I was able to test fly the Saturn-1b and Saturn-V RTF [ready to fly] rockets that I bought from Adventures In Rocketry (AIR) via an Orlando, FLA hobby shop. In addition to these 2 rockets, AIR sells a Mercury Redstone.  The rockets come in different scales. The Saturn-1b comes in a 1/100 and 1/72 scale while the Saturn-V comes in a 1/100 and a 1/144 scale.

These rockets are hand built from posterboard. The shrouds and the tail fairings are of the proper dimensions and the pieces appear to be spray painted. Decals are made on a laser printer that makes an image on adhesive back paper. Decal placement is accurate for the rockets. The rockets motors are held in their motor tubes using a quality homemade metallic motor clip.

All of AIR rockets are shipped in a special container where you can store the rockets when not in use. The storage tubes split in half in the middle and are held in place with velcro straps. Held in place by a velcro strap inside the shipping tube is a 3 ring binder that holds your launching instructions as well as pictures and other documents. While the book is mostly off a laser printer, some of the illustrations are drawn in by hand. At the bottom and top of each container are cradles that hold each end of the rocket so that it cannot move while being carried to and from the launch site.

The flight performance of both the 1/100 scale Saturn-V and the 1/73 scale Saturn-1b were superior. These rockets do not lumber off the pad when under thrust from a single D12-3. These rockets actually perform well . . . better than the single engine Estes counterpart to AIR's Saturn-V that is soon to be released. They rockets can also survive a landing in fine shape. Even the vulnerable escape towers survived multiple flights without breaking off. Try that with an Estes Saturn-V.

Of the two rockets the Saturn-1b is the more stable of the two. The Saturn-V seems to marginally stable and I will be adding some nose-weight to it before flying it again.

Recovery for the rockets that I used consisted of two 22" clear plastic parachutes that were preassembled and tied to the 1/4 inch braided elastic shock cord. I had no tangles or closed chutes upon recovery and the landings were gentle.

Although I have a preference for hand building rockets, I admire the workmanship and forethought that went into the building of these RTF rockets.