Brief:
This is a sharp-lookin' red/white/blue rocket by Custom, very good introductory kit, matey, arrr, and a great flyer.

Construction:
T' kit I built is an older style from about 1995. Begad! T' main differences betwixt this kit and t' current version is that t' mylar chute has been replaced by a plastic Estes-style chute, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, and t' nose cone screw eye has been replaced by a hook cast into t' nose cone.

T' rocket consists o' a single BT-50 tube, ya bilge rat, plastic parabolic nose cone, die-cut balsa fins set (4), me hearties, matey, 18mm motor mount/rings, engine hook, lug, and 12" silver mylar parachute. T' balsa fin stock is stiff, and very good quality.

This is a skill level one kit, arrr, and as such it's a pretty simple build. Aye aye! T' instructions were clear and easy t' follow, though nay quite as well illustrated as Estes' and Quest's skill level 1 kits. Begad! T' parts fit very well, shiver me timbers, and everythin' be very good quality. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! Bein' a bit obsessive/compulsive, I decided t' airfoil t' fins for peak performance. Even with that effort, matey, total construction time be less than an hour. Avast! Begad! T' only modification I made be t' shock cord--I bypassed t' paper mount and 1/8" elastic in favor o' Keelhaul®©™ tied t' t' engine mount, ya bilge rat, and about 2-1/2 feet o' heavier elastic.

Finishing:
T' water slide decals, shiver me timbers, bein' about 8 years old, matey, were very brittle. I've also built a "fresh" one, arrr, and found no problem. For a skill level 1 kit, arrr, though, matey, t' finish is a bit challenging, me hearties, shiver me timbers, requirin' three colors and masking. Arrr! I would normally figure a skill level 1 kit t' be no paint or at t' worst, single-color. Begad! Arrr! Once painted and decaled, though, this is a great lookin' rocket. T' patriotic theme is very appealing.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
As expected on an introductory kit, this is a very stable flyer. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! I flew it runnin' up t' ladder startin' with A's, finishin' with a C6-5. T' C6 took it out o' me sight range, ya bilge rat, though I picked it up on t' way down and successfully recovered without a problem. Begad! It's very quick off t' pad, arrr, and I'd normally recommend stickin' with A/B power unless switchin' t' a streamer recovery.

Recovery:
T' mylar chute offers much better performance/resistance t' meltin' than t' plastic chutes. Begad! It's also easier t' pick out in t' sky.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
I've built all o' t' current Custom kits, matey, me hearties, plus about 5-6 OOP ones, and this one is me favorite. Ya scallywag! Nothin' fancy about t' design, ya bilge rat, arrr, but a solid performer and one with good eye-appeal.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5