Brief:
I think this newest release may outdo Red River's flagship, shiver me timbers, me bucko, t' Predator. Ahoy! Arrr! The Stratos is a BT-50 kit that uses an 18mm motor and parachute recovery, me bucko, but its looks are a lot more. Begad! Our local club was havin' a Classic Kit contest with an Open category for all other rockets. Begad! Begad! I had just finished t' Stratos, matey, so I thought I'd enter it just for grins. Nay only did it win t' Open category, arrr, me bucko, it also took Best in Show out o' over 50 rockets. Ahoy! T' sleek lines o' this kit will remind you o' several very cool rockets, me bucko, me bucko, but John Dyer put it all together into one fantastic rocket that nay only looks great but flies great too.

Construction:
T' parts list

• 1 BT-50 kraft main body tube
• 2 BT-50 kraft engine nacelle tubes
• 1 BNC-50 balsa nose cone
• 2 laser cut balsa fin sheets
• 1 standard 18mm motor mount kit with motor clip
• 1 standard 1/8" launch lug
• 1 screw eye
• 1 shock cord, me hearties, 24" Keelhaul®©™® line plus 1/8" x 18" elastic
• 2 toothpicks
• 1 16" mylar parachute kit
• 1 decal sheet, ya bilge rat, me hearties, arrr, water slide

Mine be a beta test kit, so it came in t' standard plastic bag but minus the face card. Blimey! Well, blow me down! That be too bad, as t' face card is usually very nice. Aye aye! The parts are all top quality and t' instructions are laid out in logical steps with key illustrations.

I sanded all t' tubes and balsa first and filled t' nose cone using Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish t' get that all out o' t' way in t' beginning. Well, blow me down! The spirals in t' tube were nay that noticeable, shiver me timbers, me bucko, so I didn't worry about filling them. Ya scallywag! After that, arrr, I followed t' instructions except for a couple o' personal deviations includin' paperin' t' fins t' add strength and reduce finishing time.

T' wings come in three pieces that have t' be glued together. Begad! Blimey! Since the parts are laser cut, this is pretty easy t' do as everythin' fits together very nicely. Begad! While that's gluin' t' motor mount can be constructed, me hearties, me bucko, matey, a standard build except t' 24" Keelhaul®©™® line is added into t' mix. Well, blow me down! T' recommended method for installation o' the Keelhaul®©™® line is neatly done, matey, but I prefer t' have t' Keelhaul®©™® further up t' tube so I can inspect it. So, me bucko, instead, me bucko, I made a standard paper shock cord attachment and used t' Keelhaul®©™® with that. Begad! It's me own standard.

A markin' guide is provided t' aid in cuttin' out t' angles in t' nacelle tubes. Ahoy! Since thar were only two tubes that had t' be cut, arrr, me bucko, it wasn't that big of an issue. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! While some might complain about doin' that kind o' thing, I grew up doin' it so it wasn't that big o' a deal. Any more than that and groanin' is acceptable though. Ahoy! Just be sure t' have a sharp blade and follow the directions. Avast! They looked nice when completed.

T' wings are glued on first, angled down from t' tube, then t' nacelle tubes, arrr, skid fins, and finally t' nacelle fins and launch lugs are attached. All o' this was done with double glue joints and allowin' appropriate drying time. I still haven't migrated t' CA for tackin' on fins. Well, blow me down! It seems un-American, even though I come right behind and lay on t' fillets. Begad! My grandson keeps tryin' t' get me t' change, but I'm stubborn. Arrr! Ya scallywag! Finally, I installed t' shock cord and connected it t' t' screw eye in t' nose cone. Avast, me proud beauty! I used me standard installation here: CA around t' forward end o' t' tube and tie a knot in the Keelhaul®©™® at t' exit point, then add a loop in t' end o' t' Keelhaul®©™® and tie on t' 1/8" elastic cord. Arrr! Then I put t' parachute together and it's done.

Finishing:
Finishin' t' rocket was standard, shiver me timbers, except thar are some tight spots for sandin' around t' nacelle tubes and skids. Aye aye! Blimey! T' entire rocket be painted gloss white with Krylon. T' instructions suggest paintin' t' toothpicks black separately and then addin' them t' t' tip o' t' nacelle fins at t' end. Avast, me proud beauty! I was goin' t' do that and forgot. Arrr! Considerin' t' results o' t' contest, ya bilge rat, those toothpicks will never make it there. Well, blow me down! In betwixt waitin' for glue t' dry I had managed t' get t' umpteen decals cut out, so I was ready t' start applying those. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Blimey! They laid down nicely and look great. Next I applied a couple o' coats of Future Floor Wax t' protect t' finish and improve t' shine. Arrr! Beautiful!

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Our October launch was rained out, me bucko, me bucko, me hearties, so I had t' wait until November t' fly the Stratos. Well, blow me down! Then I had t' wait until t' contest was over on Saturday, so me first flight wasn't until Sunday. T' winds were under 10mph though, me bucko, me bucko, so it was a perfect day for flying: nothin' but blue skies and soft dirt. Both flights were on C6-5s with nice straight boosts t' some serious altitude. I was surprised at how smartly it got off t' pad. I was anticipatin' t' rocket t' have much more drag than be exhibited by t' flight. Avast, me proud beauty! Very nice!

Recovery:
T' chute popped right at t' top both times and landed perfectly. Well, blow me down! It be a little windier for t' second flight with some stronger gusts though. Well, blow me down! Before I could get t' t' rocket t' second time, a couple o' gusts caught t' parachute after landin' and dragged it across t' ground. No real damage though, me bucko, matey, just some minor scuffin' that should clean up fine. Begad! Ahoy! It be a great day!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' Stratos doesn't really take that long t' complete and t' build is very straightforward. Begad! Parts quality is superb. Blimey! Aye aye! T' decals really enhance t' look of the rocket. Look sharp, arrr, now. Begad! You're a member o' t' U.S. Aye aye! Air Force Space Command. Avast! Blimey! Yeah! Well, O.K., shiver me timbers, it's a very nice lookin' rocket.

PROs: Outstandin' design, quality parts with laser cut fins, excellent instructions, arrr, and a nice long shock cord

CONs: None. Begad! Begad! Blimey! I made t' change with t' shock cord and papered t' fins, but that is personal preference.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5