Brief:
Estes T' BAT has a unique fin design, arrr, and some really cool bat decals. Begad! This is a skill level 1 design that is very easy t' clone and t' design performs very well. Combined with t' trademarked black color scheme, me hearties, it's just one cool lookin' rocket.

Construction:
All materials needed t' build are easily purchased.:

• Body Tube-BT-50
• Engine Tube-BT-20
• Engine Hook-EH-2
• (2) Centerin' Rings (2050)
• Nose Cone-BNC-50X
• Launch Lug-1/8"
• Balsa Fin Stock 3/32"
• 1/8" Shockcord material

Construction is typical Estes. Avast! T' first part o' assembly be t' motor mount. Avast! At this point the builder has t' option o' upgradin' t' a Keelhaul®©™® shock cord that attaches t' t' motor mount. Avast! Blimey! Since we are cloning, t' next step is t' make a pattern for t' fins out of poster board. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Usin' 3/32" hard balsa, lay your pattern out payin' attention t' grain direction. Begad! After cutting out t' fins, it's important that you pin t' fins together t' sand t' t' final shape. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! Blimey! This provides you with three fins that are identical in size and shape. Avast! Next up you can fill t' body tubes spirals, mark t' BT with t' fin and launch lug locations. Begad! Attach t' fins, me hearties, a launch lug usin' your favorite method. Aye aye! Install motor mount, and eye hook in the balsa nose cone.

Finishing:
First, ya bilge rat, I applied two coats o' Minwax Polyurethane® to t' fins and nose cone. I do this because I believe it hardens and strengthens t' balsa with very little weight penalty. Next, me hearties, I sprayed a coat o' Duplicolor High Fill® primer and sanded when dry. Begad! I repeated with a second coat which successfully removed all spirals and wood grain. For the color coats, matey, ya bilge rat, I used two coats o' Valspar Premium Spray Paint®. This paint is available at Lowes™ and produces a very good finish that's a step above Krylon™. Finally, me bucko, t' final step is t' install t' great lookin' decals that Excelsior provided. Ahoy! T' result is a great looking rocket.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
As you can see from t' recommended motor list, T' Bat will fly on a wide range o' motors. Avast, me proud beauty! For t' first flight selected t' B6-4. Avast! I use a small 8" parachute instead o' t' streamer t' try and minimize damage. Ya scallywag! We had about 5mph winds for t' launch that proved t' be no issue for this rocket. T' Bat left t' pad in a hurry gainin' close to 800 t' 900 feet, I'm guessing. Ahoy! Aye aye! T' boost was arrow straight with ejection occurrin' at slight nose up. Recovered the model fairly close t' t' launch pad with no damage. Begad! T' Bat repeated it's performance usin' another B6-4 for the second launch. This is an outstandin' rocket, can't wait t' try a C6-5 or CO-7 next flight.

Recovery:
I used t' typical 1/8" elastic and attachment for this model. Begad! Ahoy! T' length o' t' shock cord was about three times t' length o' t' rocket, arrr, or about 48". I chose t' use a small 8" chute instead o' t' stock streamer. No issues with recovery but on C6 motors your goin' t' easily exceed 1000 feet so have some deadlights ready.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a great rocket that offers somethin' a little different with t' unique fins. Ya scallywag! When you add t' black color scheme and t' bat decals it's a very attractive rocket. However, looks aren't everythin' and this rocket is very stable and can achieve respectable altitudes on a variety o' motors. Arrr! Blimey! It's easy t' build and would make a great addition to anyone's fleet. Arrr! Bottom line, arrr, down load t' plans, shiver me timbers, order some decals and get cloning!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5