Brief:
I be provided with me Free-B for beta testing. Begad! Avast! It is a limited edition, me bucko, serial numbered model that John is providing as a free kit for a limited time with t' purchase o' $50 or more. Aye aye! This is nay a cheap, matey, no frills kit. Aye aye! Begad! It is a BT-50 based rocket complete with a nice sheet o' waterslide decals, balsa nose cone, and flies on 18mm motors. T' rocket is almost 15 inches tall, weighs less than 2 ounces, ya bilge rat, and recovers on a very nice big plastic streamer. Begad! It would be a nice kit t' buy so gettin' it free is fantastic!

Construction:
T' instructions are numbered with lots o' helpful illustrations. Well, blow me down! T' three fins are laser cut balsa and t' balsa nose cone is top quality and very smooth. Arrr! A standard 18mm motor mount is installed with two kraft centerin' rings and includes a standard engine hook for motor retention and a TR2005 kraft thrust ring. A 1/8” elastic shock cord is included, me bucko, along with a 1/8” launch lug, eye screw, and waterslide decals. Begad! A markin' guide and tri-fold shock cord attachment is also provided.

Construction is standard. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! I constructed t' entire rocket with yellow glue and added a length o' Keelhaul®©™® for attachment t' t' provided shock cord. Avast, me proud beauty! T' minimize abrasion from t' Keelhaul®©™® against t' body tube, I soaked in CA around t' top 1/4" o' t' body tube and tied a knot in t' Keelhaul®©™® to meet t' lip o' t' body tube. T' launch lug is cut in half and installed onto t' rocket. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Blimey! Install t' screw eye into t' nose cone and you’re almost done. Arrr! A self-stick disc is provided for attachment o' t' streamer t' the shock cord, but I haven't had a lot o' luck with those holding. Begad! Blimey! They seem t' work fine for others, just nay for me. Arrr! Blimey! So I used me standard streamer attachment, placin' t' streamer onto a piece o' card stock measured t' t' width o' the streamer and then foldin' t' end over and staplin' it. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! Blimey! I make a hole in t' center o' that and then attach a length of Keelhaul®©™® that is tied t' a swivel for attachment t' t' eye screw.

Finishing:
T' balsa nose cone required very little finishing. Arrr! Blimey! With only a very light coat o' Elmer's Light Fill 'n' Finish, the nose cone be very smooth. Blimey! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' body tube and fins were also finished usin' Fill 'n' Finish. I sprayed t' entire model with a light coat o' Kilz t' seal off t' glue and provide a solid base coat. Begad! Blimey! Next, I lightly sanded t' entire model with 240 grit sandpaper and then sprayed on a coat o' primer. Next, shiver me timbers, sand and primer and sand and primer again with 400 grit sandpaper. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I used Krylon paint followin' t' red white and blue paint scheme on t' face card. After dryin' for 24 hours, I applied t' decals and then covered everythin' with a thick coat o' Future Floor Finish.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight and Recovery:
First flight was on an Estes B6-6 with t' wind speed at about 5 mph. Ahoy! T' flight be perfect with ejection right at the top. Avast, me proud beauty! It came down much faster than I anticipated, loosenin' one o' t' fins on landing. Avast! A little CA t' secure the fin and it will be ready t' fly again.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' Free-B is a great rocket and t' decals are very cool! No skimpin' on t' packagin' either as it comes in their standard plastic bag with a fantastic lookin' face card. Ahoy! Blimey! Parts quality is superb, and you can easily build t' rocket in a couple o' hours. Begad! T' rocket really zooms! Better get yours quickly! Remember, arrr, they are serially numbered.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5