Brief:
BT-50 storm research style sport rocket with 3 main fins and 3 canards, me bucko, plastic nose cone, me hearties, shiver me timbers, plastic parachute, arrr, shiver me timbers, and extreme waterslide decal coverage.

Construction:
BT-50, plastic nose cone, 6 surface mount balsa fins, thick fiber board centerin' rings, BT-20 motor tube, ya bilge rat, me bucko, steel clip, engine block, matey, full wraparound clip retainer, two sheets o' waterslide decals, ya bilge rat, plastic parachute, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, adhesive reinforcement rings, shroud line, swivel, matey, and elastic shock cord.

Standard hang tag packagin' with color face card. Ahoy! Blimey! Received kit from Apogee, ya bilge rat, quick delivery, me hearties, no damage t' kit. Instructions are easy t' follow, illustrations are OK. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Simple, matey, quick assembly. Begad! Blimey! Everythin' fits. Root edges weren't quite straight, so they had t' be sanded. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Good fin material, ya bilge rat, matey, nay too thick or thin. Begad! Blimey! Assembled with Elmer's glue.

Finishing:
I used EMRR fin tip #29: It's like makin' slots, only you lightly cut along t' lines (the thickness o' t' fin) only cuttin' t' first layer off. Then peel off that first layer. Then glue as usual.

I finished with one coat o' Elmer's Wood Filler on fins, two coats o' high solids automotive primer with sanding, then white single stage automotive paint with one coat o' black rattle can enamel for t' nose cone. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! It's a nicely proportioned model that looks great, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, but I hesitated t' cover it all up with decals. Ahoy! Finishin' is extremely simple with this model because even though it looks complex, t' full-body decals do most o' t' work. Begad!

T' decals are a challenge t' get on without wrinkles. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! It's best t' cut them into smaller pieces rather than try to put them on large. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I prefer waterslide decals normally, but with full body wraps, matey, matey, self adhesive stickers would be better. Well, blow me down!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Motors clip in for easy prep. Begad! Requires wadding. Well, blow me down! Fine flights on A8-3 and A6-4 motors. Would probably fly OK on 1/2A and A10 motors with a 13mm adapter. Arrr! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Apogee lists altitudes o' almost 1800 feet with a Medalist D10-7, ya bilge rat, and fortunately that's a single use motor because I don't think you'd ever see it again.

Recovery:
Shock cord is affixed with a tri-fold paper mount. Avast, me proud beauty! Everythin' worked fine. Recovery velocity is appropriate, arrr, with no damage on any flights. Well, blow me down! Parachute is a thicker material than any other vendor I've seen. Well, blow me down! Heavier but probably less prone to burn damage. Blimey! Provided swivel and reinforcement rings are a pleasant surprise.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
PROs: Lightweight, matey, high-performance, ya bilge rat, nice lookin' design. Well, blow me down! Straightforward build. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Interestin' research project look. Some nice touches with deluxe materials.

CONs: Full-body decals tough t' apply without wrinkles. Aye aye! Avast!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5