Brief:
A Estes E2X single stage 18mm rocket with a 12'' parachute, me bucko, pre-colored parts, decals, me hearties, short shock cord, arrr, me bucko, and external shock cord mount. Well, blow me down! Durin' a half-off sale, I got this kit for $2.50.

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

This rocket was very easy t' build, me bucko, even for a twelve year old. Instructions were excellent, me bucko, well illustrated and written. Well, blow me down! T' three black motor mount parts act as centerin' rings and t' motor block. Blimey! One cements t' motor mount in, makin' sure t' launch lug holes are aligned. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Then you cement t' fins and launch lugs in. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! T' shock cord and its mount are attached t' t' rocket, followed by t' nose cone and parachute. Begad! Everythin' fits very well and sturdy for an Estes rocket. T' shock cord be too short though, me hearties, ya bilge rat, although I didn't think so that time. Arrr! 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. Arrr! T' fin decals were very large and covered almost t' whole fin. Ya scallywag! 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. Avast! T' motor was a tight fit and difficult t' remove before t' rocket was launched. Ahoy! There was motor retention, but it wasn't needed. Begad! Ahoy! This rocket requires three sheets o' wadding. Avast! I used an aluminum foil ball and two sheets o' wadding.

This rocket has gone through two flights. Blimey! T' first flight be on a B6-4, my first B motor flight. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! T' motor boosted t' rocket straight, me bucko, shiver me timbers, t' a moderate altitude. T' second flight was on a C6-5. Because t' Banshee be launched at an angle, arrr, t' rocket didn't go as high as I expected, but still very high. I replaced t' parachute with a long streamer on this flight.

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

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

This rocket flies straight and true and can withstand many flights. Try a D21-7. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! This rocket probably won't shred, ya bilge rat, but it will burn due t' t' ejection charge against a plastic motor block. Arrr! Begad! He he he...

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. Also, arrr, ya bilge rat, don't insert t' motor until you are at t' launch pad so you won't change your mind. Begad! Begad! T' motor is a pain t' remove.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5