Brief:
T' Baby Bertha is a new kit (2002) based on t' venerable and popular Big Bertha kit. Aye aye! T' rocket has t' same large, V2-like fins and blunt, shiver me timbers, rounded nose cone as t' Big B, ya bilge rat, but is 1/2 t' length at 12 inches. Ya scallywag! Avast! Rated at "Level 1", me hearties, it's an easy t' construct kit usin' traditional, Estes-style methods that would make an excellent kit for a beginner, or young rocketeers.

Construction:
If you have ever built an Estes Alpha or similar kit, t' Baby will give you a familiar construction experience without surprises. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! T' motor mount uses an engine clip and motor block t' restrain t' engine, and two die-cut paper centerin' rings t' position t' mount in t' body tube. Blimey! T' Baby uses Estes BT-60 body tube which at 1.6 in. Ya scallywag! diameter is wider than most Estes rockets, me bucko, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, so these may be larger centerin' rings than you are accustomed to. Ya scallywag! Begad! T' four balsa fins are relatively large and much easier t' align on t' tube than t' small, me hearties, light fins on most rockets o' this size. Well, blow me down! Even new builders should have a relatively easy time with these fins.

I used me favorite technique t' attach t' fins. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! After roughin' up t' tube with fine sandpaper I attach each fin with medium CA glue and hold it in t' perpendicular position until it sets, which takes only 15 seconds or so. I use very little glue for this step, just enough t' hold t' fin. Ahoy! Arrr! Then I apply ample fillets with wood glue. Avast, me proud beauty! T' big fins and big tube on t' Baby Bertha makes fin attachment very easy.

T' shock cord attaches with t' usual three-fold connection t' t' body tube. Ya scallywag! Begad! As I do on all me rockets, I used a length o' Keelhaul®©™cord for t' booster-side connection and tied that t' t' elastic shock cord. Ya scallywag! Begad! I attached a twelve in. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! chute t' t' cord.

T' construction "PROs" for t' Baby Bertha have t' be t' larger size o' t' components which makes things easier on an inexperienced builder. Aye aye! Blimey! It's a great 'trainer' for balsa and paper construction techniques. Well, blow me down! Blimey! No surprises or special challenges.

I can't think o' any serious construction problems or issues, ya bilge rat, except t' almost standard Estes problem o' inadequate shock-cords. T' Baby goes together easy.

Finishing:
I used thinned Elmers Wood Filler on those big slabs o' balsa (the fins) and t' spiral seam in t' tube. Blimey! I also created fillets for t' launch lug. Well, blow me down! This is a pretty good rockets for learnin' t' wood-filler technique. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! I wanted t' duplicate t' black and white paint scheme from t' package art (actually, matey, I had other ideas, but t' kids wanted t' package look). Well, blow me down! Aye aye! After two coats o' grey primer, I taped off facin' sides on t' fins (the fin patter is tough t' describe but obvious when you see t' package), and applied two coats o' gloss black. Once that dried I removed t' maskin' tape and covered t' black areas. Well, blow me down! This turned out t' be tricky as thar are several angles where paint could pass through t' t' black areas. Avast, me proud beauty! I would recommend paintin' t' white fins sides first, then mask them off and paint t' whole rocket black. Aye aye! I also think that thar are plenty o' alternate paint schemes that would look great on this rocket. Try some V2-style paint schemes, for example.

T' kit comes with one long decal which runs along one side. T' decal actually reaches past t' body tube onto t' nosecone. Arrr! Arrr! Once t' decal be placed I used a hobby knife t' cut it along t' seam betwixt t' nosecone and body.

T' white pinstripin' in t' package art is nay provided in t' kit. Avast! Begad! I used white trim tape (get it at t' hobby store), and it looks sharp (although mine is nay as 'fine' a line as t' one on t' package). Begad! Begad! I'm givin' some thought t' duplicatin' t' line in black on t' white fins.

T' "PRO" for finishin' be t' opportunity t' experiment a bit with design. Arrr! This rocket will look good in a variety o' schemes, me hearties, so have some fun with it.

