Brief:
Single stage D power scale model o' an X-Prize rocket with 18" parachute recovery. Arrr! It has a Saturn 1b look t' it, me bucko, so if you're a fan o' t' Saturn 1b you will probably like this kit.

Construction:
T' kit includes:

• 7 lower rocket body tubes
• 1 upper body tube
• 6 plastic fins
• 2 plastic body tube holders
• plastic nose cone
• rubber shock cord
• Estes paper mount
• 6 plastic rocket nozzles for scale look

T' kit has t' typical Estes quality instructions with drawings and text. Arrr! Blimey! My version had a 1 page insert o' modified Steps 1 and 2. Ahoy! Blimey! T' normal assortment o' tools are needed for t' build. Pay attention t' t' modified instructions. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! It will make it much easier t' attached t' 7 body tubes in t' lower part o' t' rocket. Well, blow me down! T' tubes are nay easy t' feed in so you want t' make sure they seat right. Avast, me proud beauty! Practice it several times without glue t' make sure you can do it smoothly and smartly so t' tubes don't catch at t' wrong point.

Finishing:
T' instructions have you paint t' rocket after it is done. Blimey! With t' lower section t' way it is, I think it would be hard t' do it that way. I painted all t' parts first, me hearties, matey, maskin' off t' areas where glue would be applied so that I wouldn't be gluin' t' paint. This makes it a little harder t' assemble everythin' without scratchin' t' paint, shiver me timbers, but easier than tryin' t' paint after everythin' is together.

T' plastic parts take paint well without chipping. Well, blow me down! Krylon Original Chrome paint looks sharp on t' plastic parts but seems t' scratch easily.

T' kit includes typical Estes peel and stick decals.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Flyin' on a D12-5 gave a perfectly straight up flight, seemin' t' hang in t' air momentarily, arrr, ya bilge rat, and then deploy o' t' chute. T' 18" chute seem about right for descent without too much drift.

Recovery:
T' upper body tube is big and easy t' pack in waddin' and chute. I placed a few small balls o' waddin' in t' engine tube and layered some full sheets in t' upper parachute tube.

One o' t' plastic fins stuck in t' soft dirt and broke off clean at t' glue joint. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! I am thinkin' this might be a regular occurrence when flyin' this kit.

Since this kit has a plastic lower body and cones, you want t' clothespin this rocket above t' blast deflector otherwise you risk meltin' t' lower section o' t' rocket. Check out t' launch picture.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Nice X-Prize kit with cool lookin' Saturn 1b lines. Well, me hearties, blow me down! Listed as a Skill level one but t' lower body assembly is pretty tricky t' get together right.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5