Brief:
The Mustang is a rugged single stage mid-power rocket. It is easy to construct and flies on a wide range of motors from D-G. it is a perfect rocket for someone trying to get into the world of mid-power rocketry.

Construction:
The Mustang consists of a 24mm motor adapter tude, adapter rings, an E spacer tube, a thrust ring, thrust ring flange, motor tube, motor hook, and fin-lok rings for 4 fins. it also includes centering rings, fins, cooling mesh, an ejection gas baffle, screw eye, 6' shock cord, body tude (22 3/4"), launch lugs, nose cone, decals, parachute, F spacer tube, and instructions. The fins, centering rings, nosecone, fin-lok rings, thrust ring flange, and gas baffle are all either composite materials or high impact polymer. The shock cord is high strength elastic and the cooling mesh is a steel wool type mesh, but less dense. The airframe appears to be a multi-layer wrap with grooves.

The kit goes together pretty easy. The instructions can get a little bit hard to understand though. Sentences like "push on the centering ring until the front edge of the Fin-lok ring is at the rear-most mark made in step three above" can be a little confusing if this is your first kit. Sometimes its hard to figure out which end is front and what is back. Just take your time and it works out. Other that that the instructions are very easy to follow. Because I used CA I had a couple of issues. First, when attaching the baffle to the motor mount do a test fit without glue after making your slits. Then apply the glue towards the aft end of the baffle. Then insert only the first 1/4" or so into the motor mount just so it won't fall out. Then with one swift motion (I usually gently hit it on a table) push the rest of the baffle shoulder into the motor mount. The CA sets up quick and on my first Aerotech kit I couldn't get my baffle in all the way because I didn't work fast enough. Second, because the airframe diameter is so small it is almost impossible to get a dowel with CA into the tube to make internal fillets. I would recommend using thin Epoxy and letting it drip down inside.

Finishing:
Finishing the body tude was easy. One coat of primer, white paint, mask off, and gray paint. The nose cone was a problem though. The paint just wouldn't stick and peeled off when I pulled off the masking tape. I finally got it after I sanded it with 220 to rough it up a bit. The only downside to the decals is that you have to cut them out. Otherwise it is easy to finish.

Construction Rating: 4 out of 5

Flight:
I have flown my several times, all very nicely. It flies straight as an arrow to some respectable altitudes. It doesn't require wadding and prep is pretty easy. The only problem is that trying to pull back the motor hook to get the motor in can be very difficult. Sometimes it takes an extra set of hands. I have flown it on an F25-9W, an E15-7W, and a couple of E23-5T's. All have been very nice flights and there are no signs of wear on the shock cord. I did however experience a broken fin when it landed on the street after a tangled parachute. The fin was easily repaired with epoxy though and it is ready to fly again, probably tomorrow.

Recovery:
The shock cord, as I said, shows no signs of wear on it. The recovery system is easy to prep and sufficient if your flying in grassy areas. However, because of its quick rate of descent if flying over hard surfaces like the desert, upgrade the parachute size.

Flight Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
The rocket is an easy to construct rugged high flying bird. The only set backs are the rather rapid rate of descent, motor hook difficulties, and a rather hefty $40.00 price tag (for the overall size).

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5