Brief:
T' Payload-R is a very nice single stage payloader with t' traditional lines that really looks and flies great! Blimey! It flies on 18mm motors and recovers by parachute. I got me kit from John as a beta test kit. Blimey! T' rocket is slightly longer than 2 feet tall. T' rocket will grab some serious altitude even on a B motor.

Construction:
T' lower body tube is a BT-55 with a balsa transition t' a BT-50 kraft tube used for t' payload section. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! T' 18mm engine mount is centered with kraft rings and installed flush with t' aft o' t' tube. Begad! T' extension o' t' fins below t' body tube allows t' model t' be stood up without interference from t' engine hook. T' shock cord was super long as I modified t' way it is installed. John has a neat way o' loopin' t' Keelhaul®©™® over t' motor mount betwixt t' centerin' rings, passin' it through a notch in t' forward centerin' rin' and then attachin' t' elastic cord t' that. Blimey! I used me standard tri-fold shock cord attachment. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! Havin' t' Keelhaul®©™® already provided be a nice plus!

T' balsa nose cone be very nice and required minimal finishing, but t' payload tube had some pretty bad spirals that needed filling, more so than t' larger aft tube. Begad! Begad! A screw eye is inserted into t' base o' t' balsa transition t' attach t' Keelhaul®©™®/1/8" elastic shock cord combo and 12" mylar parachute. A 1/8" launch lug is provided which must be cut in half and installed at two points along t' body tube. Arrr! Well, blow me down! Blimey! I angle-cut t' forward end because I just think it looks cooler. Ahoy! The balsa fins are all laser cut and remove easily from t' fin sheet. Waterslide decals are provided with t' roll patterns addin' that "real rocket" look t' it.

T' instruction sheet contains easy-to-follow, shiver me timbers, numbered instructions and helpful illustrations. T' motor mount is a standard installation, me hearties, matey, except for t' shock cord attachment as I described earlier, and includes an engine hook for positive motor retention. I very much appreciated t' "small parts" bag that keeps all t' little things in one place. Ya scallywag! A fin-markin' guide is supplied t' properly align t' fins. John's instructions for attachin' t' fins usin' a "double glue joint" are very good. Well, blow me down! Avast! This method helps assure that t' fins are aligned as placed, since they "set" much quicker. Ya scallywag! T' laser-cut fins were perfectly matched and required minimal sanding, although I still used Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish t' fill in t' grain.

As is usual on any rocket I build, shiver me timbers, I installed t' provided Keelhaul®©™® in t' shock cord attachment with a loop at t' end t' attach t' elastic shock cord. Avast, me proud beauty! T' minimize abrasion from the Keelhaul®©™® against t' body tube, shiver me timbers, I soaked in CA around t' top 1/2" o' t' body tube and tied a knot in t' Keelhaul®©™® to meet t' lip o' t' body tube. T' parachute comes in a separate plastic bag, complete with instructions. Ya scallywag! Avast! Once assembled, you're ready for finishing.

Finishing:
T' balsa nose cone, reducer and fins require standard finishing. Arrr! I used Elmer's Light Fill 'n' Finish but any balsa filler will work fine. I followed t' paint scheme on t' face card and then went on t' apply t' provided decals. Begad! Aye aye! The decals are really thin but I used detergent t' help them slide and they went on easily and laid down nicely. Arrr! Avast! Once complete, I put on a thick coat o' Future floor finish on all t' painted/decaled surfaces t' protect everything. Aye aye! Begad! It looks fantastic!

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight and Recovery:
My first flight was on a B6-4. It jumped off t' pad and flew straight as an arrow. Blimey! Ahoy! T' parachute deployed right at apogee and came down gently on t' 12" parachute. Ahoy! I used a C6-7 on t' 2nd flight. Ya scallywag! Wow! T' rocket took off the pad with authority and zoomed arrow-straight almost out o' sight. Begad! Arrr! T' parachute deployed again right at apogee and recovered perfectly.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' Payload-R is another excellent rocket from Red River Rocketry that can be built in a few hours. T' payload section will make it a unique addition t' your fleet and it is reasonably priced. You'll need t' make sure you've got plenty o' room t' fly if you put that C motor in though.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5