Brief
This be t' second Custom Kit I have built and this is one long rocket. T' size really intrigued me when I saw it on t' rack at a local hobby shop. Ahoy! Blimey! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' statistics on t' Equinox are Length: 78"; Diameter: 1.637"; Wt.: 5.8oz. Blimey! Skill Level 2.

Construction
T' Quality be very good. It came packaged in a plastic bag. All t' parts were thar and in good shape. Blimey! It has four body tubes, ya bilge rat, three couplers, four Die-cut balsa fins, two 18 inch mylar 'chutes, plastic nose cone, me hearties, shiver me timbers, all t' typical motor mount items and one large decal. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! T' instructions left very little t' chance with lots o' illustrations in a very logical order. T' only template is for t' fin-markin' guide and is standard issue. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! CONSTRUCTION: (Ratin' 4.5)

If thar be a gotcha, arrr, shiver me timbers, it be t' length. Begad! Begad! Were I t' build this kit again I would have it separate in t' middle instead o' at t' nose. Ahoy! Arrr! More for easy o' transport. Blimey! (I have t' thank me wife for insistin' on gettin' a mini-van.) Also I would replace t' motor hook with a thicker one. Aye aye! Begad! T' instructions call for assemblin' t' lower tube separate from t' rest. Begad! This is a great help when attachin' t' fins. Arrr! (See t' Flight). Ya scallywag! Ahoy! I used 15-minute epoxy throughout. Avast! Ahoy! A nice touch on t' fins was a mark on t' root edge. T' fins could be turned t' wrong way if you don't look at t' grain carefully or don't know about this.

T' shock cord typical elastic and tri-fold paper mount. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' shock cord is o' a good length, but I doubled it out o' habit. (I use it for me Estes Prowler). Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! I also for t' first time tried two Centuri Baffles in this kit. Ahoy! Blimey! I built one usin' t' coupler near t' motor mount and one betwixt t' top two sections I put cardboard with holes punched in it in t' top & bottom and glued them t' t' coupler.

T' recovery is by two 18 inch 'chutes that are silver mylar with tape dots for shroud line retention. Blimey! I have modified this, as I have since 1969, matey, matey, when I was introduced t' t' hobby. Begad! An old timer who's name I can't recall showed me t' put t' tape dot on, matey, put t' hole reinforcement rin' on t' back, and usin' an Xacto drill a 1/8 inch hole in t' middle. Begad! T' finished rocket over all is impressive in size. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! EASE OF BUILD: (Ratin' 5)

Finishing
There are no special requirements or techniques for finishing. Arrr! I followed t' paint scheme on t' supplied card. Ya scallywag! Begad! T' one decal is o' t' peel and stick. Usin' t' soapy water technique it went on easily. Well, blow me down! T' one thin' is I needed t' do is t' cut it around t' launch lug. Begad! T' finished kit got many "Who makes that kit, matey, me bucko, matey, and where did you find it?" and "It looks classier than t' Mean Machine!" at t' first launch I brought it to. Begad! FINISHING: (Ratin' 5)

Construction Rating: 4 ½ out o' 5

Flight/Recovery
T' recommended motors for this are D12-5 & E15-7. Ya scallywag! I have flown this four times on t' D12-5. T' one gripe I have with Custom be t' motor hooks. Ahoy! They are thinner than t' Estes counterparts and I have only recovered t' Equinox with t' motor one time. With t' baffles preparation is: put t' 'chutes in and away t' t' RSO.

T' first flight was on a cold gray day in December. Arrr! Blimey! I was impressed by t' slow lift-off climbin' straight up with no wobble or wind cocking. Begad! Arrr! T' delay was just right both 'chute blossomed and it softly landed about 500 feet from t' pads after reachin' an estimated altitude o' 600 feet. Ahoy! (wRASP) Upon recovery I found t' motor had kicked out. Avast! On t' second flight t' same result and durin' recovery only one 'chute fully opened. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I guess it sat on t' pad too long for t' 33-degree temperature. Aye aye! Arrr! No damage upon landing, me bucko, t' motor kicked out again, only this time t' motor hook be slightly burnt.

T' next flights came in February. Arrr! Begad! Blimey! It is a typical winter in Denver, Colorado, about 55 and a slight breeze. Avast! Ahoy! Blimey! T' flights were great, shiver me timbers, with t' slow rise and gentle turn at apogee. T' 'chutes opened and they brought t' rocket down gently. Arrr! Blimey! On t' first flight I taped t' motor in, but it kicked. On t' second flight I also wire tied t' motor with t' tape and it held. Avast, me proud beauty! I like t' way t' multiple 'chutes look, but for ease o' preparation, a single 18 inch or 24 inch would work. Arrr! Blimey! I can't wait t' send this up on an E15-7, with an estimated altitude o' 1775 feet. (wRASP).

Flight Rating: 4 ½ out o' 5

Summary
Everythin' considered if it were nay for t' motor kickin' t' ratin' would be a 5. Blimey! I just love t' way this kit looks and flies. Avast! T' kit retails for $ 19.95 and I believe it is work every penny. Avast! Ahoy! T' biggest obstacle with t' kit as far as its durability is gettin' out t' door and t' t' launch sites. Arrr! Well, blow me down! I really like t' Custom kits as they have t' flavor o' t' kits available in t' early '70s.

Overall Rating: 4 ½ out o' 5