Brief:
This is a sharp-lookin' red/white/blue rocket by Custom, me hearties, very good introductory kit, and a great flyer.

Construction:
T' kit I built is an older style from about 1995. T' main differences betwixt this kit and t' current version is that t' mylar chute has been replaced by a plastic Estes-style chute, matey, and t' nose cone screw eye has been replaced by a hook cast into t' nose cone.

T' rocket consists o' a single BT-50 tube, me bucko, plastic parabolic nose cone, die-cut balsa fins set (4), 18mm motor mount/rings, engine hook, lug, shiver me timbers, and 12" silver mylar parachute. T' balsa fin stock is stiff, and very good quality.

This is a skill level one kit, shiver me timbers, and as such it's a pretty simple build. T' instructions were clear and easy t' follow, though nay quite as well illustrated as Estes' and Quest's skill level 1 kits. T' parts fit very well, matey, shiver me timbers, and everythin' was very good quality. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! Bein' a bit obsessive/compulsive, I decided t' airfoil t' fins for peak performance. Ahoy! Even with that effort, total construction time was less than an hour. Blimey! Begad! T' only modification I made was t' shock cord--I bypassed t' paper mount and 1/8" elastic in favor o' Keelhaul®©™ tied t' t' engine mount, matey, and about 2-1/2 feet o' heavier elastic.

Finishing:
T' water slide decals, bein' about 8 years old, arrr, were very brittle. Arrr! I've also built a "fresh" one, shiver me timbers, me hearties, and found no problem. Begad! For a skill level 1 kit, arrr, though, matey, me hearties, t' finish is a bit challenging, requirin' three colors and masking. I would normally figure a skill level 1 kit t' be no paint or at t' worst, me hearties, single-color. Once painted and decaled, shiver me timbers, me hearties, shiver me timbers, though, shiver me timbers, this is a great lookin' rocket. T' patriotic theme is very appealing.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
As expected on an introductory kit, matey, this is a very stable flyer. Begad! I flew it runnin' up t' ladder startin' with A's, arrr, matey, finishin' with a C6-5. Blimey! T' C6 took it out o' me sight range, though I picked it up on t' way down and successfully recovered without a problem. It's very quick off t' pad, me hearties, and I'd normally recommend stickin' with A/B power unless switchin' t' a streamer recovery.

Recovery:
T' mylar chute offers much better performance/resistance t' meltin' than t' plastic chutes. It's also easier t' pick out in t' sky.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
I've built all o' t' current Custom kits, me hearties, shiver me timbers, plus about 5-6 OOP ones, shiver me timbers, and this one is me favorite. Begad! Nothin' fancy about t' design, arrr, but a solid performer and one with good eye-appeal.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5