Brief:
This is a basic 3FNC two-stage rocket with direct staging. The fins on the booster and sustainer are identical, giving it a look that is just a bit different from other two-stage rockets.

Construction:
The parts list:

• 1 Nose cone, plastic blow-molded
• 1 Elastic shock cord
• 1 BT-50 sustainer body
• 1 BT-50 booster body
• 1 Tube coupler BT-50
• 6 Fins, die cut balsa
• 2 Motor mount tubes BT-20
• 1 Thrust ring
• 4 Centering rings
• 1 Decal sheet

Construction of this rocket is so simple that it could probably proceed without instructions. However, it is good to have the instructions to make sure that the centering rings are placed properly to leave room for the stage coupler.

Assembly was greatly accelerated by the use of an Estes fin alignment jig.

Finishing:
I chose to paint it just like it is in the ads, with a white body and red fins and nose cone. This was straightforward.

A note about the decals. I don't know whether mine were old or if they just took a long time to loosen from the paper. The first one I let soak for a couple of minutes, then took out and straightened out. The decal cracked into a bunch of tiny slivers. The other two decals I let soak for a longtime--about 10-15 minutes--before trying to move them. They worked fine after the long, long soak.

In order to apply the wraparound decal to the forward edge of the upper body you do have to trim off the upper clear part of the decal.

Construction Rating: 4 out of 5

Flight:
I launched it three times in one day with three terrific flights and no significant damage. This is a light rocket. On a C6-0 booster it is already going high and fast before it stages, then it is out of sight.

Recovery:
The elastic shock cord did give me one prang to the front end of the body tube. It was easily bent back out, but the decal was damaged.

The streamer is a good length, and the recoveries were at a good descent rate, and highly visible due to the hot pink color.

Flight Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
This is a great basic direct-staging two-stage rocket. I bought two--one for me and one for my daughter for her NARTREK Apollo level. We built them side by side. It is perfect for a first multistage rocket.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5