Brief:
A Estes E2X single stage 18mm rocket with a 12'' parachute, matey, pre-colored parts, decals, me hearties, short shock cord, ya bilge rat, and external shock cord mount. Ahoy! Durin' a half-off sale, ya bilge rat, I got this kit for $2.50. Begad! Begad!

Construction:
This kit was packaged in a box, a rare thin' for Estes. Ahoy! Includes a black, pre-slotted body tube, a black nosecone, three black fins, and black motor mount parts, matey, a blue motor tube, decals, shock cord, shiver me timbers, and other parts. T' body tube was thicker than you would expect from estes, but t' shock cord be too short. Ya scallywag! Begad! Blimey!

This rocket was very easy t' build, even for a twelve year old. Avast, me proud beauty! Instructions were excellent, ya bilge rat, well illustrated and written. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, me bucko, blow me down! T' three black motor mount parts act as centerin' rings and t' motor block. Arrr! One cements t' motor mount in, makin' sure t' launch lug holes are aligned. Arrr! Ahoy! Then you cement t' fins and launch lugs in. Arrr! T' shock cord and its mount are attached t' t' rocket, followed by t' nose cone and parachute. Ahoy! Everythin' fits very well and sturdy for an Estes rocket. Ya scallywag! T' shock cord was too short though, although I didn't think so that time. Aye aye! I added a two foot length o' nylon cord.

Finishing:
One just has t' remove t' flash from t' nose cone and apply t' orange decals. Ahoy! T' fin decals were very large and covered almost t' whole fin. Avast! I wondered why Estes didn't just use orange fins and t' name decal.(the fin decals are orange and include t' rocket's name).

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:

Installin' t' motor was somewhat difficult. T' motor be a tight fit and difficult t' remove before t' rocket be launched. Blimey! Avast! There be motor retention, but it wasn't needed. Begad! Begad! This rocket requires three sheets o' wadding. I used an aluminum foil ball and two sheets o' wadding.

This rocket has gone through two flights. T' first flight was on a B6-4, matey, my first B motor flight. T' motor boosted t' rocket straight, ya bilge rat, t' a moderate altitude. Aye aye! T' second flight was on a C6-5. Avast! Because t' Banshee be launched at an angle, t' rocket didn't go as high as I expected, but still very high. Ahoy! Begad! I replaced t' parachute with a long streamer on this flight.

Recovery:
T' shock cord be too short, matey, so I added some nylon cord. Arrr! Blimey! T' external plastic shock cord mount be much better than t' tri-fold. Begad! Blimey! It doesn't look that bad because it is streamlined.

On t' first flight on a B6-4, shiver me timbers, me bucko, arrr, I used t' parachute, shiver me timbers, with no spill hole. Blimey! It drifted for about 200 feet and came down very slowly. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! On t' second flight, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, the rocket used a streamer, matey, and landed in a puddle. Begad! I went t' t' rocket very quickly, me bucko, fearin' that t' motor might get stuck, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, but it didn't.

This rocket flies straight and true and can withstand many flights. Blimey! Try a D21-7. Avast! This rocket probably won't shred, but it will burn due t' t' ejection charge against a plastic motor block. Begad! He he he... Arrr!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a great 18 mm rocket. Ya scallywag! It is easy t' build and flies well. Avast, me proud beauty! Just use a longer shock cord and replace t' parachute with a streamer when usin' C6-5 and D21-7 engines. Arrr! Begad! Also, don't insert t' motor until you are at t' launch pad so you won't change your mind. T' motor is a pain t' remove.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5