Brief:
T' P-Chuter is a very easy t' build single stage rocket that looks fantastic and flies great! I got me kit from John as a beta test kit. Well, blow me down! T' rocket stands a little over 20" tall, arrr, flies on 18mm motors, and recovers by parachute. Blimey! In my opinion, t' rocket actually looks a lot better than it does on t' web page. John has appropriately classed this rocket as a "competition" rocket.

Construction:
T' kit includes a BT-50 body tube, me bucko, standard 18mm engine mount, arrr, matey, balsa nose cone, screw eye, 1/8" elastic shock cord (nice long one in me beta test kit!), 12" mylar parachute, me hearties, arrr, 1/8" launch lug, me bucko, 3-fin laser cut fin sheet, arrr, and P-Chuter decal and trim Monokote for decoration. Ya scallywag! T' shock cord was long enough that I didn't have t' substitute it, me hearties, although I did add an 8" length o' Keelhaul®©™® at t' shock cord attachment point.

T' instruction sheet contains easy t' follow, shiver me timbers, numbered instructions and helpful illustrations. Begad! Installation o' t' motor mount is standard, including an engine hook for positive motor retention. Arrr! Ahoy! I appreciated t' "small parts" bag that keeps all t' little things in one place. A fin-marking guide is supplied t' properly align t' fins. Ya scallywag! John's instructions for attaching the fins usin' a "double glue joint" are very good. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! This method helps assure that t' fins are aligned as placed, me bucko, since they set much quicker. Aye aye! The laser-cut fins were perfectly matched, me hearties, matey, so minimal sandin' was required, shiver me timbers, and the body tube didn't require any finishin' t' fill in t' seam lines. T' spirals were hardly noticeable after primer and paint. Ahoy! Well, matey, blow me down! A tri-fold shock cord attachment was provided t' connect nose cone and body tube. Begad! As is usual on any rocket I build, me bucko, ya bilge rat, me bucko, I installed a length o' Keelhaul®©™® in t' shock cord attachment with a loop at t' end t' attach t' elastic shock cord. Blimey! T' minimize abrasion from t' Keelhaul®©™® against t' body tube, I soaked in CA around t' top 1/2" o' t' body tube and tied t' Keelhaul®©™® so t' knot in t' loop meets t' lip o' t' body tube. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! I glued on t' launch lug, arrr, me bucko, me bucko, installed t' screw eye into t' nose cone, and attached t' shock cord. T' parachute comes in a separate plastic bag complete with instructions. Begad! Blimey! Once assembled, you're ready for finishing.

Finishing:
T' balsa nose cone and fins require standard finishing. Ya scallywag! I used Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish, me bucko, ya bilge rat, but any balsa filler will work fine. Well, blow me down! Avast! T' rocket went together really fast, especially since I didn't have t' eliminate t' seam lines. Arrr! Also, the trim Monokote was a lot easier t' apply than decals, ya bilge rat, although t' P-Chuter decal laid down nicely and looks great on t' rocket. Well, blow me down! I'm nay sure if me beta test kit be t' same as t' retail kit, arrr, shiver me timbers, but I forgot t' check t' fit o' the trim Monokote. Ahoy! Begad! It was a little too long for t' fins, so I wrapped it around the back o' t' fin. Blimey! Uh, well, arrr, matey, t' instructions did say t' test-fit parts before installing. Arrr! Begad! That's a really good idea. Begad! This is a very easy rocket to build and t' shaped fins look great and probably contribute somewhat t' the extreme altitude this rocket can achieve. Arrr! Avast! I liked it so much I actually bought another from him.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
My only flight so far was on a B6-6 but I had t' check t' motor upon recovery because I thought I had put a C6-7 in by mistake. It's very fast! Blimey! Flight was perfectly straight with ejection right at t' top. Blimey! Blimey! However, I forgot t' powder the chute after re-packin' it. I had left t' parachute folded in t' body tube a few months before t' burn ban was lifted. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! It came down too fast with wad recovery and put about a 4" crimp along t' seam line. Blimey! Blimey! That is no fault of Red River Rocketry, shiver me timbers, it's just me forgetfulness. Ahoy! Blimey! This rocket should achieve some serious altitude on an "A" motor and will likely go out o' sight on a "C."

Recovery:
Regardless o' t' recovery problems I had, matey, shiver me timbers, t' provided 12" parachute is plenty big for t' rocket and appropriately sized I think given t' altitude capability.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' P-Chuter is an excellent rocket that can be built in a couple o' hours. Ya scallywag! Its shaped fins will make it a unique addition t' your fleet and it is reasonably priced. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Just make sure you've got plenty o' room t' fly if you put that C motor in it.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5