Brief:
This is a single stage scale mid-power model rocket kit of the US Army's air launched anti-armor missilem--the ones they use to blast bad guys in the Middle East! The Rocket Pad version flys 24mm Estes type C11, D, and E motors. They give include a spacer for the shorter Estes C11 and D motors. The kit uses a bright silver mylar type parachute for recovery. The kit is packed in a clear palstic bag with a color face card. The parts were in their own zip-lock bags.

Construction:
The kit uses one body tube that looks laser cut and the centering rings are plywood. Also, the fins are made of basswood that you need to cut out from basswood stock. The plastic nose cone uses a Kevlar® shock cord mounting system. The material used for the tail cone (called an Exhaust Tube in the instructions). The 1/4" wide shock cord was a good length. The kit uses a 3/16" launch lug.

The instructions are some of the best I have seen from Rocket Pad or just about any other manufacturer! There are very clear pictures to walk you through the assembly so I think even somone who has built some simple kits could build this kit. They rate it sikll level 3. There are 20 pictures to follow with mostly 2 to a page. The toughest part of the aseembly is probably the exhaust tube assembly, but the pictures are very clear here and show just how to make the tali cone. The tail cone is made up of heavy card stock that you cut out from the sheet. I found it to be a nice thing that Rocket Pad gives you a sheet with 3 patterns in case you mess up making up the cone! The attachment of the Kevlar® to the shock cord is done with a brass swivel. Then you just tie the shock cord to the nose cone. The fit of the parts was very good though I did have to sand the laser-cut fiber centering rings a little for the exhaust tube to fit. The assembly calls for the use on many steps for the use of heavy CA type glue, however, Elmer's glue is used for the tail cone (and it's not cool getting your fingers stuck when using CA!). The assembly was very straightforward on this kit, but it will take a little longer than your run-of-the-mill kit to build. The only real thing I think need you close attention in assembly is making sure you align the rear fins with the foward small fins for a true, straight flight. I used CA to get a quick set up of the fins then when they were cured and then used Elmer's wood glue for the fillets. By the way, there are small balsa strips that get glued onto the body tube fin juctions on the 4 lower fins. The quality of the basswood is very good with a tight grain. The instructions have you also put clay nose cone weight inside the plastic nose cone and the clay was easy to use, not hard like in some kits you get!

Finishing:
I used sanding sealer on the basswood parts and then sprayed a few cotes of Rustoleum semi-gloss dark green paint. The body tube did not need sealing. the kit has no decals but I picked up some nice self-adhesive ones at a local hobby shop that went on nicely. As always. I try to make my kits come out like the kit manufacture shows. This one came close. The final weight of my kit was 6.9oz, a little more than Rocket Pad says at 6.6oz. The finished rocket looks like the real thing! I took my time on this one so it came out finished nice. I sometimes rush but am trying to get out of that!

Construction Rating: 5 out of 5

Flight:
I launched the rocket a few times already on different motors. I used a C11-3 for the first launch and it did not go all that high but the flight was good and stable. The recovery system worked fine. I used some dog barf for wadding. The motor retention was with a metal hook.

The flights were straight and it went great with the big E motor! I enjoy this kit a lot and it sure looks like a real missile!

Recovery:
The 18" mylar parachute was just right for the kit. No damage a a good descent. I thought there might be some damage to the rear body tube with the motor resessed in a bit but it has not happened.

Flight Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
I think this is one of Rocket Pad's best kits yet. Instructions were fine and clear with many clear pictures to lead you through the assembly. I do think someone who can build a skill level 2 kit can do this one.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5