Brief:
Large BT-80 based two-stage sport rocket. Begad! Well, blow me down!

Construction:
Two 18-inch BT-80s for main body, one 4-inch BT-80 for booster, two BT-50 sized motor mount tubes, me bucko, four laser-cut plywood centerin' rings, ya bilge rat, balsa nose cone, arrr, ya bilge rat, rubber shock cord, screw eye, me hearties, 3/16" launch lug, laser-cut balsa fins, 24" nylon parachute, matey, 2 couplers, ya bilge rat, 2 engine blocks, matey, arrr, and a large self-adhesive decal.

Instructions are rudimentary as are t' illustrations, shiver me timbers, me hearties, and this is where this kit looses all o' its points. Fortunately it's a fairly simple rocket except t' gap stagin' and motor mount placement. T' instructions basically drop t' ball but exact placement is clarified on Apogee's web site with a PDF diagram o' how t' stages and vents should be built (in t' "What Makes This A Skill Level 3 Rocket Kit?" section). This diagram is a must in order t' build t' kit properly.

T' nose cone fit perfectly, is huge, and is well made. Avast! Ahoy! T' centerin' rings are extremely nice for t' price. Well, blow me down! The fins are excellent quality and beautifully cut. Begad! T' motor mount tubes are kind o' odd: a little thin and uncoated. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! The engine blocks fit loosely but hold fine once t' glue dries.

Once built, arrr, t' friction betwixt t' booster and sustainer were perfect. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' rocket is plenty sturdy with no breakage (even on t' booster) in two flights. Ya scallywag!

I followed Apogee's advice and painted mine black, renamin' it "Gettin' Medieval". Arrr! In addition, I added a studded dog collar, arrr, shiver me timbers, so t' whole thin' gets a lot o' attention. It's like a big, shiver me timbers, nasty club.

Finishing:
I used one coat o' Elmer's Wood Filler for t' fins and nose cone, arrr, me bucko, two coats o' high-build automotive primer, me hearties, and two coats o' automotive acrylic enamel for t' final coat. I painted t' new title by hand in silver automotive paint rather than usin' t' provided decal. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! It was very easy t' finish, although it takes patience t' sand eight fins. Begad! I think it's one o' me best-lookin' rockets. Certainly it's t' meanest.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
I used t' D12-0/E9-6 combination for both flights. Avast, me proud beauty! See video o' t' flight at http://www.cosrocs.org/all%20other%20videos/2008videos/9-13-14/gettin'medieval.mov.

A C11-0/C11-5 combination would probably work fine, arrr, as well as a D12-0/D12-5. Begad! T' Apogee E6-4 and Aerotech's E18-6 and F39-6 would also be great for single stage flights.

Even though you have t' friction fit t' motors, shiver me timbers, arrr, it's very quick and easy because thar are engine blocks in both the booster and sustainer. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! It requires wadding. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! Blimey! It flies perfectly straight and with t' vented gap staging, stages perfectly every time. If you're afraid o' tryin' a staged rocket because you've seen too many lawn darts after unsuccessful staging, me hearties, try vented stagin' first. Avast! I've never seen one fail.

Recovery:
T' nylon parachute is very nice. Arrr! I followed Apogee's advice regardin' cuttin' t' booster fins down so it doesn't come in ballistic, which works perfectly (1/2 point off here). Ya scallywag! T' shock cord (with tri-fold mount) seems thin but has not broken yet. Aye aye! Recovery time is perfect. Avast, me proud beauty! Pointy fins stick in dirt, so I would nay want t' see this rocket land on road surface or a car.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a distinctive design, arrr, it's mean and nasty looking, matey, it's big, it is majestic in flight, arrr, arrr, and has extremely high quality parts for t' price. Avast! Aye aye! T' gap stagin' is so good, shiver me timbers, it makes you wonder why any manufacturer would design a staged rocket t' old-fashioned way. Aye aye! Arrr!

Cons: Instructions.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5