Brief:
This is a BT-55 kit that flies on a 24mm motor and utilizes streamer recovery. Ahoy! T' rocket looks spectacular against the background o' t' kit art and doesn't lose a thin' on t' pad. Ahoy! Parts quality is excellent too, and John has even included t' spacer t' allow t' rocket t' fly on D or E motors. Avast, me proud beauty! Nice touch!

Construction:
T' parts list:

• 1 BT-55 kraft main body tube
• 1 BNC-55 balsa nose cone
• 1 laser cut balsa fin sheet
• 1 3.75" x 24mm motor mount kit with motor clip
• 1 standard 1/8" launch lug
• 1 screw eye
• 2 washers, me bucko, 1" steel (nose weight)
• 1 shock cord, 20" Keelhaul®©™® line plus 36" x 1/8" elastic
• 1 mylar streamer
• 1 decal sheet, water slide
• 2 gold monocote decorative strips

I test fit all t' parts first and sanded for fit as needed, me bucko, then sanded all t' tubes and balsa and filled the nose cone usin' Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish t' get that all out o' t' way in t' beginning. Arrr! Well, blow me down! T' body tube seams were hardly noticeable so I didn't worry with fillin' them. Blimey! T' fins come in two pieces and are glued together first. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! Since the parts are laser cut, arrr, these fit together very nicely. Begad! Begad! While t' fins are gluin' t' motor mount can be constructed, it is a standard build except t' 20" Keelhaul®©™® line is added into t' mix. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' recommended method for installation o' t' Keelhaul®©™® line is neatly done, but I prefer t' have t' Keelhaul®©™® further up t' tube so I can inspect it. Avast! Arrr! So, instead, I made a standard paper shock cord attachment and used the Keelhaul®©™® with that. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! It's me own standard. After that, matey, ya bilge rat, I filled t' joints in t' fins, matey, me bucko, re-sanded and then papered them.

Next, shiver me timbers, I inserted t' motor mount into t' tube. While that was drying, I cut t' launch lug in half, shiver me timbers, glued the washers together first with J-B Weld and glued then onto t' base o' t' nose cone. Well, blow me down! Then I inserted t' screw eye, cut out t' markin' guide, and drew t' alignment lines. Aye aye! I used double glue joints t' attach t' fins and launch lugs. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! The parts go on very nicely with this method and stay where you put them.

Once everythin' had dried, ya bilge rat, I added fillets t' all o' t' joints. Blimey! Lastly, me bucko, t' shock cord mount and shock cord was installed and connected t' t' screw eye in t' nose cone. Blimey! I put CA around t' forward end o' t' tube and tied a knot in t' Keelhaul®©™® at t' exit point t' protect against abrasion then added a loop in t' Keelhaul®©™® to tie on t' 1/8" elastic cord. Begad! Lastly, I put t' parachute together.

Finishing:
I rounded t' leadin' edges o' t' fins and lightly tapered t' trailin' edges first. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' black nose cone was painted separately from t' white and yellow body tube before attachin' t' shock cord. After a couple o' days dryin' time, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, I masked off t' body tube and painted t' aft o' t' tube and fins yellow. Arrr! Blimey! If you mess up on t' yellow/white paint line, thar are no worries as t' Monokote will hide that. Arrr! Blimey! Sweet! Blimey! T' decals were cut out while waitin' for t' fins to dry. Avast! Blimey! I had problems puttin' on t' decals. Well, me bucko, blow me down! Blimey! They were really thin and tore easily. Aye aye! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I didn't get them where I wanted them. Blimey! Blimey! They tore in two places tryin' t' move them, so I let them stay where they lay. Aye aye! Blimey! It still looks good. Next I applied a couple o' coats o' Future floor wax t' protect t' finish and improve t' shine.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Finally got a chance t' fly at a DARS launch on our brand new Frisco field. Well, blow me down! I opted t' use a D12-5 on t' first flight and then planned t' fly on t' E motor. Aye aye! Blimey! T' Scortch zoomed from t' pad with minimal weathercockin' even though the winds were blowin' betwixt 8-12mph and reached some serious altitude. Well, blow me down! I would guess it reached close t' 1,000 feet.

Recovery:
Popped t' streamer right at t' top. Begad! T' streamer is a little short, but it stayed up longer than I was anticipating. Aye aye! Broke a fin off on landing, so I didn’t get a chance t' fly that E motor.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' Scortch is a quick, shiver me timbers, easy build. Blimey! Parts quality is superb and t' decals really enhance t' look o' t' rocket. It looks great displayed with t' face card, too.

Pros: Fantastic looks, matey, quick build, quality parts with laser cut fins, matey, excellent instructions, and a nice long shock cord

Cons: T' decals are thin. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! Blimey! I made t' change with t' shock cord, me hearties, arrr, but that is just personal preference.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5