Brief:
I be provided with me Free-B for beta testing. Aye aye! Avast! It is a limited edition, serial numbered model that John is providing as a free kit for a limited time with t' purchase o' $50 or more. Aye aye! Begad! This is nay a cheap, no frills kit. Ahoy! It is a BT-50 based rocket complete with a nice sheet o' waterslide decals, balsa nose cone, and flies on 18mm motors. Ya scallywag! T' rocket is almost 15 inches tall, weighs less than 2 ounces, me bucko, and recovers on a very nice big plastic streamer. Begad! Well, blow me down! 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! Begad! T' three fins are laser cut balsa and t' balsa nose cone is top quality and very smooth. 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, shiver me timbers, along with a 1/8” launch lug, shiver me timbers, eye screw, shiver me timbers, me hearties, and waterslide decals. Begad! Blimey! A markin' guide and tri-fold shock cord attachment is also provided.

Construction is standard. Arrr! I constructed t' entire rocket with yellow glue and added a length o' Keelhaul®©™® for attachment t' t' provided shock cord. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! T' minimize abrasion from t' Keelhaul®©™® against t' body tube, arrr, ya bilge rat, 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! Blimey! T' launch lug is cut in half and installed onto t' rocket. Ahoy! Blimey! Install t' screw eye into t' nose cone and you’re almost done. 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. Ya scallywag! Blimey! They seem t' work fine for others, me bucko, just nay for me. Arrr! Begad! 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. 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. Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! With only a very light coat o' Elmer's Light Fill 'n' Finish, the nose cone be very smooth. T' body tube and fins were also finished usin' Fill 'n' Finish. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Blimey! I sprayed t' entire model with a light coat o' Kilz t' seal off t' glue and provide a solid base coat. Avast, me proud beauty! Next, I lightly sanded t' entire model with 240 grit sandpaper and then sprayed on a coat o' primer. Well, blow me down! Next, arrr, shiver me timbers, sand and primer and sand and primer again with 400 grit sandpaper. I used Krylon paint followin' t' red white and blue paint scheme on t' face card. Arrr! After dryin' for 24 hours, me hearties, 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 was perfect with ejection right at the top. Begad! Begad! It came down much faster than I anticipated, shiver me timbers, loosenin' one o' t' fins on landing. Ya scallywag! Blimey! 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. Arrr! Parts quality is superb, ya bilge rat, and you can easily build t' rocket in a couple o' hours. Well, me hearties, blow me down! T' rocket really zooms! Better get yours quickly! Remember, matey, they are serially numbered.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5