Brief:
OOP two-stage BT-50 4-fin payload rocket with embossed shrouds and body wrap, engine clips and plug-in staging.

Construction:
T' kit includes balsa nose cone, arrr, clear payload section, foam rubber payload shock disks, me hearties, balsa bulkhead, me hearties, me bucko, screw eye, matey, shock cord, shiver me timbers, 2 parachutes (12 and 18), two body tubes, me hearties, 8 die-cut fins, 2 waterslide decal sheets, launch lugs with offsets, stage coupler, ya bilge rat, embossed shrouds, 2 engine tubes and hooks, and 4 centerin' rings. Ya scallywag! Blimey!

Instructions are classic, me hearties, shiver me timbers, well done Estes. Begad! Illustrations are excellent. Quality o' materials is first rate. Begad! Everythin' fits together well too.

It's a straightforward build with solid centerin' rings and engine hooks glued into t' booster and sustainer stages with t' addition o' a coupler to provide t' "plug-in staging". Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! T' embossed shrouds provide a deluxe look and feel and add enough extra work t' make it a skill level 2 or 3. Ahoy! One is a body tube wrap applied around t' base o' t' sustainer and thar are two nozzle shrouds on t' booster that give it a wasp-waisted look. Fins and launch lugs are aligned with a wraparound guide and door jamb. Ya scallywag! T' payload section is glued t' t' bulkhead after adhesive paper strips are applied t' t' inside of the clear plastic. Begad! Aye aye! T' nose cone is friction fit. Aye aye! A paper shock cord mount finishes t' build. Two parachutes need t' be cut out and assembled. I believe the snap swivels were included.

Finishing:
I finished mine with sandin' sealer, ya bilge rat, 2 coats o' filler, white enamel paint, matey, me hearties, and the waterslide decals. Begad! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey!

There are no finishing, construction, or flyin' gotchas.

It is a great lookin' sleek design that still garner "Ooooooh... a Shrike" comments at t' pad.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Prep is easy since t' engines just hook in and don't require taping. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I'm deductin' a half point because t' instructions don't mention that with the plug-in staging, it's absolutely critical t' scrape t' oxidation from the propellant inside t' nozzle o' t' sustainer engine, particularly since sustainer engines tend t' sit longer on t' shelf. Add some wadding, shiver me timbers, me hearties, pack the parachute, and you're ready t' go.

I've flown this in a single stage configuration on A8-3, B6-4, and C6-5, and in two-stage configuration with 1/2A3-0 and B6-0 boosters and 1/2A3-2, A10-3, A8-5, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, and B6-6 as upper stage engines. Arrr! T' mini engines are fine for a small field and a close-up view o' all t' action although altitude is pretty wimpy. A B6-0/B6-6 combination sends it out o' sight. Flights on t' larger engines are straight and fast.

Recovery:
I always use t' 12 inch parachute. Avast, me proud beauty! It caught a thermal with an 18 and it was in t' air for a good half mile. Blimey! It never has had any damage although t' body tube is gettin' a little weak just north o' t' engine mount.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a moderately challengin' but fun build and a very satisfyin' rocket. Arrr! It is one t' look for on eBay.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5