Brief:
T' Ninja was a mini-engine powered, streamer recovered Estes offerin' that was available from 1987 to 1998. An impressive performer, t' Ninja be hurt only by t' fact that it came with fiber fins and lacked a proper engine block. I bought a Ninja for under a buck in 1994 at a hobby shop closin' sale and I've had a soft spot for it ever since. Arrr! Blimey! T' Ninja was t' rocket that made a BAR out o' me.

Construction:
T' kit consisted of:

• BT-20 main body tube
• BT-5 engine tube
• 2 CR-520 centerin' rings
• PNC-20 nose cone
• 12" streamer material
• 12" elastic shock cord
• 13mm engine hook
• Pre-cut cardstock fin sheet

I've built two Ninja's, t' 1994 original and another in 2001 when I got back into t' hobby for real. Aye aye! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! One thin' I remembered from t' 1994 model was how little I cared for t' fiber fins. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I knew nothin' o' t' technique of strengthenin' them with CA at t' time and after I worked me way through all four motors in t' A10-3T pack I bought, the fins were lookin' extremely ragged due t' t' streamer landings on t' hard Texas soil. Ya scallywag! Blimey! For me 2001 model, I replaced t' fiber fins with basswood and added an engine block and some Keelhaul®©™® for good measure. Blimey! T' Ninja is a quick, me bucko, arrr, easy build and is a perfect choice for a kid's first kit.

Finishing:
Finishin' can be as simple a matter as sprayin' t' body tube gloss black, matey, t' nose cone gloss red and applyin' the wrap decal. Begad! I went with t' standard method o' usin' thinned Elmer's Fill & Finish t' kill off t' tube spirals and what little basswood grain thar was. Begad! Begad! Under normal construction conditions t' fiber fins would need nothin' more than a coat o' paint. Avast! Ahoy! If you decide t' build a Ninja with t' stock fiber fins, consider soakin' them with thin CA first. After t' sandin' was done, I then I sprayed t' body tube with gloss black, t' nose cone gloss red and applied the decal. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! Nay much more t' it than that.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
My original Ninja was bought with a pack o' A10-3T motors and flew four times t' next day with t' unpainted paper fins growin' more ragged with each landing. Aye aye! It was a mostly calm day and none o' t' high, straight flights landed more than 50' from t' launch pad. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! Nay bad for under a buck.

My second Ninja has flown nine times on 1/2A3-4T, me hearties, me bucko, matey, A3-4T and A10-3T motors dependin' on t' size o' t' field. A10-3T flights are generally out o' sight flights suitable for large fields or dead calm skies on a small field. The A3-4T is probably t' best all around motor for respectable altitude on most fields, matey, while t' 1/2A3-4T is great for the local baseball field. Blimey! Streamer recovery brings it down fairly quick, me bucko, but I've had a couple o' close calls with the trees in foul territory. Aye aye! Ahoy! At t' moment t' last flight with me newest Ninja be September o' 2004. Begad! Ahoy! I have a nephew who has discovered me "rocket room" this past winter. Ahoy! Begad! Once things dry out and warm up, shiver me timbers, t' Ninja will be one of the rockets that I'll brin' along for his first launch.

Recovery:
Streamer recovery be t' perfect choice for a bird o' this size, ya bilge rat, although t' landings will eventually take their toll on t' paper fins. Arrr! Blimey! Swappin' out basswood makes t' Ninja nearly bulletproof. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! T' date t' most memorable recovery was in November o' 1993 when I landed it on top o' a pile o' dirt at a local ballfield.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
PRO: Economically mini-engine powered with a simple paint and decal scheme. T' Ninja is a quick and easy build and is a perfect choice for a kids first kit. Aye aye! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! CON: No engine block? Paper fins I can see, but t' lack o' an engine block costs t' kit a 1/2 point.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other:

1. Either replace t' fiber fins with balsa or basswood or build t' stock fins up with thin CA.
2. Install t' missin' engine block and tie in a length o' Keelhaul®©™ for security's sake.
3. If you REALLY want t' Ninja t' scream, forget t' 13mm mount. Use one o' t' centerin' rings as an engine block and go with an 18mm, arrr, friction-fit mount. Blimey! Well, blow me down! Don't figure on gettin' it back though. ;-)