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

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

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

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

Flyin' t' Mongoose demonstrated strengths and weaknesses o' t' kit. Aye aye!

T' weakness o' t' kit be 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. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' damage was a slightly crushed body tube. Begad!

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

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

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