Then thar's THE Fat Boy. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Maybe nay t' original, but Estes be t' one that trademarked t' name. Blimey! This be t' third 2.6" sport kit that I have reviewed for comparison sake. T' Fat Boy be t' shortest o' t' kits reviewed, me hearties, bein' only 12.9" tall and weighin' 3 ounces. Blimey! Ya scallywag! See me 2.6" Stubby Rocket Comparison Page

T' kit comes with an 8" single body tube and 3.875" plastic nose cone (the remainin' inch in height is from t' fin sweep). Its 18mm motor mount comes with 1/32" die-cut cardboard centerin' rings and a motor retention clip. Arrr! Well, blow me down! It uses 3/32" die-cut balsa fins with through-the-wall mounting. Ahoy! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! It comes with an Estes' standard 18" plastic parachute, me bucko, ya bilge rat, a 24" elastic shock cord (1/4" flat) which attaches via t' Estes' standard three-fold paper mount. Ya scallywag! Begad! It also includes a single launch lug and a decal sheet.

CONSTRUCTION:

There are six pages o' instructions which are heavily illustrated and very clearly defines t' steps o' construction, arrr, finishin' and preparation for flying. Avast! Blimey! T' instructions are in a logical order and could get a new modeler through t' kit assembly. Begad! Blimey! This bein' t' case, merits it's Beta Series (level 1) rating.

There is nay a lot t' say about assembly because it was so straight forward, me hearties, arrr, me bucko, however, me bucko, shiver me timbers, just a few comments about a couple o' steps and observations.

T' first was t' assembly o' t' through-the-wall fins. Begad! Blimey! Here t' fins are t' fit into t' pre-cut slots in t' body tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! These did nay fit and required extendin' each slot about 1/8" toward t' aft o' t' rocket. Arrr! Blimey! On t' positive side, ya bilge rat, t' fins were arranged so that t' grain be parallel t' t' leadin' edge which improves strength. Well, blow me down! Blimey!

T' instructions were also clear in describin' t' use o' balsa filler on t' fins and in t' paint scheme. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! There was one illustration that was nay accurate describin' t' application o' t' decals. Well, blow me down! In t' illustration, it shows t' decal which spells out "FAT BOY" bein' applied on t' body tube and crossin' over onto t' nose cone. Avast! Avast! This decal is nay large enough t' do this. Begad! T' package and catalog pictures t' decal accurately. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty!

Two changes where made t' t' recovery system. First, shiver me timbers, instead o' t' three-fold paper mount, a short piece o' Keelhaul®©™ be attached t' t' thrust rin' and t' elastic shock cord was tied t' it at about t' same position t' paper mount would have gone. Avast! Secondly, an 18" purple rip-stop nylon parachute was used. Begad! Arrr! Estes' parachutes work fine, shiver me timbers, however, matey, nylon chutes are better t' prevent stickin' and are more durable all around. Aye aye!

For finishin' I tried a couple o' different tactics than previous kits. Blimey! I saw a note on t' RMR newsgroup suggestin' usin' plain ol' Elmer's Glue as a balsa fin filler. I did this and it worked out quite well. Avast!

On top o' that, shiver me timbers, I used Walmart's primer this time. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! This stuff does nay sand nearly as well as Plasti-Kote's primer. I will revert back t' usin' Plasti-Kote primer for fillin' and Walmart's primer as t' final coat (when usin' Walmart's paint). Ahoy!

Once I finished smoothin' and priming, an application o' $0. 98 Walmart enamel was added. Well, blow me down! This time a baby blue. After dryin' a day, t' decals were applied. Aye aye! T' decals are self-adhesive and are very shiny. T' ensure consistency o' finish and protect t' decals a bit (not as necessary on self-adhesive decals), me bucko, apply a coat o' clear finish. Aye aye! I followed up with Walmart's Clear enamel. Begad! (additional comments about Walmart paint)

Overall, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 4 1/2 points. Begad! Blimey! It would be nice t' see Estes go t' a different shock cord mount instead o' t' three-fold paper method. Begad! Aye aye! Other than t' misfit o' t' through-the-wall fins, arrr, construction be straight forward. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad!

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

T' Estes Fat Boy™ isn't as "heavy" as t' Vaughn Brothers Blobbo™ and can get off o' t' pad a bit faster. This fact made me miss two launch shots! However, in similar wind conditions both rockets display a lot o' weather-cocking. Both flights usin' C6-3's were parallel t' t' ground before apogee. Begad!

T' first flight was t' higher o' t' two test flights and t' wind carried t' rocket about 100 yards from t' launch pad after flyin' about 100 yards in t' opposite direction due t' weather-cocking. Blimey! Begad!

T' second flight, arrr, went much further out due t' weather-cocking. After about 200 yards, me hearties, t' parachute ejected and t' rocket dropped nearly straight t' t' ground. Arrr! I had "reefed" t' parachute by tapin' t' shroud lines about 5" down from t' chute. Begad!

T' parachute, shroud lines and shock cord system all demonstrated performance and showed no sign o' wear or damage. Avast! Begad! There was a small black spot at t' top o' t' body tube which wiped away easily. Aye aye!

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, I would rate this kit 4 1/2 points. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I think an 18" parachute is too large for this kit. Blimey! It needs a smaller chute or recommendation for a spill hole or reefing. I have seen others at t' range cut out t' center o' t' chute that says Estes on their Fat Boy kits so I assume they feel t' same way about t' descent rate bein' too slow. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey!

Overall, ya bilge rat, me hearties, this kit is very easy t' build and fun too fly. Avast, me proud beauty! I give t' kit an OVERALL ratin' o' 4 1/2 points. Ya scallywag! Arrr!