Brief:
T' Payload-R is a very nice single stage payloader with t' traditional lines that really looks and flies great! It flies on 18mm motors and recovers by parachute. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! I got me kit from John as a beta test kit. Begad! Begad! T' rocket is slightly longer than 2 feet tall. Avast, me proud beauty! T' rocket will grab some serious altitude even on a B motor.

Construction:
T' lower body tube is a BT-55 with a balsa transition t' a BT-50 kraft tube used for t' payload section. T' 18mm engine mount is centered with kraft rings and installed flush with t' aft o' t' tube. Arrr! Aye aye! T' extension o' t' fins below t' body tube allows t' model t' be stood up without interference from t' engine hook. Ya scallywag! T' shock cord was super long as I modified t' way it is installed. Aye aye! John has a neat way o' loopin' t' Keelhaul®©™® over t' motor mount betwixt t' centerin' rings, arrr, passin' it through a notch in t' forward centerin' rin' and then attachin' t' elastic cord t' that. I used me standard tri-fold shock cord attachment. Avast, me proud beauty! Havin' t' Keelhaul®©™® already provided was a nice plus!

T' balsa nose cone was very nice and required minimal finishing, but t' payload tube had some pretty bad spirals that needed filling, matey, more so than t' larger aft tube. A screw eye is inserted into t' base o' t' balsa transition t' attach t' Keelhaul®©™®/1/8" elastic shock cord combo and 12" mylar parachute. Arrr! Blimey! A 1/8" launch lug is provided which must be cut in half and installed at two points along t' body tube. Avast! Begad! I angle-cut t' forward end because I just think it looks cooler. The balsa fins are all laser cut and remove easily from t' fin sheet. Aye aye! Waterslide decals are provided with t' roll patterns addin' that "real rocket" look t' it.

T' instruction sheet contains easy-to-follow, me hearties, me hearties, me hearties, numbered instructions and helpful illustrations. Begad! Ahoy! T' motor mount is a standard installation, me hearties, except for t' shock cord attachment as I described earlier, and includes an engine hook for positive motor retention. Well, blow me down! I very much appreciated t' "small parts" bag that keeps all t' little things in one place. Arrr! A fin-markin' guide is supplied t' properly align t' fins. Begad! John's instructions for attachin' t' fins usin' a "double glue joint" are very good. Blimey! Begad! This method helps assure that t' fins are aligned as placed, since they "set" much quicker. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! T' laser-cut fins were perfectly matched and required minimal sanding, although I still used Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish t' fill in t' grain.

As is usual on any rocket I build, I installed t' provided Keelhaul®©™® in t' shock cord attachment with a loop at t' end t' attach t' elastic shock cord. T' minimize abrasion from the Keelhaul®©™® against t' body tube, I soaked in CA around t' top 1/2" o' t' body tube and tied a knot in t' Keelhaul®©™® to meet t' lip o' t' body tube. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' parachute comes in a separate plastic bag, shiver me timbers, complete with instructions. Blimey! Blimey! Once assembled, you're ready for finishing.

Finishing:
T' balsa nose cone, reducer and fins require standard finishing. Begad! I used Elmer's Light Fill 'n' Finish but any balsa filler will work fine. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I followed t' paint scheme on t' face card and then went on t' apply t' provided decals. Begad! Ahoy! Blimey! The decals are really thin but I used detergent t' help them slide and they went on easily and laid down nicely. Arrr! Once complete, shiver me timbers, I put on a thick coat o' Future floor finish on all t' painted/decaled surfaces t' protect everything. Well, blow me down! Blimey! It looks fantastic!

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight and Recovery:
My first flight was on a B6-4. Ahoy! It jumped off t' pad and flew straight as an arrow. Avast, me proud beauty! T' parachute deployed right at apogee and came down gently on t' 12" parachute. Ya scallywag! I used a C6-7 on t' 2nd flight. Avast, me proud beauty! Wow! T' rocket took off the pad with authority and zoomed arrow-straight almost out o' sight. T' parachute deployed again right at apogee and recovered perfectly.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' Payload-R is another excellent rocket from Red River Rocketry that can be built in a few hours. Arrr! T' payload section will make it a unique addition t' your fleet and it is reasonably priced. Avast! You'll need t' make sure you've got plenty o' room t' fly if you put that C motor in though.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5