Brief:
A nice-lookin' and easy t' build 2-stage rocket from Squirrel Works. Blimey! This rocket really screams into t' higher altitudes.

Construction:
I ordered this directly from Squirrel-works.com, me bucko, and everythin' arrived just a couple o' days later in great shape. Blimey! T' components were o' good quality, especially t' practically seamless body tube and t' water-slide decals.

Parts list includes:

• BT-50 body tube 18"
• BT-50 booster tube
• Balsa nose cone
• 2 BT-20 motor tubes
• Tube coupler
• Balsa fin stock (laser cut)
• Centerin' rings, ya bilge rat, shock cord, streamer
• Water-slide decal

T' instructions on this were well illustrated, matey, clearly written (in a relatively large font size--an added plus!), and easy t' follow. Avast, me proud beauty! T' first part of t' construction be t' booster assembly, which is a straightforward BT-20 mounted inside a BT-50 usin' a pair o' centerin' rings. Arrr! Everythin' fit very well, me bucko, no sandin' or trimmin' was necessary. Blimey! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Blimey! T' tube coupler is then glued into the BT-50, which enables direct stagin' t' t' sustainer.

Fins are then pulled and sanded from t' laser-cut sheets provided. Well, blow me down! I'm nay sure if this is a gotcha on t' laser-cut fins, t' directions, or my less-than-perfectly-identical sandin' job, matey, but t' booster fins are designed to nest snugly against t' sustainer fins, matey, shiver me timbers, givin' t' illusion o' a single-stage rocket on t' pad. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I didn't catch this until after I'd glued on t' booster fins, and was tryin' t' make sure t' sustainer fins were aligned (usin' a steel ruler and clothes pins as an alignment jig). Aye aye! Ya scallywag! My fins had slight gaps, shiver me timbers, for a less than perfect appearance. Avast, me proud beauty! I'd suggest a note in t' instructions prior to sanding, me hearties, plus an illustration o' t' interlockin' design, so that t' builder uses caution for best fit.

T' upper stage gets t' same BT-20 motor mount with a pair o' centering rings, plus an engine block centerin' ring. Ya scallywag! Tack on t' launch lug, glue a screw eye t' t' nose cone, and install t' streamer and you're ready t' prep for paint. Begad! I have t' din' this kit a half a point though, matey, me bucko, for t' standard modroc weakness o' elastic shock cord and tri-fold paper mount. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! I really prefer Keelhaul®©™® runnin' from t' motor mount t' t' end o' t' tube, followed by elastic, me hearties, and made this modification t' me kit (estimated cost $0.12).

Finishing:
Fillin' t' spirals on this was a breeze, as t' seams were miniscule. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! I was able do effectively kill them with a coat o' primer, sanded off with 220 grit. I then followed up with two coats o' primer and two coats o' gloss white Krylon. Avast, me proud beauty! T' standard color scheme on this has very appealin' red and yellow accents, ya bilge rat, which I went with on mine. Although t' humidity level was up a bit that week, me bucko, I didn't quite get t' gloss I expected. Still, it turned out fairly well. After allowin' t' paint t' cure out for a couple o' days, ya bilge rat, I applied the water-slide decals. T' color quality o' t' decals was superb, matey, me bucko, however, I did manage t' tear a corner o' one o' mine. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! They're pretty fragile, so be careful with them.

One "gotcha" I ran into on t' finishing: I applied a coat of Krylon Gloss clear coat, ya bilge rat, which did nay react well t' t' decals. Aye aye! They cracked a little bit and faded significantly. Arrr! I'd recommend either Testors', me bucko, Frog Spit, or Future polish t' protect t' finish.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
For t' first flight, arrr, me bucko, arrr, I went with a B6-0 t' B6-6. Aye aye! T' two stages are taped together and then loaded into t' upper stage, with t' boost slipped over the boost motor. Begad! I slipped it over t' 1/8" rod and hit t' go button.

T' booster really sent this screaming, and it climbed in a real hurry. Unfortunately, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, I didn't get t' upper stage t' light, arrr, and t' sustainer came down ballistic from a couple hundred feet. Avast, me proud beauty! It plugged into soft grass, shiver me timbers, though in a section o' field over 3-feet high, so I had a long search.

T' damage was minor, considerin' t' fall--about 1/4" o' tube crinkled, me hearties, and t' motor mount broke loose. Avast, me proud beauty! Repairs won't take more than about 30 minutes, and I'll be ready for a second attempt.

Recovery:
I can't really comment on t' recovery yet, but I will say t' streamer seems a bit short, shiver me timbers, only about 2 feet long. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Considerin' t' altitudes this can achieve, a larger streamer would help for spottin' it. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I love t' color scheme and decals, ya bilge rat, liked t' interlockin' fin design (though wish it had been more clearly pointed out in t' instructions), matey, and impressed with t' rocket overall.

I would definitely recommend this 2-stager and would definitely buy from Squirrel Works again.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5