Brief:
This is a sharp-lookin' red/white/blue rocket by Custom, matey, very good introductory kit, me hearties, and a great flyer.

Construction:
T' kit I built is an older style from about 1995. Well, blow me down! T' main differences betwixt this kit and t' current version is that t' mylar chute has been replaced by a plastic Estes-style chute, shiver me timbers, and t' nose cone screw eye has been replaced by a hook cast into t' nose cone.

T' rocket consists o' a single BT-50 tube, plastic parabolic nose cone, die-cut balsa fins set (4), 18mm motor mount/rings, engine hook, lug, and 12" silver mylar parachute. Begad! Avast! T' balsa fin stock is stiff, and very good quality.

This is a skill level one kit, matey, and as such it's a pretty simple build. Avast! T' instructions were clear and easy t' follow, though nay quite as well illustrated as Estes' and Quest's skill level 1 kits. T' parts fit very well, and everythin' be very good quality. Ya scallywag! Bein' a bit obsessive/compulsive, arrr, I decided t' airfoil t' fins for peak performance. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Even with that effort, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, total construction time was less than an hour. Blimey! T' only modification I made was t' shock cord--I bypassed t' paper mount and 1/8" elastic in favor o' Keelhaul®©™ tied t' t' engine mount, and about 2-1/2 feet o' heavier elastic.

Finishing:
T' water slide decals, bein' about 8 years old, were very brittle. I've also built a "fresh" one, matey, shiver me timbers, and found no problem. Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! For a skill level 1 kit, though, me hearties, arrr, me hearties, t' finish is a bit challenging, requirin' three colors and masking. Avast, me proud beauty! I would normally figure a skill level 1 kit t' be no paint or at t' worst, single-color. Once painted and decaled, though, me hearties, ya bilge rat, this is a great lookin' rocket. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' patriotic theme is very appealing.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
As expected on an introductory kit, me hearties, arrr, this is a very stable flyer. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! I flew it runnin' up t' ladder startin' with A's, finishin' with a C6-5. Arrr! T' C6 took it out o' me sight range, though I picked it up on t' way down and successfully recovered without a problem. Ya scallywag! Avast! It's very quick off t' pad, and I'd normally recommend stickin' with A/B power unless switchin' t' a streamer recovery.

Recovery:
T' mylar chute offers much better performance/resistance t' meltin' than t' plastic chutes. Ya scallywag! It's also easier t' pick out in t' sky.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
I've built all o' t' current Custom kits, plus about 5-6 OOP ones, arrr, and this one is me favorite. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Nothin' fancy about t' design, but a solid performer and one with good eye-appeal.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5