Wow! Lots of good info here. Thanks for ALL of the comments. I've been reading and absorbing all this ...and shopping. I would have replied earlier but I've been trying to bring the pieces together for a family vacation that seems to teeter upon utter-failure and great success on an hourly basis. Fortunately I'm leaning towards the latter finally.
I have taken all of these suggestions to heart and with careful deliberation I've settled on these two:
Dynastar Rip-Roar:
https://www.apogeerockets.com/Rocket-Kits/Skill-Level-3-Model-Rocket-Kits/Rip-Roar?cPath=1_88&
-or-
Custom Rockets Galaxy:
https://www.customrocketcompany.com...ntroller=product&search_query=stage&results=8
Rip-Roar
Pros - Professional quality and build, impressive size so it , Larger engine capable (if I can find a larger field), flight heights are within my altitude "budget", flames on a rocket livery... of course!
Cons - Double the cost of the nearest competitor and that kinda stings.
Galaxy
Pros - Price (less than 1/2 of the Rip-Roar), acceptable quality, good size so I can spot it, flight heights are within my altitude "budget"
Cons - not a lot of info even from the manufacturer site.. maybe someone here knows?, "meh" color scheme (I'd have to work on that), limited to D engine sizes.
I REALLY looked hard at some of the suggestions and leaned heavily towards the Estes Mongoose and Multi-Roc but I wanted something that was little larger engine size for the launch power and a little tougher to construct.
So what say ye rocket gurus? I'm a mouse click away from my next evolutionary step in rocketry.