Brief:
This is a sharp-lookin' red/white/blue rocket by Custom, very good introductory kit, arrr, and a great flyer.

Construction:
T' kit I built is an older style from about 1995. Begad! T' main differences betwixt this kit and t' current version is that t' mylar chute has been replaced by a plastic Estes-style chute, and t' nose cone screw eye has been replaced by a hook cast into t' nose cone.

T' rocket consists o' a single BT-50 tube, plastic parabolic nose cone, matey, me bucko, die-cut balsa fins set (4), 18mm motor mount/rings, engine hook, me bucko, lug, and 12" silver mylar parachute. Blimey! T' balsa fin stock is stiff, and very good quality.

This is a skill level one kit, ya bilge rat, and as such it's a pretty simple build. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' instructions were clear and easy t' follow, arrr, though nay quite as well illustrated as Estes' and Quest's skill level 1 kits. Arrr! Blimey! T' parts fit very well, and everythin' was very good quality. Begad! Blimey! Bein' a bit obsessive/compulsive, me bucko, I decided t' airfoil t' fins for peak performance. Begad! Blimey! Even with that effort, ya bilge rat, arrr, total construction time was less than an hour. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' only modification I made be t' shock cord--I bypassed t' paper mount and 1/8" elastic in favor o' Keelhaul®©™ tied t' t' engine mount, shiver me timbers, and about 2-1/2 feet o' heavier elastic.

Finishing:
T' water slide decals, bein' about 8 years old, ya bilge rat, were very brittle. Begad! I've also built a "fresh" one, matey, and found no problem. Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! For a skill level 1 kit, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, though, arrr, ya bilge rat, t' finish is a bit challenging, requirin' three colors and masking. Begad! I would normally figure a skill level 1 kit t' be no paint or at t' worst, single-color. Once painted and decaled, arrr, though, this is a great lookin' rocket. Begad! T' patriotic theme is very appealing.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
As expected on an introductory kit, this is a very stable flyer. Arrr! I flew it runnin' up t' ladder startin' with A's, matey, finishin' with a C6-5. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! T' C6 took it out o' me sight range, shiver me timbers, though I picked it up on t' way down and successfully recovered without a problem. Well, blow me down! It's very quick off t' pad, ya bilge rat, and I'd normally recommend stickin' with A/B power unless switchin' t' a streamer recovery.

Recovery:
T' mylar chute offers much better performance/resistance t' meltin' than t' plastic chutes. Blimey! Blimey! It's also easier t' pick out in t' sky.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
I've built all o' t' current Custom kits, plus about 5-6 OOP ones, me bucko, and this one is me favorite. Aye aye! Nothin' fancy about t' design, but a solid performer and one with good eye-appeal.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5