Brief:
This is a basic 3FNC single stager, but t' fin design and beautiful graphic decals help it stand out from t' crowd. Featurin' a 24mm motor mount, shiver me timbers, it also pushes t' more serious altitudes than many other designs o' comparable complexity.

Construction:
Component quality is quite impressive--balsa fins that are strong and finely lasered, body tube with very light spirals, me bucko, and a balsa nose cone that almost felt as though it were turned from very expensive hard balsa. T' parts included in this kit are:

• BT-55 body tube
• Balsa nose cone
• 3 Laser-cut balsa fins
• 24mm motor mount kit (BT-50, centerin' rings, 50/20 block, matey, metal hook)
• 1/8" elastic shock cord
• 12" Mylar chute
• Waterslide decals

Construction is very easy on this, arrr, me bucko, solidly in t' skill level 1 class. Begad! I spent a fair amount o' time on the finishin' (maybe 45 minutes), ya bilge rat, me hearties, arrr, but t' construction itself probably took about half an hour.

Instructions were well written and t' 13 steps fit on one side o' a sheet o' paper, includin' several computer-drawn illustrations.

T' motor mount is straightforward, featurin' an internal centerin' rin' block, a metal hook, and a pair of external centerin' rings along with t' 24mm motor tube. Begad! T' completed assembly is flush mounted with t' body tube, leavin' t' hook extendin' out a bit. Ya scallywag! Arrr! Nothin' wrong with that, arrr, me bucko, but personally I prefer a rocket that stands on its own with t' hook either forward o' t' rearmost fin edges or inside t' body tube. Ya scallywag! Avast! In t' case o' a BT-55 body tube and 24mm motor, arrr, thar just would nay have been enough room though.

Markin' t' body tube is done usin' a wraparound markin' guide. I tacked t' three fins on with CA, ya bilge rat, arrr, then applied white glue fillets. Aye aye! T' only tricky part o' construction is makin' sure you've got t' fins oriented correctly. Begad! There are two straight lines and a curved dragon's win' pattern on t' third side. Blimey! T' longer o' t' two straight lines is the root, and t' shorter o' t' straight lines be t' leadin' edge. Arrr! They're close enough in length that they could get switched around if you're nay payin' attention.

Finish up by gluin' on t' launch lug and t' tri-fold paper shock cord attachment, matey, glue in t' screw eye t' the nose cone shoulder, and everythin' is ready for paint prep.

Finishing:
Finishin' is actually pretty easy on this, arrr, me hearties, and I certainly spent more time than be necessary, arrr, me hearties, nay thinkin' all the way through t' t' end. Ahoy! Ahoy! I spent some time applyin' and sandin' down a layer o' Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish t' t' fins, me hearties, but since t' decals cover virtually all o' t' fin surfaces, matey, this really isn't necessary. I also filled t' tiny spirals in t' body tube, me hearties, but as they were so small t' begin with I think most builders would skip this as well.

T' nose cone though, shiver me timbers, was a bit rough and took a liberal smearin' o' thinned wood filler. Aye aye! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Once sanded down, it was beautifully smooth and you'd swear it be cast in a single-piece female mold.

Everythin' got two coats o' primer, matey, with a wet sandin' usin' 400 grit sandpaper. Arrr! Avast! I followed up with two coats of Rustoleum gloss white on t' body/fins and two coats o' red on t' nose.

T' waterslide decals are very good quality, a bit stiff slidin' off t' paper, and they do nay like t' be adjusted much at all once applied unless you wet them liberally. Begad! Blimey! Once set in place, me hearties, gently rubbin' down with a paper towel smoothed all wrinkles/bubbles, and t' finished decals look as though they were painted on.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
This has a 24mm motor mount and is fairly lightweight. Arrr! Blimey! I didn't want t' chance losin' it in 8 mph winds blowing towards t' lake in our park and hadn't brought any C11s, so I fashioned a quick adapter out o' a spent D12 case and went with a C6-5. Ya scallywag! Blimey! It flew perfectly straight, shiver me timbers, and t' delay was about right, ya bilge rat, poppin' t' chute out just past apogee.

Recovery:
This kit includes a very nice red mylar chute, and it be fine for our field with tall, me bucko, soft grass. Flyin' on harder surfaces, I'd think about goin' for a larger chute and slower descent rate though. Begad! Ahoy! Overall, I certainly rate the quality mylar chute as a step up from t' basic Estes plastic chutes.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I have t' point out that o' t' dozen rockets I took out t' t' field that day, this one drew t' most comments. Begad! The fin stylin' and sweet decals make it a very cool lookin' model. It can fly OK on 18mm motors (with your own adapter) or really smoke on a D.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5