Picture courtesy of
True Modelers Rocket Kits

Brief:
The TMRK (True Modelers Rocket Kits) scale Nike Smoke is a double 18mm (0.709in) cluster model, my first ever cluster model. TMRK is a new company with only a couple of kits available at present. They are dedicated to bringing high quality, challenging, kits to the market. Please note: this kit is also available with a single 24mm (0.946in) mount in it.

Construction:
This kit has quite a sturdy body tube, a balsa nose cone and four fins. The fins require a lot of work since they need to be constructed out of several pieces of balsa. The centering rings and shock cord are the same as the Estes ones.

The model is quite challenging but the instructions are very detailed and if you have built several Estes models before you will be able to cope. The nose cone and fins take a long time! The parts are relatively good quality with some exceptions. Firstly, the parachute is synthetic and mine ripped after its first launch, I have had much better results with rip stop nylon. Secondly, the nose cone is made of balsa which is very easily damaged, the end broke off mine on its first launch. This causes the model to somewhat lose its scale appearance. This aside the body tube is better than Estes are and the other pieces are as you would expect.

Finishing:
For finishing I simply sprayed on a few coats of white. Then painted the fins the correct red and yellow. The decals are good but delicate. You must be careful not to break them.

Construction Rating: 4 out of 5

Flight:
As this was my first ever cluster model I was quite afraid of one of the motors not igniting. I hooked the two "A" motors up and pressed the launch button, both motors instantly ignited and the model powered through the air. The launch was very impressive. The recovery was also fine. The rocket also flies well on two B's or C's.

Flight Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:
All in all this is a great first cluster rocket since it is one of the few that have 18mm mounts. I would recommend it to everyone. Although it is not perfect because of the weak nose cone and parachute.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5