Brief:
This rocket is a 18mm futuristic space fighter usin' parachute recovery system. Ahoy! When I became a BAR, I found numerous kits that I absolutely HAD t' have. Many o' them came from Fliskits. Avast, me proud beauty! T' problem was I be well aware o' me technical skills and was loathe t' butcher such nice projects. As a result, shiver me timbers, I spent a lot o' time workin' on simple "level 1 and 2" rockets while starin' wistfully at t' cool designs in t' 3, me hearties, me bucko, 4 and 5 bins. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! I finally decided t' give one of t' nicer lookin' ones a try and picked t' Fliskits Stingray t' embrace. I figured that most o' those kits look so good, me bucko, some o' t' reflected glory might rub off on me.

Construction:
Other reviews have listed t' parts so I will not. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! Rest assured, me hearties, they were all present and o' good quality. Construction begins by markin' t' motor tube and cuttin' a slit for t' retainer clip. Avast! Ahoy! T' clip is held in place with maskin' tape and a thrust rin' is inserted. Aye aye! Begad! There are two centerin' rings and each needs t' be modified. Arrr! T' first one has an 1/8" sector removed t' accommodate t' retainer clip and t' second has a small notch cut in it t' allow the Keelhaul®©™® shock cord t' pass. Both rings are held in place with white glue.

T' shock cord is attached t' t' motor mount by tyin' a slip knot around the motor tube and then passin' t' thread through t' notch cut above. Begad! T' motor mount is then slid into place and glued into t' body tube. Begad! It should be noted that this kit is designed so that t' motor mount hangs out a good ways past the end o' t' BT.

Now that t' BT and motor mount were ready, matey, I needed t' transfer t' marks for t' fins, matey, cannon mounts, shiver me timbers, me bucko, etc. t' the BT. Blimey! This was done by means o' a wrap around guide and be easily achieved. Aye aye! T' lines were marked, shiver me timbers, identified and extend the length o' t' BT.

Apparently, me bucko, some o' t' wrap kits provided as accessories for this kit include a wrap for t' body tube. Well, blow me down! Mine did not. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! If it had been included, it would be at this point that t' instructions would have sent me off t' apply t' wrap to t' BT. Avast! Ahoy! Afterwards, t' builder is instructed t' return t' t' same place in t' instructions and continue from there. Begad! In me case, ya bilge rat, me bucko, I just got started on t' next step.

T' next step was t' actually cut balsa. Except for an old Estes Mosquito, arrr, this be t' first time I have had t' do this since me return as a BAR. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! It is probably what made me t' most nervous but it turned out t' nay be too bad. Ahoy! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' kit comes with paper templates that are cut out and then used t' trace a line around t' pristine sheet material provided. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! This was easily achieved but I cannot emphasize t' importance of usin' both a sharp pencil for t' markin' and a sharp knife for t' cutting. Ahoy! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I decided t' cut out all me pieces at once.

When t' pieces were cut, I went on t' t' next step where I was instructed t' sand an 1/8" bevel into the leadin' edges o' t' two fins. Ahoy! T' do this, me bucko, shiver me timbers, me bucko, I marked o' t' 1/8 inch and then placed a line o' cellophane tape across the length o' t' fin. I did t' same with t' reverse side. Blimey! Blimey! T' tape be then used t' give me a guide as I be sanding and prevent me from sandin' too far.

T' after bulkhead be also assembled at this stage. Begad! Blimey! T' template provides for two pieces which are almost mirror images o' each other. Avast, me proud beauty! Each o' these pieces needs t' be marked on both sides in terms o' left and right and upper and lower. Blimey! When t' pieces are cut out, a slight bevel is sanded into t' forward facin' edges in order t' accommodate the body wrap shroud. Then each o' t' two bulkheads is cut in half t' make a total o' four pieces. These pieces are then glued, shiver me timbers, 2 per fin, t' t' root edges o' t' fins. Alignment is critical so t' template provides a mark for 1/8" in along t' trailin' edge. Ahoy! Begad! Blimey! This mark must be transferred t' t' bulkhead and then used t' match t' edge o' t' fins.

