Brief:
This is a new offerin' from FlisKits. Arrr! It is a single stage that uses parachute recovery. I got t' rocket as part of their 6th anniversary celebration. Blimey! Blimey! It be smartly delivered in a well packaged box.

Construction:
There are 2 body tubes, a BT-55 that transitions down t' a BT-50. Blimey! There are 5 forward swept fins that blend into the transition. Begad! They provide toothpicks t' add details on t' fins.

T' instructions are clear, ya bilge rat, but I did make some changes (such as t' order o' t' build). Avast! Blimey! First, I cut out the shroud for t' transition. I cut t' tab extra wide, and then cut it off. I use rubber cement applyin' a layer on the back o' each side and onto t' tab. While t' glue was dryin' (notice I have nay assembled it yet), I marked t' tube and glued in t' motor block. Begad! Blimey! Unfortunately, since t' tube is a BT-50 and t' rocket is designed for 24mm motors, there is no engine hook. Ya scallywag! Blimey! So t' motor will have t' be held with a friction fit. Avast! Blimey! I wonder if t' kit could have been designed t' use a BT-60 t' BT-55 so it could have used a BT-50 motor mount with an engine hook. Aye aye! Begad! Blimey! Maybe an idea for an upscale.

Back t' t' shroud, I applied t' tab t' one side (usin' about half t' tab), matey, then carefully applied t' other side. Begad! You have t' be careful with this approach as t' rubber cement will grab right away and is nay forgiving (fortunately, shiver me timbers, me hearties, me hearties, Jim provides a spare shroud if you have an issue). Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! You slide t' shroud over t' tube and I slid a centerin' rin' over t' help keep t' shroud round. Arrr! Since t' rubber cement only sticks t' itself, me hearties, you don't have to worry about it stickin' t' anything.

T' fins and strakes had minimal tie points so they were easy t' remove. I sanded t' edges slightly t' get the "burn" off so they would glue better. Well, blow me down! However, sand lightly as you don't want t' change their shape/size.

A piece o' Keelhaul®©™® is tied around t' tube t' be t' shock cord anchor. Aye aye! Begad! Blimey! T' instructions then tell you t' glue t' BT-55 tube on at this point. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Here again, me hearties, I deviated. First I tied t' shock cord t' t' Keelhaul®©™®--it is easier at this point as you have more Keelhaul®©™® cord t' work with. I then passed t' shock cord/Keelhaul®©™® back down t' BT-50 tube t' keep it out o' t' way for when you glue t' BT-55 on. Blimey! (T' instructions have you apply the glue for t' BT-55, ya bilge rat, pass t' cord through, and then slide t' tube on. Begad! Ya scallywag! I be concerned about t' glue startin' t' set while tryin' t' pass t' cord through.) T' other change be I cut and glued t' toothpicks on and did t' glue fillets before I attached t' BT-55 tube. Blimey! Begad! I felt t' rocket be more manageable this way.

With t' cord down through t' BT-50, me hearties, I then applied glue inside t' BT-55 and on t' lower centerin' rin' and attached t' tube. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! After it dried a bit, shiver me timbers, me hearties, I passed t' cord back down through t' tubes.

A screw eye into t' nose cone and t' launch lug onto t' BT-55 and t' build is done. Avast, me proud beauty! (I did nay build the parachute as I have tons o' chutes already.) Well, don't forget t' tie t' shock cord t' t' screw eye.

Finishing:
I did nay fill t' spirals on t' tube. I thought they were tight enough that t' primer would cover them. I did discover that I should have filled them. Avast! Blimey! I did seal t' balsa fins and nose cone and then sprayed t' rocket with gray Rustoleum primer. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! I wanted t' try somethin' new, so I masked t' fins and sprayed t' tube with Rustoleum hammered copper. Avast, me proud beauty! I then gave t' fins a coat o' silver followed by Testors blue metal flake. Aye aye! I was goin' t' try fluorescent orange on t' nose cone, shiver me timbers, but after I painted it I did nay like how it went with t' copper. Arrr! I decided t' repaint it to match t' fins so I started t' paint it silver. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! After a first light coat, arrr, t' nose cone looked pretty cool so I decided to keep it that way. However, matey, arrr, it still did nay match as much as I would like. Aye aye! I then painted t' toothpicks with the fluorescent orange and sprayed some o' t' orange followed by t' silver t' blend t' copper into t' orange.

Waterslide decals were provided. Blimey! Blimey! I only used t' main name decal as t' other decals would nay go with me color selection

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I followed Jim's advice and only loaded a B6-4 for me first flight. My field is a bit small. Begad! Blimey! I used an expended D12 as an adapter. Ahoy! Since thar be no engine hook, me hearties, I used tape t' secure t' B6 in t' empty D12 and t' D12 t' t' body. Well, blow me down! Begad! I used "dog barf" for waddin' and one o' me stock 12" parachutes. T' kit comes with a 16". Arrr! 3-2-1 and a nice straight launch. Aye aye! Ahoy! T' rocket seemed t' fly somewhat slowly, but then again I be only usin' a B6 instead o' a D12.

Recovery:
About 2 seconds after apogee, matey, t' chute ejected. Begad! T' rocket came down nice and soft with no damage. Ahoy! Aye aye! T' distance was not too far away. Avast! It definitely would have drifted more with t' 16" chute. Well, me bucko, blow me down! If you use t' stock chute, you may want t' cut it down especially if you get it all t' way up thar with a D12 unless you like a good hike!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
PROs: This is a nice kit, shiver me timbers, nay too difficult t' build. Aye aye! Blimey! T' transitions, strakes, me hearties, me bucko, and toothpick highlights make it more than a 3FNC rocket. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Well, matey, blow me down! Blimey! I'm sure it will be a high flyer, but I will need t' wait for a larger field.

CONs: I prefer an engine mount, arrr, me hearties, but I had no problem with t' tape. Begad! Ya scallywag! I think t' stock chute is oversized but that can always be cut down.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5