Brief:
This is FlisKits' new model of a cut-away rocket motor. It is designed to be used as a classroom or science-fair demonstration model.

Construction:
The kit consists of a laser-cut sheet of fiberboard parts, two body tubes, a coupler tube and a sheet of paper parts.

OK, I really wanted to like this kit, but it was frustrating and difficult from the start. The model is essentially two rocket body tubes cut in half and glued to fiberboard "ribs." The fiberboard was very weak and prone to delaminating. Cutting the parts free from the laser-cut sheet was remarkably difficult. The whole assembly was hard to keep square and the strips did not line up with the rings correctly. This design requires you to cut the body tubes to fit by hand, and I found it very challenging in getting a clean, lengthwise cut in a body tube. Once everything was assembled, you have to fill the small voids in the center of the nozzle with paper cones. The fact that they supply you with three spares for each piece should indicate how challenging this step can be. Once you get it lined up and glued in place, you again have to hand-cut the pieces to fit.

I found this to be an extremely challenging model--far beyond the average child's skill level for a science fair project and not good for a teacher who is only casually looking to make a classroom model.

Finishing:
The finishing of this model was even worse than the building. The decal wraps that are shown in the kit photos must be downloaded from the FlisKits website and printed onto full-size label paper. I ended up going to three stores before I could find the right kind of label paper and then the label paper cost more than the kit! When I printed the labels, I was surprised to find they do not cover the entire model, but leave the ends and top sides uncovered, so you have to try and match the labels with paint. Then, when I went to apply them, they are not the same size as the finished model and leave gaps around the edges. I really think the labels should have been included in the kit and should completely cover the model. I was very disappointed with the finished result. Perhaps someone more adept at computers could resize the labels to fit better.

Construction Rating: 2 out of 5

Summary:
I was very disappointed in this kit. I feel the lack of labels and the poor fit make it incomplete. It builds into far too fragile a model for passing around a classroom. (One rowdy kid could easily crush it--the paper parts are as sturdy as, well, paper.) And at even 3 times normal size it is too small to be seen by the back row of a class. It might be useful in a science-fair display, but I think it is far too challenging for most children to build. (Maybe an advanced high-school student could tackle it?) And the finished product isn't really that great looking to use. Really, it's only saving grace is that there is nothing like it out there.

Overall Rating: 2 out of 5