Brief:
I think this newest release may outdo Red River's flagship, t' Predator. The Stratos is a BT-50 kit that uses an 18mm motor and parachute recovery, matey, but its looks are a lot more. Begad! Begad! Our local club was havin' a Classic Kit contest with an Open category for all other rockets. Avast! Aye aye! I had just finished t' Stratos, so I thought I'd enter it just for grins. Begad! Nay only did it win t' Open category, arrr, it also took Best in Show out o' over 50 rockets. T' sleek lines o' this kit will remind you o' several very cool rockets, me bucko, but John Dyer put it all together into one fantastic rocket that nay only looks great but flies great too.

Construction:
T' parts list

• 1 BT-50 kraft main body tube
• 2 BT-50 kraft engine nacelle tubes
• 1 BNC-50 balsa nose cone
• 2 laser cut balsa fin sheets
• 1 standard 18mm motor mount kit with motor clip
• 1 standard 1/8" launch lug
• 1 screw eye
• 1 shock cord, me bucko, 24" Keelhaul®©™® line plus 1/8" x 18" elastic
• 2 toothpicks
• 1 16" mylar parachute kit
• 1 decal sheet, water slide

Mine was a beta test kit, ya bilge rat, so it came in t' standard plastic bag but minus the face card. That be too bad, as t' face card is usually very nice. Arrr! The parts are all top quality and t' instructions are laid out in logical steps with key illustrations.

I sanded all t' tubes and balsa first and filled t' nose cone using Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish t' get that all out o' t' way in t' beginning. Begad! Begad! Blimey! The spirals in t' tube were nay that noticeable, arrr, so I didn't worry about filling them. Ahoy! After that, me bucko, me hearties, I followed t' instructions except for a couple o' personal deviations includin' paperin' t' fins t' add strength and reduce finishing time.

T' wings come in three pieces that have t' be glued together. Begad! Since the parts are laser cut, ya bilge rat, arrr, this is pretty easy t' do as everythin' fits together very nicely. Well, blow me down! While that's gluin' t' motor mount can be constructed, arrr, a standard build except t' 24" Keelhaul®©™® line is added into t' mix. Ya scallywag! T' recommended method for installation o' the Keelhaul®©™® line is neatly done, shiver me timbers, arrr, me bucko, but I prefer t' have t' Keelhaul®©™® further up t' tube so I can inspect it. Aye aye! Blimey! So, instead, I made a standard paper shock cord attachment and used t' Keelhaul®©™® with that. Blimey! It's me own standard.

A markin' guide is provided t' aid in cuttin' out t' angles in t' nacelle tubes. Since thar were only two tubes that had t' be cut, ya bilge rat, it wasn't that big of an issue. While some might complain about doin' that kind o' thing, I grew up doin' it so it wasn't that big o' a deal. Any more than that and groanin' is acceptable though. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Just be sure t' have a sharp blade and follow the directions. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! They looked nice when completed.

T' wings are glued on first, matey, angled down from t' tube, shiver me timbers, then t' nacelle tubes, me hearties, skid fins, and finally t' nacelle fins and launch lugs are attached. All o' this was done with double glue joints and allowin' appropriate drying time. I still haven't migrated t' CA for tackin' on fins. Avast, me proud beauty! It seems un-American, even though I come right behind and lay on t' fillets. My grandson keeps tryin' t' get me t' change, ya bilge rat, but I'm stubborn. Finally, I installed t' shock cord and connected it t' t' screw eye in t' nose cone. Ahoy! I used me standard installation here: CA around t' forward end o' t' tube and tie a knot in the Keelhaul®©™® at t' exit point, ya bilge rat, matey, then add a loop in t' end o' t' Keelhaul®©™® and tie on t' 1/8" elastic cord. Begad! Well, blow me down! Then I put t' parachute together and it's done.

Finishing:
Finishin' t' rocket was standard, ya bilge rat, arrr, except thar are some tight spots for sandin' around t' nacelle tubes and skids. Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' entire rocket be painted gloss white with Krylon. Aye aye! Blimey! T' instructions suggest paintin' t' toothpicks black separately and then addin' them t' t' tip o' t' nacelle fins at t' end. Begad! Blimey! I was goin' t' do that and forgot. Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Considerin' t' results o' t' contest, those toothpicks will never make it there. In betwixt waitin' for glue t' dry I had managed t' get t' umpteen decals cut out, me hearties, so I be ready t' start applying those. They laid down nicely and look great. Next I applied a couple o' coats of Future Floor Wax t' protect t' finish and improve t' shine. Beautiful!

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Our October launch was rained out, ya bilge rat, so I had t' wait until November t' fly the Stratos. Begad! Then I had t' wait until t' contest was over on Saturday, so me first flight wasn't until Sunday. Blimey! T' winds were under 10mph though, shiver me timbers, so it was a perfect day for flying: nothin' but blue skies and soft dirt. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! Both flights were on C6-5s with nice straight boosts t' some serious altitude. Begad! I was surprised at how smartly it got off t' pad. I was anticipatin' t' rocket t' have much more drag than be exhibited by t' flight. Ya scallywag! Begad! Very nice!

Recovery:
T' chute popped right at t' top both times and landed perfectly. It was a little windier for t' second flight with some stronger gusts though. Before I could get t' t' rocket t' second time, ya bilge rat, a couple o' gusts caught t' parachute after landin' and dragged it across t' ground. No real damage though, just some minor scuffin' that should clean up fine. Aye aye! Blimey! It was a great day!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' Stratos doesn't really take that long t' complete and t' build is very straightforward. Well, blow me down! Parts quality is superb. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! Blimey! T' decals really enhance t' look of the rocket. Begad! Blimey! Look sharp, me hearties, now. You're a member o' t' U.S. Air Force Space Command. Begad! Yeah! Blimey! Well, O.K., ya bilge rat, matey, it's a very nice lookin' rocket.

PROs: Outstandin' design, quality parts with laser cut fins, excellent instructions, matey, and a nice long shock cord

CONs: None. Ahoy! Avast! I made t' change with t' shock cord and papered t' fins, but that is personal preference.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5