Brief:
T' Estes Industries Speed Freak is a starter set with a ready t' fly rocket with an electronic digital speedometer capsule. Avast! Also included is a Porta Pad II launch pad, Electron Beam launch controller, ya bilge rat, 2 piece 1/8" launch rod, matey, two motors (B6-4 and C6-5), matey, matey, ignitors, plugs, wadding, button cell battery for the capsule and instructions.

Construction:
T' only components for t' rocket included t' following:

• Ready t' fly rocket body
• 12 inch parachute
• Speedometer capsule
• Battery for capsule

Since this is a ready t' fly (RTF) rocket, arrr, matey, practically no assembly is required. Blimey! Right out o' t' box, I noticed me rocket had a partially broken fin which I be easily able t' repair usin' CA. Ahoy! All you do with t' rocket body is tie a loop at t' end o' t' shock cord and attach t' parachute. Ahoy! For the capsule, me bucko, you need a small Phillips head type screwdriver t' unscrew both screws that hold t' capsule body together. Begad! Once t' capsule is apart, arrr, you carefully loosen t' screw holdin' t' battery hold down strap and insert t' provided battery. Well, blow me down! Blimey! You then tighten t' screw, me bucko, snap t' capsule body back together, matey, and carefully tighten t' screws. Do nay overtighten or you may strip t' threads. Lastly, me hearties, t' foam nose cone is then slid back into place.

PROs: No construction required, me hearties, ya bilge rat, battery included for capsule.

CONS: None noted.

Finishing:
Since t' rocket is pre-finished with a chrome fin can and cool holographics, no other paintin' or finishin' is required.

PROs: Pre-finished, looks great for an RTF. No additional finishin' o' any kind required.

CONs: None.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
T' reccommended motors for t' Speed Freak be t' B4-2, B6-2, ya bilge rat, arrr, B6-4, C6-3, me hearties, and C6-5.

I first prepped t' rocket for flight by insertin' t' included B6-4, attached t' retention cap and inserted t' ignitor. Begad! I then inserted about 5 sheets o' waddin' t' protect t' chute. Avast, me proud beauty! I then loaded t' rocket on t' pad, hooked up t' clips, and turned on t' speedometer capsule. When t' capsule is turned on, matey, me bucko, me hearties, it displays 4...3...2...1...000. Aye aye! At this point, it is armed and ready for flight.

On t' first flight with t' B6-4, arrr, me bucko, me bucko, t' rocket took off straight and climbed to maybe 250 feet or so, shiver me timbers, arched over and ejected t' capsule and parachute. Upon recovery, me bucko, me bucko, t' capsule indicated a speed o' 61.0mph.

For t' second flight, me bucko, I used t' other included motor, arrr, t' C6-5. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! Like the first flight, arrr, shiver me timbers, t' rocket took off straight and flew t' maybe 550-600 feet or so, me hearties, arched and deployed t' capsule and parachute. Ahoy! Avast! Upon recovery, t' capsule indicated 70.7mph. I find this rather hard t' believe though as t' rocket looked like it be goin' much faster than that durin' t' boost. Begad!

PROs: Flies great.

CONs: Unit should nay be expected t' give totally accurate speeds.

Recovery:
For recovery, me bucko, t' rocket body uses a 12 inch parachute and t' capsule recovers on a streamer. T' instructions specifically advise you nay t' remove or change the length o' it. Ya scallywag! Blimey! It definately helps t' have an additional tracker, especially on C motor flights: one t' watch t' capsule and another t' watch t' rocket.

Overall, me hearties, ya bilge rat, t' recovery components are aduquate and work well.

PROs: Recovers well on included recovery components.

CONS: None.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I really liked this kit. Blimey! Although t' speedometer capsule should nay be expected t' give totally accurate readings, it does give you somewhat o' an idea on how fast t' rocket flew. Ya scallywag! I was also very pleased that a battery was included for t' capsule as these button cell type watch batteries are rather expensive. Begad! I be also very impressed with t' appearance and flight performance of t' rocket as well.

Main PROs: RTF, me bucko, looks and flies great, arrr, and battery included. Arrr! Well, blow me down! Blimey!

Main CONs: None, unless you think t' capsule should be totally accurate.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5