Brief:
This is a sharp-lookin' red/white/blue rocket by Custom, very good introductory kit, ya bilge rat, 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 T' main differences betwixt this kit and t' current version is that t' mylar chute has been replaced by a plastic Estes-style chute, and t' nose cone screw eye has been replaced by a hook cast into t' nose cone.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, die-cut balsa fins set (4), matey, arrr, matey, 18mm motor mount/rings, shiver me timbers, me bucko, me hearties, engine hook, lug, ya bilge rat, and 12" silver mylar parachute. Aye aye! T' balsa fin stock is stiff, and very good quality.

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

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

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
As expected on an introductory kit, matey, this is a very stable flyer. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I flew it runnin' up t' ladder startin' with A's, finishin' with a C6-5. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' C6 took it out o' me sight range, arrr, though I picked it up on t' way down and successfully recovered without a problem. 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. Avast, me proud beauty! 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, matey, plus about 5-6 OOP ones, and this one is me favorite. Nothin' fancy about t' design, but a solid performer and one with good eye-appeal.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5