At this point, me hearties, shiver me timbers, thar be another directive t' see special instructions if you are usin' one o' t' wrap kits. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I dutifully turned t' t' appropriate instruction and learned that it was time t' seal and paint t' fins before applying the wraps. Blimey! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I did so with Elmer's Fill 'N Seal® and then sprayed t' fins black. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! I need only have bothered with t' trailin' edge but I went ahead and painted most of the fins.

When t' paint was dry, t' wraps for t' fins were carefully cut out with a razor knife. Arrr! Blimey! T' wraps include a scorin' line that aligns along t' bevel on t' leadin' edges which I scored with t' razor knife. Arrr! Blimey! Unfortunately, me hearties, I pressed a little too hard with t' first pass and cut too deeply. Arrr! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! That did makin' loadin' it in half a snap, though. T' outer edge o' t' fin is then aligned with t' end o' t' wrap and t' whole fin is carefully set into t' crease. T' instructions recommend and I heartily support practicin' this a few time before peelin' t' backin' off o' the wrap. Arrr! Blimey! When you think you have it down, peel t' backin' and press t' wrap onto t' fin. T' procedure is then repeated on t' opposite side.

T' wingtips likewise are supposed t' be filled and finished before apply the wraps. Ahoy! Here is where me brain broke down. Blimey! Bein' lazy, early in t' morning, I hit on t' bright idea o' usin' white glue t' fill t' edges. Arrr! Aye aye! It was already out and t' Fill 'N Finish was all t' way out in t' garage.

Bad idea. Ya scallywag! I suppose it could work eventually but takes too long t' dry, t' balsa seems t' drink t' stuff and sandin' is a nightmare. Begad! In any event, instead o' paintin' t' edges black, I opted for paintin' them red for contrast.

Strangely enough, I found that applyin' t' stickers for t' win' tips was more difficult than applyin' t' wraps to t' wings. Begad! This was because o' t' shape. Begad! T' stickers were easy enough t' cut out; I opted for usin' scissors for this step. Avast! I then peel a little bit off t' back and tried t' get t' balsa centered. That was more easily said than done. Arrr! T' balsa I had cut was nay perfect and it shows especially since t' red o' t' balsa contrasts with t' black of t' stickers. Begad! T' instructions noted that I might have t' trim t' sticker but I would up with a surplus o' balsa and no trimmin' be needed. When both wingtips were done, ya bilge rat, me hearties, I sealed t' edges with white glue as per t' instructions.

T' next step returned me t' t' main thread o' t' instructions t' mount the wings t' t' BT. In t' interest o' strength, matey, arrr, I used a safety pin t' perforate t' root edges o' t' wings and t' BT along t' installation line t' form glue "rivets." Then it was a matter o' test fittin' each win' against the BT. Begad! It is critically important at this step t' ensure that t' root edge o' t' win' lies flush against t' BT. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! I had to do some sandin' on t' aft bulkhead t' make this happen. When all seemed t' fit right, me bucko, shiver me timbers, I glued on t' left wing. After waitin' a decent amount o' time for t' glue t' set, I glued on t' right wing.

Since this wrap kit did nay include a body wrap, matey, shiver me timbers, t' instructions indicate it is time t' paint. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Much o' the rearward part o' t' body will be hidden by t' final paper shroud so it be t' front o' t' rocket that is important here. Blimey! Blimey! I wrapped t' tale in aluminum foil held down with maskin' tape and painted t' rest o' t' BT black.

After a few coats o' black paint, I let t' BT dry and got t' work on me sermon. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! As a reward for finishin' the sermon without too much rambling, me hearties, I decided t' spend some late time workin' on t' Stingray. Well, blow me down! I was pleased with the paint and set about workin' on t' main body shroud.

T' main body wrap be t' final part o' t' special instructions for the Maelstrom body wrap. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! T' basic Stingray comes with a 2 piece white shroud. Blimey! T' Maelstrom comes with a one piece, nicely decorated shroud.

