aye! Blimey! This rocket drops very quickly!

For t' second flight, I decided t' replace t' parachute with a 3-foot streamer t' help with tracking. I also up'd t' motor t' an E18-10. Most other launchers indicated that I would loose this one for sure. Well, blow me down! I set up t' pad with a small angle for t' slight breeze and launched. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Blimey! It simply vanished from t' pad and into t' sky. Begad! Blimey! Should have gotten at least 2,000 feet from this motor, shiver me timbers, but I promise I never saw t' thin' until about 30 seconds had elapsed. Aye aye! I then saw t' streamer comin' down still at 1,000 plus feet. Ahoy! Blimey! This time when it hit t' ground t' ring-fin popped off. Blimey! Begad! Blimey! A clean break o' t' epoxy and easily repaired.

T' third flight demonstrated t' "rugged-ness" that t' second flight put into question. With another D9, matey, ya bilge rat, t' rocket was set up. At launch, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, me hearties, this thin' bounced off t' pad and ground twice, me hearties, never goin' up. Blimey! It did demonstrate a "rugged rocket" ability as nothin' broke. Avast, me proud beauty! It appears t' red cap stuck on t' motor and made its thrust angle change.

T' fourth and last flight, was again on a D9-7. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Similar trait as t' first flight comin' off t' pad and this time it shot back over me head. Begad! I be able t' track it and just about as t' D9's thrust ended t' ejection charge went off. Begad! Arrr! T' rocket survived t' full speed deployment o' t' recovery system, however, ya bilge rat, with its fast descent rate and t' concrete driveway it hit . . Avast! Arrr! . well, arrr, you get t' picture. Avast! T' ring-fin blew off, shiver me timbers, takin' a fin, shiver me timbers, and a section o' tubin' betwixt two fins cracked and broke off. Aye aye! Aye aye! I probably will nay repair this one, me hearties, however, arrr, I see a it bein' recycled into a different rocket in t' future.

T' altitude with t' small size o' this little rocket makes me nervous, arrr, especially when usin' a $35 RMS casing. Ya scallywag! I would recommend single-use motors. Ahoy! T' descent rate is very fast, however, arrr, if landin' on any kind o' ground cover it should be fine with t' sturdiness o' t' kit. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! It has a nice recovery system and t' permanent waddin' is a bonus. Ya scallywag! For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, I would rate this kit 4 points.

Overall, me hearties, a very easy kit t' build. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Super materials and precision cuttin' combined with easy t' follow instructions. Make sure thar are plenty o' trackers, arrr, because if usin' E's and F's, this bird will be out o' site! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I give t' kit an OVERALL ratin' o' 4.5 points.