Brief:
T' new Fliskits Praetor is a single stage, dual diameter "Sport" design, with a very unique and bizarre lookin' set o' four fins. T' kit says that this was first introduced at t' "Pearl River Model Rocket Convention (MODROC)".

This comes in t' same type o' package as me previous rockets from FlisKits. Aye aye! Avast! Estes type retail package, which is a plastic bag with hole punched hang tab. Package insert is full color and looks very nice. Ahoy! I ordered this kit directly from FlisKits online durin' a holiday week with one day o' no mail delivery (Thanksgiving) and I still had it in t' mail in just (4) days.

Modifications:
Recovery system as described below.

Construction:
This kit comes with two different diameter body tubes, arrr, balsa nose cone, arrr, balsa bulkhead/airframe adapter, engine tube, engine clip, matey, thrust ring, me hearties, stiff black cardboard engine tube centerin' rings, matey, good quality stiff Balsa fin sheets with templates, me hearties, Estes type triple fold paper t' t' body type shock cord mount, ya bilge rat, 12" x 1/4 elastic shock cord, me hearties, full detailed illustrated instructions, me hearties, pre-flight check list and a multi-sized Estes type Official Fliskits Red, White and Black plastic parachute. Parachute includes line, adhesive tabs and instructions. Begad! A screw eye is also included t' mount recovery t' t' bulkhead, as this rocket separates in t' center. Aye aye! Avast! One thin' I really like about t' FlisKits is that they each have a production number which is filled in on t' main package header/display card with a black sharpie. My Praetor is numbered #7!

T' instructions are top notch. Very simple with just t' right illustrations.

Now, this rocket has t' widest fin array I have ever seen. Begad! Blimey! T' fins measure 13.5" from tip t' tip! Blimey! This is one o' those rockets that looks interestin' in pictures, shiver me timbers, but t' real appreciation comes in hand and in person. Ahoy! Avast! Blimey! It looks awesome!

I used just CA for minor and quick assembly, ya bilge rat, and DAP yellow Wood-Weld glue for fillets on t' large fins, fillets engine mount t' airframe, as well as t' secure t' nose cone and balsa bulkhead/airframe adapter t' t' upper body section.

Finishing:
Considerin' that this rocket is just less than (2) feet tall, and t' fin span is over a foot, I made for strong fin mounting. After sandin' t' glassine layer off o' t' body tube, me hearties, I outlined t' (4) fin locations. Avast! Then usin' a very sharp exacto knife pin (you can also use a sharp thumb tack), I made (7) holes in t' body tube for each fin location. Then, ya bilge rat, usin' medium CA, matey, with a generous bead on each fin root, I mounted t' fins and made sure that they were perfect by usin' an Estes fin alignment guide and clips.

You can see me Exacto Knife pin in picture below (layin' t' t' right o' t' rocket).

T' tiny holes method is somethin' I recently learned on EMRR. Arrr! T' idea is that t' holes will absorb t' CA, creatin' small CA rivets. Begad! I really don't know how much strength that will add, shiver me timbers, but t' theory looks right.

Considerin' t' wide base o' these fins, me hearties, or perhaps they should be called "wings", matey, they will encounter far greater than average stress each upon ground contact when landing.

T' Balsa fin stock included would have had enough t' cut t' fins t' have a through t' body connection tab t' t' motor mount.

While this is only a skill level (2) kit, I see that it can be improved upon, me bucko, matey, matey, even if only by t' addition o' an "optional" and/or slightly advanced construction step for through t' wall. Certainly nay required for skill level two, but showin' how t' do it optionally would be a major plus for this kit.

There are no decals, matey, but it doesn't need them. Aye aye! T' bizarre shape speaks for itself, and with it's dual sized body with adapter, me hearties, thar are multiple ways o' finishin' it paintwise.

I decided t' go ahead and show off t' huge fins and painted t' lower half and fins with flourescent day-glo yellow over a single layer o' white primer. Begad! T' top section which also saw a single layer o' white primer, matey, matey, received it's own coat o' metallic silver. Avast, me proud beauty! I think it looks awesome. Blimey! After watchin' how it acts when leavin' t' launch pad, me hearties, arrr, I don't think I will lose this one as long as I stick with a max o' a C6. Ahoy! But this was so much fun t' build and looks so cool that if I do lose it, it will hurt.

While this kit is what I consider t' be one o' t' best thar is, due t' what I have described regardin' an optional step which could improve t' kit, me bucko, I am goin' t' give this one a 4.5/5 here.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
This kit recommends A8-3, me bucko, arrr, shiver me timbers, B6-4 or C6-5. Arrr! It requires waddin' t' protect it's stock plastic chute.

I did somethin' a little crazy and nay only did I fly it before paint, I flew it before fin fillets, me bucko, with t' fins attached only with CA. I picked an Estes B6-4 just t' see if it would fly or die.

I now see what is happenin' here. Avast! Avast! These fins, or let me call them "wings" have a ton o' drag. This rocket lifted very slow, me bucko, arrr, matey, and with drama in fact. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! I seem t' be on a streak when it comes t' stable and straight up flights I guess. This bizarre lookin' Praetor burned a B6 slowly, got up about 400 feet and just seemed t' levitate thar as t' chute came out.

It came down soft, shiver me timbers, but I cheated and caught it. So I don't know if t' fins would have held up with no fillets, arrr, arrr, me hearties, but I think they would have. Avast! Next flight will be with paint, arrr, me hearties, fillets on a Quest C6-5.

I would have loved t' see a small fabric chute, which I will add myself, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, but it would nay be reasonable t' expect that as this is nay an expensive kit. Begad! Blimey! I only paid $14.95.

Recovery:
T' shock cord that came with it was only 12". Aye aye! However, me hearties, thar was an upgrade notation and a new length 18" shock cord included as well.

Just by personal preference, ya bilge rat, I opted out o' t' suggested shock cord method. I added a 10" piece o' 100# test Keelhaul®©™® cord, ya bilge rat, makin' a double knot in both ends. Ya scallywag! I then cut tiny 1/16" V notches in two sides o' t' top motor mount rin' and secured t' two ends o' t' cord. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Makin' certain that this would nay extend from t' main body, me hearties, shiver me timbers, I then tied a knot about an inch from t' top, creatin' another loop so that if one side o' t' cord mount should fail, ya bilge rat, t' other will still work. I then added a snap swivel t' be able t' change chutes out quickly.

On flight and recovery, this rocket most certainly deserves a 5/5.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Feel free t' take a look at me picture #1. Ya scallywag! Arrr! This be t' unpainted rocket after it's first flight with no fin fillets. Ahoy! You can see t' yellow wood glue fillets I was startin' then.

Now, take a very close look at that picture, and you will see that I have placed a quarter at t' base o' t' fin on t' right. Blimey! That should show how huge these fins are. Begad! I call them wings.

I think this is one o' those rockets that you have t' see in person t' fully appreciate. Begad! It's nay expensive at all, ya bilge rat, it is definately fun t' build as it's nay just a few fins and a nose cone. Arrr! This rocket is quite unique and it looks really cool!

No doubt about it, this one is a 5/5!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5