Then thar's THE Fat Boy. Begad! Ahoy! Maybe nay t' original, but Estes be t' one that trademarked t' name. Ya scallywag! 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, bein' only 12.9" tall and weighin' 3 ounces. Blimey! 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. It uses 3/32" die-cut balsa fins with through-the-wall mounting. Arrr! It comes with an Estes' standard 18" plastic parachute, arrr, a 24" elastic shock cord (1/4" flat) which attaches via t' Estes' standard three-fold paper mount. Well, blow me down! 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, finishin' and preparation for flying. T' instructions are in a logical order and could get a new modeler through t' kit assembly. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! 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, however, just a few comments about a couple o' steps and observations. Arrr! Ya scallywag!

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

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

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

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

On top o' that, arrr, shiver me timbers, I used Walmart's primer this time. 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).

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

Overall, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 4 1/2 points. Aye aye! It would be nice t' see Estes go t' a different shock cord mount instead o' t' three-fold paper method. Begad! Other than t' misfit o' t' through-the-wall fins, construction was straight forward. Blimey! 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. Blimey! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! This fact made me miss two launch shots! However, matey, me hearties, in similar wind conditions both rockets display a lot o' weather-cocking. Avast! Both flights usin' C6-3's were parallel t' t' ground before apogee. Begad! Ya scallywag!

T' first flight be 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. Avast! Begad!

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

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

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, matey, I would rate this kit 4 1/2 points. Avast! I think an 18" parachute is too large for this kit. Begad! Arrr! 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. Well, blow me down!

Overall, shiver me timbers, me hearties, this kit is very easy t' build and fun too fly. Ya scallywag! I give t' kit an OVERALL ratin' o' 4 1/2 points. Begad! Blimey! Avast! Blimey!