Brief:
This is a single stage 2.6" diameter by 37" tall rocket currently in production by Aerotech. It is called an "Advanced Model Rocket".

Construction:
I do not consider this to be an "Advanced Model Rocket" as it was quite simple to build. The first Aerotech kit that I built was a Cheetah. I enjoyed that one so much I purchased the Arreaux, G-Force and the Wart-Hog and built them all at the same time. This Wart-Hog Kit was originally built by me in 2002 yet after a break in rocketry I finished it in August 2004 with a simple paint job and parachute.

The instructions were very detailed, however, after building an Aerotech Cheetah before, I did not need nor use them.

This rocket is extremely easy to build. It only calls for "medium viscosity cyano acrylate cement" also known as "CA" or "Super Glue". That is all I used. It took about an hour to build. The hardest part of the build is getting the Fin-Lok rings onto the motor tube. I used a rubber mallet. The second hardest part is getting the fins into the Fin-Lok motor mount through the airframe. You really have to apply some pressure to get them to snap all the way in.

The recovery system mount is something I do not trust. It is a 6 foot long piece of elastic tied to a screw eye at the top of the baffle. I have seen this elastic dry out, become brittle and tear over time. If that is the only method of securing the recovery system, then it burns through or breaks there is no way to get back to the screw eye at the top of the baffle to replace it once the motor and baffle assembly is secured in place. I created a backup recovery mount to make sure I can keep flying this model over and over again made from a 500# test Kevlar® cord mounted through the motor mount. While on the first flight I will use the stock recovery system, my backup system is waiting and should outlast the life of the rocket. I also discarded the nice 24" cloth chute that came with the model kit and replaced it with a Cycline3 20" square Frankenchute to bring it down a little bit softer and quicker. I also doubled the snap swivels on the stock cord to match the 2 that come with a Cycline3 Frankenchute, so if one snap swivel should fail there is a backup as well.

Finishing:
Finishing was easy. As the entire airframe, fins and nose cone are all white, I skipped primer and just applied a single coat of Day-Glo Fluorescent Yellow. It's nice and bright and shows up good on the white surface. There are still spirals in the body tube but I built this to be light for performance, not for looks.

Construction Rating: 4 out of 5

Flight:
First flight was on a G80-10 at Challenger498 Rushing Park, Katy, Texas on 8-14-2004.

Recovery:
I believe the 6 foot long piece of elastic shock cord provided for the recovery system should be at least 30 feet long and there should be a backup recovery mount other than just securing the 6 foot long cord to a screw eye at the top of the baffle. If that fails, the rocket is retired.

Flight Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:
This is an excellent rocket kit but it's a little on the pricey side. Current list price is $69.95. The quality is excellent and a simple build with just CA can result in a very durable high performance rocket. The recovery system in my opinion is not designed for repeated flights and should most certainly be upgraded with a secondary backup mount via Kevlar®. This modification is easy to make and will prevent you from saying "What do I do now?" when the stock elastic becomes too brittle and charred from the ejection charge. Again, repairing the shock cord is all but impossible since the shock cord cannot be reached at the top of the motor mount screw eye. It's an above average kit, a very nice introduction to mid-power for the novice and I highly recommend it.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5