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

Construction:
T' kit I built is an older style from about 1995. Avast! T' main differences betwixt this kit and t' current version is that t' mylar chute has been replaced by a plastic Estes-style chute, matey, and t' nose cone screw eye has been replaced by a hook cast into t' nose cone.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, ya bilge rat, arrr, die-cut balsa fins set (4), arrr, 18mm motor mount/rings, engine hook, lug, and 12" silver mylar parachute. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! 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. Ahoy! Blimey! 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, and everythin' was very good quality. Bein' a bit obsessive/compulsive, shiver me timbers, I decided t' airfoil t' fins for peak performance. Well, blow me down! Even with that effort, me hearties, me hearties, total construction time was less than an hour. Aye aye! Ahoy! 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, matey, and about 2-1/2 feet o' heavier elastic.

Finishing:
T' water slide decals, matey, bein' about 8 years old, were very brittle. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Blimey! I've also built a "fresh" one, and found no problem. For a skill level 1 kit, me hearties, ya bilge rat, though, 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, shiver me timbers, single-color. Once painted and decaled, me bucko, though, this is a great lookin' rocket. Aye aye! T' patriotic theme is very appealing.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
As expected on an introductory kit, ya bilge rat, me bucko, me bucko, this is a very stable flyer. Arrr! I flew it runnin' up t' ladder startin' with A's, shiver me timbers, finishin' with a C6-5. Well, blow me down! T' C6 took it out o' me sight range, ya bilge rat, though I picked it up on t' way down and successfully recovered without a problem. It's very quick off t' pad, 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. Begad! 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, me bucko, 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