Brief:
I think this newest release may outdo Red River's flagship, t' Predator. Blimey! Begad! The Stratos is a BT-50 kit that uses an 18mm motor and parachute recovery, shiver me timbers, but its looks are a lot more. Arrr! Our local club be havin' a Classic Kit contest with an Open category for all other rockets. Begad! I had just finished t' Stratos, so I thought I'd enter it just for grins. Ya scallywag! Nay only did it win t' Open category, matey, it also took Best in Show out o' over 50 rockets. Begad! Blimey! T' sleek lines o' this kit will remind you o' several very cool rockets, ya bilge rat, 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, arrr, 24" Keelhaul®©™® line plus 1/8" x 18" elastic
• 2 toothpicks
• 1 16" mylar parachute kit
• 1 decal sheet, water slide

Mine be a beta test kit, so it came in t' standard plastic bag but minus the face card. Ahoy! That was too bad, arrr, me bucko, as t' face card is usually very nice. Ahoy! Blimey! 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. Begad! Blimey! The spirals in t' tube were nay that noticeable, so I didn't worry about filling them. After that, ya bilge rat, 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. Avast! Since the parts are laser cut, arrr, matey, this is pretty easy t' do as everythin' fits together very nicely. Blimey! While that's gluin' t' motor mount can be constructed, me hearties, a standard build except t' 24" Keelhaul®©™® line is added into t' mix. T' recommended method for installation o' the Keelhaul®©™® line is neatly done, me hearties, but I prefer t' have t' Keelhaul®©™® further up t' tube so I can inspect it. So, instead, 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. Blimey! Since thar were only two tubes that had t' be cut, it wasn't that big of an issue. While some might complain about doin' that kind o' thing, shiver me timbers, I grew up doin' it so it wasn't that big o' a deal. Begad! Any more than that and groanin' is acceptable though. Blimey! Just be sure t' have a sharp blade and follow the directions. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! They looked nice when completed.

T' wings are glued on first, shiver me timbers, matey, angled down from t' tube, then t' nacelle tubes, me bucko, skid fins, ya bilge rat, and finally t' nacelle fins and launch lugs are attached. All o' this was done with double glue joints and allowin' appropriate drying time. Ahoy! I still haven't migrated t' CA for tackin' on fins. Ya scallywag! Begad! It seems un-American, even though I come right behind and lay on t' fillets. Aye aye! My grandson keeps tryin' t' get me t' change, matey, but I'm stubborn. Avast, me proud beauty! Finally, I installed t' shock cord and connected it t' t' screw eye in t' nose cone. 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. Aye aye! Blimey! Then I put t' parachute together and it's done.

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

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

Recovery:
T' chute popped right at t' top both times and landed perfectly. Ya scallywag! It was a little windier for t' second flight with some stronger gusts though. 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. Avast! No real damage though, arrr, just some minor scuffin' that should clean up fine. Ahoy! It was 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. Parts quality is superb. Begad! T' decals really enhance t' look of the rocket. Aye aye! Blimey! Look sharp, now. You're a member o' t' U.S. Ahoy! Air Force Space Command. Arrr! Yeah! Well, O.K., it's a very nice lookin' rocket.

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

CONs: None. Avast! I made t' change with t' shock cord and papered t' fins, me hearties, ya bilge rat, but that is personal preference.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5