Brief:
OOP for many years, me bucko, a single Stage, shiver me timbers, light streamer recovery, me hearties, D engine mount, arrr, 4FNC rocket. Arrr! This kit was provided as a free bonus by Estes if an order exceeded a certain amount.

Construction:
one BT-55 body tube, balsa nosecone, 4 balsa fins from BFS-40 fin stock (fins cut from a provided pattern, me bucko, nay pre-cut most o' t' way like they are now), ya bilge rat, D engine mount, crepe paper streamer and rubber shock cord.

Instructions were easy t' follow, arrr, arrr, although with a different layout than now. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! T' instruction sheet can be found at JimZ Rocket Plans web site. Avast! Arrr! T' fins are nay through-the-wall, matey, so you must either modify t' cut pattern and cut t' slots in t' body tube; OR just build per plan and use t' method o' attachin' wood fins proscribed by Doug Pratt on his Tomahawk. Ahoy! I as a 12 year old didn't do either and popped off a fin on one landing. I have since added healthy glue fillets, and painted over with orange enamel and brush.

Finishing:
T' main rocket body can be spray painted either yellow like t' instructions called for, me hearties, or orange like I did which seemed more Halloween-ish. Arrr! Begad! T' decals I had are t' same as on JimZ plans except for a black and white band instead o' a solid black band. T' nose cone and one fin are painted black.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Recommended engines are D13-5 (or C6-5, arrr, B6-4, matey, or A8-3 with an EM2050 adapter) Obviously, arrr, Estes does nay make a D13-5 any more, me bucko, me bucko, but t' D12-5 is certainly about t' same. Blimey! With no added weight on t' nose cone, this rocket has flown well with an A8-3, ya bilge rat, B6-4, me hearties, C6-7, D12-3, and D12-5. Blimey! You would think that a D would be too heavy for t' rocket with no weight in nose, arrr, but I think it accelerates so smartly that it is up t' speed by t' time it leaves t' launch rod. T' estimated max height in t' instructions is 1700 ft. Ya scallywag! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! This is probably at Colorado Springs altitude. Arrr! Blimey! I think mine only goes about 1000-1200 ft high on a D in Minnesota.

Recovery:
T' 25 year old rubber shock cord be too brittle and failed after one flight. It was replaced by a elastic shock cord somewhat longer than t' original. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! T' crepe streamer attachment was also replaced, ya bilge rat, and a longer nylon streamer is now used.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This is only one o' two vintage rockets me Mom did nay throw or give away. Begad! Begad! It is responsible for me bein' a BAR as me Mom insisted I take it home with me one time when I was visiting. It had been kept all those years without ever flying, and flew for t' first time 22 years after it had been built. Avast! Ahoy! Good construction technique will build lastin' rockets! It is fun t' brin' it t' club launches and show it off t' t' other BARs who remember it.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5