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

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

This rocket was very easy t' build, ya bilge rat, even for a twelve year old. Ahoy! Instructions were excellent, well illustrated and written. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! T' three black motor mount parts act as centerin' rings and t' motor block. Aye aye! Arrr! 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. Aye aye! Everythin' fits very well and sturdy for an Estes rocket. Arrr! T' shock cord was too short though, although I didn't think so that time. Well, blow me down! 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. Begad! Blimey! 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. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! T' motor was a tight fit and difficult t' remove before t' rocket was launched. Avast! Ya scallywag! There was motor retention, but it wasn't needed. This rocket requires three sheets o' wadding. Begad! I used an aluminum foil ball and two sheets o' wadding.

This rocket has gone through two flights. Begad! T' first flight be on a B6-4, my first B motor flight. Blimey! Ya scallywag! T' motor boosted t' rocket straight, me bucko, t' a moderate altitude. T' second flight be on a C6-5. Ahoy! Because t' Banshee was launched at an angle, 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 was too short, so I added some nylon cord. T' external plastic shock cord mount was much better than t' tri-fold. It doesn't look that bad because it is streamlined.

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

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

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a great 18 mm rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! 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, don't insert t' motor until you are at t' launch pad so you won't change your mind. Arrr! Arrr! T' motor is a pain t' remove.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5