Brief:
This is a nice kit, lightly glassed with pre-cut fin slots. The fiberglass was very easy to sand and prime. Great scale kit!!!

Construction:
I bought the dual deploy version with a glassed coupler. A small upper payload section, lower BT and a large fiberglass NC. Total length of 76". My cone was a little weak but I added more glass and it is fine now.

Great instructions, very easy to built.I recommend an Aero Pack retainer to help the rocket last longer. My fin slots were a little too small but I believe that was an accident of using the wrong size drill bit, a little sanding and they were fine. I would recommend you get 20' of climbing spec 9/16" tubular nylon from REI. The shockcord that came with the kit is a little short at only 11'. Because mine is dual deploy I used 21' for the drogue and 15' for the main.

I would also recommend getting penetrating low thickness CA glue. Go around and around the edge of the body tube and wipe whatever drips off several times. The penetration will seep through itself and get deeper and deeper, maybe a 1/2"! It helps to keep the edge from bending in on landing. The BT is glassed but lightly so the penetrating CA helps to give your Nike Smoke a long life span. It also came with U-bolts.

Finishing:
The fiberglass was very easy to sand, but if you sand glass smooth it will get a little too thin. I sanded mine smooth but not like glass and it should work fine.

Construction Rating: 4 out of 5

Flight:
I have not flown it yet but maiden flight will be on a CTI K570. I used Nomex® and an Aero Pack retainer. I would recommend a high thrust small J motor if you have a small field, like a J350. If it is really light you could try a high thrust I motor. If you have the space, use a full K motor. If you don't get the dual deploy version you have a few inches of space above the motor mount.... If you feel like walking, put the new CTI L730 in it as it has flown on the L730 before!!!

Recovery:
As I said before I used climbing spec 9/16" tubular nylon. It is a little smoother and twice as strong as military spec. With the dual deploy system recovery space is a little small so I would not recommend the use of wadding. I would use Kevlar® or Nomex® heat pads instead. The kit does not come with a chute. I used a Top Flight 30" drogue and a TAC-1 72" main chute. It is simmed to come down around 15 FPS with both chutes deployed.

Flight Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:
The only CON I can think of is the lack of recovery components. It may be a con that some parts were not cut right but Andy, the owner of Polecat has had some tough times as of late so I can understand a few minor things. There are many PROs. Two hundred thirty dollars for a fiberglass rocket with a glassed electronics bay is a pretty good deal. The reason for the good price might be that doesn't include a chute but I understand why there was no chute included. Many people have specific tastes in what type of chutes they use. Well who wants to pay an extra $50's on a chute that you wont use and you or just going to buy another one? Great kit!

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5