Brief:
Large BT-80 based two-stage sport rocket. Ahoy!

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

Instructions are rudimentary as are t' illustrations, arrr, 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. Arrr! 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). Avast! This diagram is a must in order t' build t' kit properly.

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

Once built, shiver me timbers, t' friction betwixt t' booster and sustainer were perfect. T' rocket is plenty sturdy with no breakage (even on t' booster) in two flights.

I followed Apogee's advice and painted mine black, ya bilge rat, renamin' it "Gettin' Medieval". Avast! Blimey! In addition, ya bilge rat, matey, I added a studded dog collar, matey, so t' whole thin' gets a lot o' attention. Begad! Arrr! Blimey! It's like a big, bilge-suckin' club.

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

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
I used t' D12-0/E9-6 combination for both flights. 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, shiver me timbers, as well as a D12-0/D12-5. Ahoy! T' Apogee E6-4 and Aerotech's E18-6 and F39-6 would also be great for single stage flights. Arrr!

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

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a distinctive design, shiver me timbers, it's mean and nasty looking, it's big, me hearties, it is majestic in flight, shiver me timbers, and has extremely high quality parts for t' price. Begad! Begad! 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. Begad!

Cons: Instructions.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5