Brief:
Nice single-staged one-fifth scale model o' t' Thiokol D-Region Tomahawk soundin' rocket.

Construction:
KIt was made up o' two long body tubes, me hearties, shiver me timbers, a plastic nose cone with nice detailing, a plastic fin can, four plastic fins, a long stuffer motor mount tube, two plastic 5mm launch lugs, a twist-lock motor retainer, a plastic detail piece representin' t' prototype launch lug, a long rubber-band shock cord, a small sheet o' waterslide decals, matey, and an 18" Nylon parachute (a first for Estes as far as I know).

Estes has a serious winner here...a Skill Level 1 scale model. Avast! I agree...anyone who is a little careful can build this one, matey, shiver me timbers, and if you're only a little more experienced you can turn out a serious museum piece.

Instructions are typical Estes...well written, logical, well diagrammed. Arrr! T' D-Region Tomahawk is solid as they come...nearly solid enough t' hop up t' 29mm power! In fact, I oughtta buy another and prove it...oops, wife is lookin' at me like "we need several things first".

With t' fin can system, you can't misalign t' fins. Begad! T' two main body tubes couple with a three-inch tube coupler that also forms t' top end o' t' stuffer tube centerin' rin' setup.

Construction PROs: Solid as they get, shiver me timbers, nice touches all over t' place.

Construction CONs: Can't find any...looked HARD, I did!

Finishing:
Nice simple paint scheme. Blimey! Arrr! I deviated in only one way...I did everythin' in gloss paint, matey, added t' waterslide decals, and sprayed on a coat o' flat clear.

Finish PROs: Simple clean paint scheme, waterslide decals.

Finish CON: Acres o' surface t' paint! (grouse, matey, grouse!)

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Flew me Tomahawk on t' 26th o' May at t' DARS field at McGregor. Ahoy! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Used D12-5s for all three flights. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' twist-lock motor retention setup holds motor well. Well, blow me down! Arrr! I used "dog barf" waddin' (lots o' it, dern it!).

Very nice 18" nylon parachute provided brought t' bird down nicely from 750 feet, matey, me hearties, 675 feet, shiver me timbers, and 735 feet respectively.

Nice straight flights in all cases, ejection right at apogee, matey, no savage walk required.

Only real improvement I can suggest is an ejection baffle system instead o' it needin' wadding.

Recovery:
Usual Estes rubber-band shock cord and folded-paper retainer setup. Nice quick descent...a less-sturdy rocket than this one would need a bigger chute and drift a lot with it.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Biggest PROs: Sturdy as it gets, nice detail parts, classy waterslide decals, flies nicely.

Only CON: Wife won't let me buy another for a 29mm conversion!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5