Cuttin' out around t' outer edges be nay too onerous. I made sure I had a fresh blade and a steel ruler and started t' cut. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! After it be removed from t' rest o' t' card stock, I used t' razor knife t' lightly score t' lines where it will need t' be folded. Then came t' hard part. Ahoy! I had t' cut out t' central oval. Well, blow me down! I took this slowly but was not particularly pleased with me work. Blimey! Well, blow me down! I did, on average, manage t' cut out too little rather than too much but the curves did nay flow well for me. I never did like cuttin' curves. Begad! Aye aye! I managed t' solve part o' t' problem with 220# sandpaper. Begad! I sanded around t' inner edge until I be more (as opposed t' completely) satisfied with t' result.

When t' shroud be cut out and scored, I prefolded it and test fitted t' two halves together. Avast! Blimey! I found a few more places where I needed t' even things up but a little sandin' and a little razorin' took care o' that. Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Then it was just a matter o' gluin' t' halves together usin' t' tabs. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! It didn't look too bad.

Then tragedy struck. Begad! I test fitted t' shroud around t' BT. Aye aye! Avast! At that point I learned that I had grossly misjudged what would and what would nay be exposed. Begad! Avast! With that, I remasked and set out t' repaint t' BT.

When t' repainted BT was ready, me bucko, I tried slippin' t' shroud around t' body t' check t' fit. Avast! I found a few tight places, which were treated with a razor or sandpaper, arrr, and that I had nay given t' after bulkhead enough o' a chamfer. That be smartly treated with some sandpaper as well. When I be happy with t' fit, arrr, ya bilge rat, it was time for t' most tedious and, for me, difficult portion o' t' project.

I traced t' outline o' t' shroud on t' BT and then removed t' shroud. Well, blow me down! I then applied white glue along the outline and slid t' shroud back into place. A little tuggin' and coaxin' and it was in place. Ya scallywag! Well, arrr, blow me down! T' directions say at this point t' hold everythin' in place so that t' shroud makes full contact with all interfaces until t' glue dries. THAT WAS THE HARD PART FOR ME! Maybe I have failed t' mention me issues with patience...

It was nay all that hard except that I hate waiting. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! NOTE TO MR. FLIS: I would gladly pay much extra for some sort of jig t' do this for me; t' kids were nay willing. Avast! Blimey! It be worth it, though. Arrr! Blimey!

When I could safely let go o' t' body and shroud, I got t' work on t' gun mounts. Well, blow me down! I had previously cut these out and assembly be fairly easy. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! T' upright portion is sandwiched betwixt two plates. Blimey! It is held together with white glue and a piece o' sawn toothpick is glued t' t' upright t' be t' gun. Avast! When it was together, I found that me precision in cuttin' was better than I expected but nay good enough. I used a sanding block t' even things out and then wrapped some sandpaper around t' BT in order t' sand a curve into t' mounts. I then applied some sealer and set it aside t' dry. Blimey! Unfortunately, t' only photos that came out are without t' toothpicks.

T' wingtips are fairly easy t' attach t' t' wings. T' body wraps provide a cutout place where t' edge o' the fin is t' intersect t' wingtips. Aye aye! I again used a safety pin t' perforate both balsa surfaces and form glue rivets. Blimey! I then glued t' tips on and checked for straightness and alignment. Arrr! Havin' them in place made a huge difference in the appearance o' t' rocket.

T' launch lug mount be also simple. Arrr! Arrr! T' lug is glued t' an angled piece o' balsa. Ya scallywag! When it has set, a razor is used t' cut t' lug at t' same angle as t' mount.

Since I had a bit more time before bed, arrr, I decided t' seal t' nosecone. I glued in t' eye screw, painted with Elmer's Fill 'n Finish, and hung it up t' dry.

Now was t' time for detail work. Blimey! I sealed t' cannon mounts and launch lug, arrr, sanded them down and primed with white spray. Ahoy! I figured that finishin' them after they were mounted would be a nightmare so I decided t' finish them now. Begad! I also decided t' hand paint them.

T' bases for both were painted a Tamiya color called bronze. Blimey! Aye aye! When I opened it up, arrr, it be a bit grayer than I had imagined but still serviceable. Well, blow me down! T' launch lug itself as well as t' center supports for t' canon were painted with Tamiya copper. Ahoy! Ahoy! Copper is me favorite metallic shade and I tend t' use it whenever I have an excuse. Well, blow me down! T' guns themselves were painted red.

