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

Construction:
This kit was packaged in a box, a rare thin' for Estes. Avast, me proud beauty! Includes a black, pre-slotted body tube, arrr, a black nosecone, three black fins, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, me hearties, and black motor mount parts, me bucko, arrr, a blue motor tube, matey, decals, matey, me hearties, 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.

This rocket was very easy t' build, even for a twelve year old. Instructions were excellent, well illustrated and written. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! T' three black motor mount parts act as centerin' rings and t' motor block. Arrr! Blimey! One cements t' motor mount in, makin' sure t' launch lug holes are aligned. Then you cement t' fins and launch lugs in. Well, blow me down! T' shock cord and its mount are attached t' t' rocket, followed by t' nose cone and parachute. Blimey! Everythin' fits very well and sturdy for an Estes rocket. Aye aye! T' shock cord was too short though, although I didn't think so that time. Avast, me proud beauty! 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. T' fin decals were very large and covered almost t' whole fin. Arrr! Arrr! 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 was launched. Begad! Aye aye! There was motor retention, but it wasn't needed. This rocket requires three sheets o' wadding. Arrr! Begad! 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, my first B motor flight. T' motor boosted t' rocket straight, t' a moderate altitude. T' second flight was on a C6-5. Ahoy! Because t' Banshee be launched at an angle, t' rocket didn't go as high as I expected, but still very high. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! I replaced t' parachute with a long streamer on this flight.

Recovery:
T' shock cord was too short, ya bilge rat, so I added some nylon cord. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! T' external plastic shock cord mount be much better than t' tri-fold. Begad! It doesn't look that bad because it is streamlined.

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

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

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5