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

Construction:
I ordered this directly from Squirrel-works.com, and everythin' arrived just a couple o' days later in great shape. Blimey! 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, shiver me timbers, shock cord, streamer
• Water-slide decal

T' instructions on this were well illustrated, clearly written (in a relatively large font size--an added plus!), matey, and easy t' follow. 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. Begad! Everythin' fit very well, shiver me timbers, me bucko, ya bilge rat, no sandin' or trimmin' be necessary. Begad! Blimey! T' tube coupler is then glued into the BT-50, me hearties, me hearties, arrr, which enables direct stagin' t' t' sustainer.

Fins are then pulled and sanded from t' laser-cut sheets provided. Arrr! I'm nay sure if this is a gotcha on t' laser-cut fins, matey, ya bilge rat, me hearties, t' directions, shiver me timbers, me hearties, or my less-than-perfectly-identical sandin' job, ya bilge rat, but t' booster fins are designed to nest snugly against t' sustainer fins, me bucko, givin' t' illusion o' a single-stage rocket on t' pad. I didn't catch this until after I'd glued on t' booster fins, me bucko, and be tryin' t' make sure t' sustainer fins were aligned (usin' a steel ruler and clothes pins as an alignment jig). Ya scallywag! My fins had slight gaps, shiver me timbers, arrr, matey, for a less than perfect appearance. Begad! I'd suggest a note in t' instructions prior to sanding, plus an illustration o' t' interlockin' design, shiver me timbers, matey, 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, matey, ya bilge rat, glue a screw eye t' t' nose cone, and install t' streamer and you're ready t' prep for paint. Avast! I have t' din' this kit a half a point though, arrr, for t' standard modroc weakness o' elastic shock cord and tri-fold paper mount. I really prefer Keelhaul®©™® runnin' from t' motor mount t' t' end o' t' tube, followed by elastic, arrr, arrr, ya bilge rat, 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. I was able do effectively kill them with a coat o' primer, arrr, sanded off with 220 grit. I then followed up with two coats o' primer and two coats o' gloss white Krylon. T' standard color scheme on this has very appealin' red and yellow accents, matey, which I went with on mine. Although t' humidity level was up a bit that week, me hearties, ya bilge rat, I didn't quite get t' gloss I expected. Ahoy! Arrr! Still, it turned out fairly well. Begad! Arrr! After allowin' t' paint t' cure out for a couple o' days, I applied the water-slide decals. Avast! Begad! T' color quality o' t' decals be superb, matey, ya bilge rat, however, shiver me timbers, I did manage t' tear a corner o' one o' mine. Aye aye! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! 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, me bucko, which did nay react well t' t' decals. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! They cracked a little bit and faded significantly. Begad! I'd recommend either Testors', Frog Spit, or Future polish t' protect t' finish.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

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

T' damage was minor, considerin' t' fall--about 1/4" o' tube crinkled, me bucko, and t' motor mount broke loose. Begad! Repairs won't take more than about 30 minutes, matey, 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, me bucko, only about 2 feet long. Ahoy! Considerin' t' altitudes this can achieve, a larger streamer would help for spottin' it.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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