Brief:
BT-50 storm research style sport rocket with 3 main fins and 3 canards, plastic nose cone, me bucko, plastic parachute, 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, me hearties, steel clip, engine block, full wraparound clip retainer, ya bilge rat, two sheets o' waterslide decals, matey, me hearties, plastic parachute, me hearties, shiver me timbers, adhesive reinforcement rings, ya bilge rat, shroud line, me hearties, swivel, shiver me timbers, and elastic shock cord.

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

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

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. It's a nicely proportioned model that looks great, ya bilge rat, but I hesitated t' cover it all up with decals. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Finishin' is extremely simple with this model because even though it looks complex, t' full-body decals do most o' t' work. Aye aye! Blimey!

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

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Motors clip in for easy prep. Begad! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! Requires wadding. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Fine flights on A8-3 and A6-4 motors. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Would probably fly OK on 1/2A and A10 motors with a 13mm adapter. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Apogee lists altitudes o' almost 1800 feet with a Medalist D10-7, 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. Everythin' worked fine. Begad! Blimey! Recovery velocity is appropriate, with no damage on any flights. Begad! Parachute is a thicker material than any other vendor I've seen. Begad! Heavier but probably less prone to burn damage. Blimey! Begad! Provided swivel and reinforcement rings are a pleasant surprise.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
PROs: Lightweight, high-performance, nice lookin' design. Ya scallywag! Straightforward build. Aye aye! Begad! Interestin' research project look. Some nice touches with deluxe materials.

CONs: Full-body decals tough t' apply without wrinkles. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Blimey!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5