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

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

Standard hang tag packagin' with color face card. Avast! Received kit from Apogee, quick delivery, no damage t' kit. Instructions are easy t' follow, illustrations are OK. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! Simple, quick assembly. Everythin' fits. Blimey! Well, blow me down! Root edges weren't quite straight, me bucko, me hearties, so they had t' be sanded. Begad! Good fin material, me hearties, nay too thick or thin. Arrr! 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. Well, blow me down! Then peel off that first layer. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Then glue as usual. Aye aye! Arrr!

I finished with one coat o' Elmer's Wood Filler on fins, me hearties, 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. Arrr! Begad! It's a nicely proportioned model that looks great, shiver me timbers, me bucko, but I hesitated t' cover it all up with decals. Aye aye! Finishin' is extremely simple with this model because even though it looks complex, arrr, arrr, t' full-body decals do most o' t' work.

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

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
PROs: Lightweight, high-performance, ya bilge rat, nice lookin' design. Blimey! Straightforward build. Interestin' research project look. Some nice touches with deluxe materials.

CONs: Full-body decals tough t' apply without wrinkles. Begad!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5