Brief:
Art Applewhite comes up trumps again. Like the 13mm Qubit, the Scimitar is free to download from his website and is easy to build and fly, except this one flies even better. It still uses airbrake recovery, but the flight is much more interesting!

Construction:
Art's website has two Scimitars to download: one designed in 2004 and one in 2006. The main difference is the motor mount, the 2004 design is the traditional tube affair and the 2006 design has a triangular mount. There isn't an A4 (Europe-friendly) version yet. I printed out the 2006 design on A4 card and the dimensions seemed to be okay.

There are three parts to the scimitar: top, bottom, and motor mount. The only equipment you need is a pair of scissors, a hobby knife, a steel ruler and some glue. I used white "Evo-Stik" glue.

The instructions are complete and easy to follow, just like all of Art's 13mm free designs. It takes a few minutes to cut the parts out. I used the back of a hobby knife instead of a ballpoint pen to score the fold lines, as it makes the folding easier and you don't get ink in the card. Simply glue the top part together and while you are waiting for the glue to dry, make the motor mount. The bottom just slots into the top, don't go crazy with the glue as the edges might curl.

The 2006 motor mount has three triangles at the top, add a bit of glue to these, and push it through the bottom of the Scimitar, the triangles come together to form an apex strengthening the top of the rocket, which is a good improvement over the 2004 design. After filleting the mount, the rocket is good to go.

The whole process takes about 15-20 minutes.

Finishing:
There isn't any need to finish this rocket, however, it is made of cardstock so I spray painted mine to add a bit of color and to prevent any damage from moisture. The grass is always damp in the north of England.

Construction Rating: 5 out of 5

Flight:
The flight pattern is where the Scimitar beats the Qubit. The curved edges make the Scimitar spin on its way up, and it spins fast. It does not get as high as the Qubit, but that is a small price to pay.

Recovery:
The Scimitar comes down on featherweight tumble recovery. They always land close to the pad, even if there is a bit of wind. It's going to be hard to lose this one.

Flight Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
This is a free rocket that performs really well and is nearly impossible to lose. Why doesn't everyone have one in their fleet, especially for those windy days or when you what to fly in your garden?

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5