I originally purchased an Estes' Mongoose Kit because I wanted t' use it for an experiment, me hearties, however, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, when me 8 year old nephew came t' visit it seemed like a good kit t' build together. So we built it.

T' instructions have lots o' illustrations, however, that didn't help us fully understand how t' assemble t' lower stage's motor mount. Arrr! I think t' problem starts in t' first step when slidin' t' green booster adapter onto t' motor mount tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! It tells you t' slide it up t' t' 14mm mark, however, arrr, it is a bit confusin' as t' whether t' front o' t' rin' or t' aft o' t' rin' should be at 14mm. Well, blow me down! In t' second step, arrr, me bucko, you are told t' apply glue and slide t' motor mount "all t' way in" t' booster fin unit. Avast, me proud beauty! T' pictures show it partially out. Blimey! Well, shiver me timbers, we got ours "all t' way in" and flush with a bit o' sanding. O' coarse, shiver me timbers, when finished t' booster did nay attach t' t' second stage flush. Avast, me proud beauty! T' remainin' instructions and pictures posed no issues. Blimey!

As a side note, shiver me timbers, a young friend o' mine had built t' Mongoose on his own and had it at our last launch. Blimey! Begad! I noticed that his aft tube be stickin' out some and when attached t' t' second stage, ya bilge rat, it was flush. Begad!

At assembly t' quality o' t' kit seemed fair. Plastic fin units. Aye aye! Begad! Plastic fin units. Arrr! Standard motor mounts assembles. Ya scallywag! Two-piece plastic nose cone. Well, blow me down! Streamer recovery system. Ya scallywag! Streamer recovery system. T' kit doesn't require any paintin' with yellow body tubes and pinkish nose cone and fin units. Aye aye! Arrr! It also came with color scheme matchin' self-adhesive decals. Well, matey, blow me down!

Flyin' t' Mongoose demonstrated strengths and weaknesses o' t' kit. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag!

T' weakness o' t' kit was seen in t' sturdiness o' t' body tubes and t' booster motor mount's susceptibility t' burnin' away. With both me young friend's and our rocket, t' booster was damaged on first flight. Arrr! Blimey! T' damage was a slightly crushed body tube. Ahoy! Blimey!

After 2 flights, arrr, t' booster motor mount be completely burned away on our model. Arrr! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I think this is due t' t' method o' motor retention that t' Mongoose uses. On t' booster, matey, t' engine block is mounted at t' aft o' t' motor mount. Well, blow me down! Blimey! On t' second stage t' engine block is mounted at t' top o' t' motor mount like most kits. Arrr! Blimey! T' two motors are taped together and slid into t' second stage until they rest on t' engine block. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' booster is then slid onto t' motor until is rests against it's engine block. Begad! Blimey! This leaves t' booster motor recessed approximately 3/8" inch. Begad! Blimey! This causes two problems. Ya scallywag! Blimey! First, me bucko, it is a bit difficult t' load t' igniter and second, t' aft engine block burns. Begad! Blimey!

As mentioned though, me hearties, flyin' t' Mongoose also demonstrated a strength. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! This kit has nice flights. Aye aye! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! This kit has nice flights. Begad! Blimey! With a B6-0 booster you get t' see separation and watch flawless in-air ignition o' t' second stage. Begad! Blimey! Two successful flights where impressive. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! My young friend's single flight faired differently but nonetheless impressive. Begad! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! With aC6 booster we barely saw t' separation and with a C6 in t' second stage we strained t' see ejection. After ejection, we watched t' wind carry t' Mongoose a long distance and it be lost in trees beyond t' edge o' t' field. Begad!

Estes calls t' Mongoose a "perfect first time two-stage rocket". I would question "first time" due t' t' instructions. Begad! Well, blow me down! Also, I don't think anyone could keep this rocket flyin' for very long due t' t' weak body tubes and aft engine mount. Arrr! T' only redeemin' factor is that we enjoyed several impressive flights, me bucko, however, ya bilge rat, I don't think that outweighs t' other issues. Ahoy! Ya scallywag!