Brief:
BT-50 storm research style sport rocket with 3 main fins and 3 canards, plastic nose cone, shiver me timbers, plastic parachute, ya bilge rat, arrr, and extreme waterslide decal coverage.

Construction:
BT-50, arrr, plastic nose cone, me bucko, ya bilge rat, me bucko, 6 surface mount balsa fins, ya bilge rat, thick fiber board centerin' rings, matey, BT-20 motor tube, steel clip, arrr, engine block, me bucko, full wraparound clip retainer, matey, me hearties, two sheets o' waterslide decals, shiver me timbers, plastic parachute, me hearties, adhesive reinforcement rings, shiver me timbers, matey, shroud line, ya bilge rat, swivel, me bucko, shiver me timbers, and elastic shock cord.

Standard hang tag packagin' with color face card. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Received kit from Apogee, quick delivery, no damage t' kit. Instructions are easy t' follow, illustrations are OK. Simple, me hearties, quick assembly. Blimey! Ya scallywag! Everythin' fits. Aye aye! Aye aye! Root edges weren't quite straight, shiver me timbers, so they had t' be sanded. Ahoy! Aye aye! Good fin material, me hearties, matey, nay too thick or thin. Arrr! Assembled with Elmer's glue.

Finishing:
I used EMRR fin tip #29: It's like makin' slots, me hearties, only you lightly cut along t' lines (the thickness o' t' fin) only cuttin' t' first layer off. Avast! Blimey! Then peel off that first layer. Ahoy! Blimey! Then glue as usual. Aye aye! Blimey!

I finished with one coat o' Elmer's Wood Filler on fins, two coats o' high solids automotive primer with sanding, then white single stage automotive paint with one coat o' black rattle can enamel for t' nose cone. It's a nicely proportioned model that looks great, but I hesitated t' cover it all up with decals. Arrr! Finishin' is extremely simple with this model because even though it looks complex, t' full-body decals do most o' t' work.

T' decals are a challenge t' get on without wrinkles. Aye aye! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! It's best t' cut them into smaller pieces rather than try to put them on large. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I prefer waterslide decals normally, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, but with full body wraps, matey, self adhesive stickers would be better. Ahoy! Blimey!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Motors clip in for easy prep. Ya scallywag! Requires wadding. Fine flights on A8-3 and A6-4 motors. Well, blow me down! Would probably fly OK on 1/2A and A10 motors with a 13mm adapter. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Apogee lists altitudes o' almost 1800 feet with a Medalist D10-7, arrr, shiver me timbers, and fortunately that's a single use motor because I don't think you'd ever see it again.

Recovery:
Shock cord is affixed with a tri-fold paper mount. Well, blow me down! Everythin' worked fine. Begad! Recovery velocity is appropriate, ya bilge rat, with no damage on any flights. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! Parachute is a thicker material than any other vendor I've seen. Heavier but probably less prone to burn damage. Well, blow me down! Provided swivel and reinforcement rings are a pleasant surprise.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
PROs: Lightweight, high-performance, nice lookin' design. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! Straightforward build. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! Interestin' research project look. Some nice touches with deluxe materials.

CONs: Full-body decals tough t' apply without wrinkles. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5