While those were drying, matey, I sanded down t' nosecone and used an emory board t' sharpen up t' diameter stepdown. Ahoy! I then primed it with white spray.

Figurin' that betwixt sprayin' t' nosecone and takin' time out t' help t' stepson with some chemistry homework, it be safe t' handle t' little pieces again. Ya scallywag! Avast! I realized that I had made another blunder. Aye aye! Back when t' BT had originally been marked, marks were laid down for t' cannon mounts and launch lug. Avast! Aye aye! T' black paint had completely obliterated them. Blimey! Wantin' t' do a better job on t' alignment than could be had from me deadlights alone, matey, I printed a sheet with t' alignment wrap. (I always make PDFs o' instructions, arrr, balsa, ya bilge rat, templates and such before startin' a build.)I then wrapped t' alignment sheet around t' BT and held it closed with some tape. Aye aye! Blimey! Usin' that and alignin' with t' wings by my deadlights I felt I could come close t' t' "right" place.

I used a razor knife t' nick t' paint 1/2" back from t' front o' t' BT along t' cannon mount lines. Ya scallywag! I then transferred t' length o' t' mounts t' t' BT with another light nick. Blimey! Ahoy! A file was then used t' remove t' paint along the lin' o' t' cannon mounts. A safety pin be used t' make perforations in both t' t' root edges o' t' mounts and in the BT t' form glue rivets and t' mounts were glued in place.

T' launch lug be similarly attached but I did one more thin' t' make sure it was straight. I took a short section o' 1/8" rod and used that t' help align t' lug.

After t' nosecone had been sprayed black, I decided I wanted t' add a little bit o' contrast. Aye aye! Arrr! I decided t' paint t' part o' t' nose cone that is stepped down, but nay t' part that fits in the BT, t' same colored bronze that I used on t' cannon mounts. Begad! I masked accordingly and painted it by hand. Avast! Begad! Then it be a simple matter t' cut out t' sticker for t' cockpit and put it in place. Begad! It was a bit less simple t' keep it straight and unwrinkled.

Likewise, me bucko, me hearties, finishin' t' after bulkhead was accomplished by cuttin' out t' sticker and placin' it. Begad! I recommend that when cuttin' t' hole for t' motor mount, shiver me timbers, leave a slight bit o' excess material. Avast! Ahoy! Then use a piece o' sandpaper wrapped around your finger t' ream it out flush with t' correct profile. I found t' t' sticker with t' backing paper is sturdy enough t' handle this and is sure easier than tryin' t' cut a circle. Avast, me proud beauty! That brought t' buildin' t' a close. Avast, me proud beauty!

• PROS: interesting, matey, creative
• CONS: most human beings have too few hands t' adequately handle t' installation o' t' body shroud.

Finishing:
Most o' t' finishin' took place durin' t' build phase and is detailed above. Begad! I did give t' rocket a coatin' of Future® Floor Polish t' toughen it up a bit. Avast! Avast! I don't want t' mar this up on landing. Avast, me proud beauty!

• PROS: excellent quality peel and sticks; looks great
• CONS: I would have preferred waterslides

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I started out wimpy on an A8-3. Begad! Blimey! T' chute be loaded after a bit o' dog barf, t' nose cone was seated and t' motor installed. While I be hookin' up t' leads, I enjoyed t' favorable comments from others about t' appearance o' the rocket.

When it be time t' lift off, me hearties, matey, I pushed t' button and it took right off, shiver me timbers, flyin' straight up. Begad! There was no barrel rollin' at all. Ya scallywag! It did nay fly particularly high but it be high enough t' make me feel "safe". Ejection occurred right on schedule and t' chute deployed just fine. It landed without any problem.

For t' second flight, I chose a B6-4. Avast! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Again, me bucko, me bucko, everythin' went like clockwork. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' rocket went up and t' rocket came down. Begad! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! In between, me hearties, at about t' right time, me hearties, me hearties, t' chute came out and slowed t' decent. Begad! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! That was good. Blimey! Blimey! Unfortunately, RSO duties prevented another flight.