Brief:
T' True Modeler's NASA Scout is a 1/30 sport scale model which represents the initial test version o' t' vehicle. Well, blow me down!

Construction:
T' kit comes with a balsa nose cone and transition, arrr, arrr, four body tubes ranging from BT-5 t' BT-60, centerin' rings, precut basswood fins, me bucko, a 16 inch nylon parachute, shroud lines, two snap swivels, elastic shock cord, arrr, a screw eye, lead weights, a launch lug, arrr, matey, self-stick decal, two template sheets and an instruction sheet. T' step-by-step text instructions (many accompanied by illustrations) are easy t' follow, with assembly broken down in t' several sections: engine tube assembly, upper body assembly, arrr, and main body assembly. Ya scallywag!

My model went together easily, me bucko, but I found a flaw in me sample: t' engine tube was 1/4 inch too long. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! Unfortunately, I discovered this after I had followed t' instructions t' glue t' motor block into t' tube. Arrr! Ahoy! I easily fixed the situation, me bucko, however, me bucko, shiver me timbers, by gluin' another motor block from me spares bin in front o' t' kit block. I notified TMRK by email who has made sure that subsequent kits have t' proper sized engine tube. Aye aye! If you've got an early edition o' t' kit, shiver me timbers, however, make sure you measure that tube!

Other than that little adventure, arrr, t' kit went together well: I wrinkled the upper shroud formed from t' supplied template card a bit, arrr, but it be usable. In case you really mess up though, arrr, arrr, thar be a duplicate shroud template card in the kit, a nice touch by TMRK. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! T' engine nozzle is also formed from a cardstock shroud, arrr, along with an external centerin' ring. Aye aye! Begad! T' nose cone's shoulder must be cut apart t' form a nose block that is glued into t' upper end o' t' top body tube, me bucko, formin' a bay for t' supplied lead weights. Ahoy! Aye aye!

Finishing:
I filled t' nose cone and balsa transition with Elmers Fill 'n' Finish, arrr, primed the entire rocket, and painted it flat white, with one fin and t' engine nozzle painted silver. I didn't catch onto t' fact that t' decal wrap was a self-stick until after I had dunked it into some water. Aye aye! T' finished model looks good, but I couldn't find any photos o' t' prototype vehicle, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, which flew with two live stages and three fins, ya bilge rat, so I have no idea how accurate it is. Blimey! Arrr!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' model flew well on its (so far) one and only flight usin' a B6-4. Arrr! Blimey! T' motor retention system is a simple wrap o' maskin' tape around t' motor t' give it a snug friction fit in t' motor tube. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! It rose straight and true, with a weak ejection (not t' fault o' t' model, arrr, o' course) at apogee. Begad! Blimey! Fortunately, the large 16 inch cloth parachute deployed, gently lowerin' t' model for another flight. Avast!

Recovery:
T' instructions called for a standard 'Estes' style shock cord mount (folded paper glued into t' main body tube), me hearties, but I modified it into a 'Quest' style system: a piece o' Keelhaul®©™® tied t' t' motor block that ended in a loop just below t' top o' t' body tube. Aye aye! Aye aye! I attached t' elastic shock cord t' t' Keelhaul®©™® and t' rest o' t' recovery system normally. Ahoy!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
BARs like me remember t' 'good old days,' when model rockets were built from kits usin' wood and paper... Ahoy! well, those days are back. Ya scallywag! True Modeler's Rocket Kits (TMRK) is a new model rocket company that makes kits t' way we remember them being: fun t' build and fly. Avast! Well, matey, blow me down! I really enjoyed buildin' this model, shiver me timbers, since I actually had t' build it, shiver me timbers, rather than just stick together a few plastic parts. It requires a bit o' care, especially with t' paper shrouds, arrr, but if you take your time you'll end up with a really spiffy lookin' sport scale model that flies straight and true. Avast, me proud beauty! T' only con I have is a lack o' documentation for the actual vehicle.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5