Brief:
Basic 4FNC Skill Level 1 "scale-like" model with 12" parachute recovery.

Construction:
The kit includes:

• plastic nose cone
• short upper tube, 2.75"
• body tube, 9"
• tube coupler
• parachute with shroud lines and tape disks
• shock cord, elastic
• launch lug
• engine tube and block
• centering rings
• die-cut balsa fins
• engine hook
• decals

The instructions were clear and easy to follow. The centering rings needed a lot of sanding and coaxing before they would fit over the engine tube. It was almost like they had swelled a bit. The instructions include a body tube marking template for the four fins, but I used my trusty Estes Fin Marking Guide instead.

The fins were die-cut, however, the die had not gone all the way through the balsa. I had to finish cutting them out with my X-Acto knife.

Although the body tube comes in two pieces, this is not a payload rocket. In fact, I am not sure why they did not just include a single 12" body tube. The shock cord mount goes into the short tube which is attached via coupler to the 9" tube. This kit is very easy to assemble, and you can have this done in a couple hours with drying time.

Finishing:
I used Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish to fill the grain on the balsa fins. After I sanded those down, the entire rocket received 2 coats of Krylon primer with a light 600 grit wet sanding in between. The entire rocket sans the short tube was painted white. The fin can got a layer of Krylon OSHA red. The short tube and plastic nose cone were painted Krylon Gloss Black. The kit did include waterslide decals which were quit thin. You must take you time with these so that you do not tear them.

Construction Rating: 5 out of 5

Flight:
The minimum recommended motor was an A8-3, but I decided to go with a B6-4 for the first flight. I used three sheets of wadding and loaded up the parachute. Launch rod was at a 2 degree angle into the wind, and this rocket was fast off the pad. Great flight to about 700 feet, and the 12" parachute made me do a little walking but not too much.

On the second flight, I tried a C6-5. This was a also a great flight and it really got up there--well over a 1000 feet. Lots of walking this time!

Recovery:
The 12" parachute is a little overkill for this lightweight rocket. If you are flying on a calm day, you should have no problems, however, expect a lot of drift on windier days. A streamer would work well in this rocket. I will give it a try on its next launch.

Flight Rating: 4 ½ out of 5

Summary:
If you are looking for a fairly quick to build/finish/fly rocket, this one is for you. Simple construction, good quality parts, and easy to understand instructions make this a great little rocket to add to the collection.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5