Brief:
The True Modeler's NASA Scout is a 1/30 sport scale model which represents the initial test version of the vehicle.

Construction:
The kit comes with a balsa nose cone and transition, four body tubes ranging from BT-5 to BT-60, centering rings, precut basswood fins, a 16 inch nylon parachute, shroud lines, two snap swivels, elastic shock cord, a screw eye, lead weights, a launch lug, self-stick decal, two template sheets and an instruction sheet. The step-by-step text instructions (many accompanied by illustrations) are easy to follow, with assembly broken down in to several sections: engine tube assembly, upper body assembly, and main body assembly.

My model went together easily, but I found a flaw in my sample: the engine tube was 1/4 inch too long. Unfortunately, I discovered this after I had followed the instructions to glue the motor block into the tube. I easily fixed the situation, however, by gluing another motor block from my spares bin in front of the kit block. I notified TMRK by email who has made sure that subsequent kits have the proper sized engine tube. If you've got an early edition of the kit, however, make sure you measure that tube!

Other than that little adventure, the kit went together well: I wrinkled the upper shroud formed from the supplied template card a bit, but it was usable. In case you really mess up though, there is a duplicate shroud template card in the kit, a nice touch by TMRK. The engine nozzle is also formed from a cardstock shroud, along with an external centering ring. The nose cone's shoulder must be cut apart to form a nose block that is glued into the upper end of the top body tube, forming a bay for the supplied lead weights.

Finishing:
I filled the nose cone and balsa transition with Elmers Fill 'n' Finish, primed the entire rocket, and painted it flat white, with one fin and the engine nozzle painted silver. I didn't catch onto the fact that the decal wrap was a self-stick until after I had dunked it into some water. The finished model looks good, but I couldn't find any photos of the prototype vehicle, which flew with two live stages and three fins, so I have no idea how accurate it is.

Construction Rating: 4 out of 5

Flight:
The model flew well on its (so far) one and only flight using a B6-4. The motor retention system is a simple wrap of masking tape around the motor to give it a snug friction fit in the motor tube. It rose straight and true, with a weak ejection (not the fault of the model, of course) at apogee. Fortunately, the large 16 inch cloth parachute deployed, gently lowering the model for another flight.

Recovery:
The instructions called for a standard 'Estes' style shock cord mount (folded paper glued into the main body tube), but I modified it into a 'Quest' style system: a piece of Kevlar® tied to the motor block that ended in a loop just below the top of the body tube. I attached the elastic shock cord to the Kevlar® and the rest of the recovery system normally.

Flight Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:
BARs like me remember the 'good old days,' when model rockets were built from kits using wood and paper... well, those days are back. True Modeler's Rocket Kits (TMRK) is a new model rocket company that makes kits the way we remember them being: fun to build and fly. I really enjoyed building this model, since I actually had to build it, rather than just stick together a few plastic parts. It requires a bit of care, especially with the paper shrouds, but if you take your time you'll end up with a really spiffy looking sport scale model that flies straight and true. The only con I have is a lack of documentation for the actual vehicle.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5