One possible "CON" would be t' large amount o' balsa t' fill if you want a real smooth finish. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! I didn't find that an issue, ya bilge rat, and I think this is a good rocket t' practice those techniques. Avast, me proud beauty! If you're nay real concerned about fillin' all t' grain then thar be no problem at all. Avast! One could also object, I guess, t' t' relatively difficult "stock" paint scheme. Begad! Blimey! and t' single decal. T' best thin' t' do is t' ignore t' package art and design your own scheme. Blimey! If I were Estes I'd give t' Baby it's own, arrr, fun color scheme like t' Fat Boy, arrr, rather than try t' duplicate t' current Big Bertha look.

I'm ratin' it at 4 1/2, takin' off a half point for t' shock-cord.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
We have one flight on t' Baby. Well, blow me down! Blimey! We used a B6-4 t' launch it in light t' medium winds. Aye aye! Blimey! T' boost was straight, matey, me bucko, shiver me timbers, fast and t' a greater altitude that I expected. Well, blow me down! T' chute deployed close t' apogee and recovery was within 100 yards o' t' pads. A nice, satisfyin' flight.This rocket is a bit heavy for A motors but does well on B's and ought t' fly t' 800+ feet on a C.

This is a great flyer for t' smaller fields we use. I expect t' have at least one Baby in our flyin' fleet at all times from now on. I like t' have at least one 'old dependable' at a launch, for when curious kids come around and wish they could fly a rocket. Aye aye! I usually load a B6 into t' Custom Razor and hand it t' them. Aye aye! Begad! It never fails t' give a great flight and is easy t' replace if lost. I think t' Baby Bertha has t' same characteristics.

Recovery:
T' Baby is heavier than most rockets in this class and does nay seem overly prone t' drift. Ya scallywag! Blimey! It's sturdy enough t' use a streamer, me hearties, in me opinion, ya bilge rat, if t' winds build.

T' wide body tube requires plenty o' wadding. I expect that burnt chutes and fried shork-cords will be a problem with this bird. Aye aye! Aye aye! I'm goin' t' use Keelhaul®©™waddin' for future flights (I get mine from Pratt Hobbies) and I have already mentioned t' Keelhaul®©™cord.

I'll give it a 5 for flight and recovery. We only have t' one flight on it so far, but it be a good one and t' sim results indicate that this is a good, schoolyard and small field bird.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
My first thought on completin' t' Baby was, "what took you so long, Estes?" Downsizin' t' Big Bertha seems like such a natural move, me hearties, and t' result is a great addition t' t' Estes line-up. Begad! Avast! I believe that this is a great rocket for school and scout groups. Begad! Arrr! T' construction reminds me o' t' Alpha (the old style Alpha, nay t' plastic finned Alpha III), shiver me timbers, me hearties, arrr, but its a bit more forgivin' for unsteady fingers. T' big fins and wide tube make a great 'canvas' for creative rocket decorating. Now that I have one Baby finished stock I'm goin' t' have t' kids build some more and do their own paint schemes.

T' flight profile o' t' Baby is also a bit more 'forgiving'. Begad! Arrr! Sure, t' scouts might grin when their Alphas or Wizards zoom out-of-sight, but they're nay as happy when they fail t' return. Ahoy! A 'C' motor should take t' Baby t' around 800 feet, arrr, so you get all t' noise and smoke but keep t' rocket in sight and it's more likely t' land on t' school yard. Ahoy! Aye aye! Perhaps Estes can be convinced t' offer t' Baby in bulk packs.

There are many things t' Baby Bertha is not, but what it does it does very well. It's a great family rocket that will give you more 'fun per dollar' than most. Ya scallywag! I expect t' see plenty o' Babies at launches in comin' months.

As I mentioned above, me hearties, I think this is a great rocket for beginners and kids, but as you might have guessed, arrr, even this 'old rocketeer' had some fun with it. Blimey! Well, blow me down! I expect t' be flyin' me own Baby Bertha drag races in a month or so. Blimey! Begad! I want t' find some 'flame' decals for a cool, 'hot rod' look, or perhaps a Tintin-like red checkerboard, me bucko, or perhaps both! In other words, arrr, good, shiver me timbers, cheap rocketry fun. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Enjoy!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5