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Go to www.giantleaprocketry.com and you will find the Talon Series of rockets billed as the "Sexiest Kit Alive!" That's a bold claim, given that so much of our hobby is dominated by oversexed participants. Look around at your next club launch, or at the regular contributors to this web site, and you'll know what I mean.

Every rocket in the Talon series (they come in 2-inch, 3-inch, 4-inch, and 6-inch diameters) share the same eye-catching styling. The extended 5:1 tangent ogive nose cone and matching tail cone, the dual fin design, all the components work together to form a very appealing set of lines. But the Talon series has a lot more to offer than a pretty profile.

A beautiful rocket kit is only as good as its instructions -- and the instructions that came with the Talon 3 are exemplary. It's obvious that designer Ed Shihadeh had collected a great deal of information and experience though his years supplying the rocket community with high-quality components, and he has incorporated this body of knowledge into this kit. The printed instructions are clear and explicit, but Ed went the extra mile by including video instructions on VHS or DVD with each kit. The video goes well beyond the printed page; Ed demonstrates a number of his construction tips and secrets as he builds a Talon rocket before your eyes.

The commitment to excellence doesn't stop at the instructions. The G-10 fins are perfectly cut, as are the fin slots in the phenolic airframe and polyurethane boat tail, but that wasn't what impressed me the most. It was the attention to the little things that many other kits don't even address. Motor retention and avionics mountings are not even afterthoughts for some kits. The Talon 3 comes standard with a Slimline motor retainer and all the hardware and components required for a sturdy avionics bay. Both are designed into the rocket in an extremely elegant and functional way. The nylon recovery harness, including Kevlar heat shields and cord sleeves, comes standard with the kit. There are even several construction tools thrown in to make certain the assembly is done right: a custom-sized stick for spreading glue at the right location in the tube, plastic spoons for shaping fin fillets, and thick rubber bands for clamping the tail cone in place. Small items, but they demonstrate that every last contingency is covered to make sure that the rocket is built properly.

There are also a number of great upgrades for sale if you choose; a fiberglass upgrade (tube, coupler, nose & tail cones), Kevlar recovery harness, parachutes, and other goodies are all available.

After watching the video and reading the instructions the kit practically built itself, even with some tricky bits associated with the boat tail. I can safely say that it took longer to paint than it did to assemble. And it is. Sexy.

The Talon 3 performed as superbly as you would expect it would in flight. It literally speared the sky on an I211, and quickly shrank to a tiny dot as it hammered it way to 4200 feet. Its dual-deployment design came in handy as it drifted back close to the pad under the drogue and main parachutes. Simulations predict it will near 8700 feet on a J350, and I have every confidence that the design and construction will handle those stresses easily. Next time.

I frequently get asked for kit recommendations from people who want to try their hand at high power. The Talon 3 is a perfect solution; it is a beautiful rocket made from great components, and the instructions are an excellent primer to share the knowledge of a very experienced and successful rocketeer. It's a lot easier than learning the hard way.

Pros: Outstanding design and components. Exquisite attention to detail.

Cons: The printed instructions included the construction steps for both the phenolic and fiberglass upgrade kits, which was at times confusing. It would be an improvement if they were specific to one kit or the other.

Visit Rocket Team Vatsaas to enjoy their incredible rocket talents and an all around fun rocketry website!