Brief:
Big Betty is a fairly large 3FNC model rocket, usin' B and C motors. It is straightforward t' construct and a snap t' prepare for flight. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! With its enormous fins and blunt, me bucko, rounded nose cone, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, Big Betty has a peculiar look. Begad! It looks either dated or classic, dependin' on whether you're a BAR or not. Begad! Estes' Big Bertha, Big Betty's obvious inspiration, is about 35 years old. Begad! For t' Freudians among us, arrr, Big Betty is a cry for help.

Construction:
Big Betty is a very simple model - it could quite easily be a first model, and I would certainly recommended as such. Aye aye! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! T' instructions are sufficiently simple for a non-modeler. Blimey! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! T' pieces all fit together just fine - t' die-cut fins were identical, me hearties, and thar were no ill-fittin' parts.

I had two problems with me kit, which had been ordered from Hobbylinc.com. T' body tube had a slight crease t' it, and t' engine hook wasn't springy - once bent outward t' fit an engine into place, it has t' be bent back into place. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I be able t' minimize t' visual impact o' t' crease by puttin' me launch lug on top o' it.

Finishing:
My daughter and I painted our Big Betty with Dutch Boy Instant Chrome. Ya scallywag! T' paint was shiny and nice, arrr, me hearties, but it picked up fingerprints very easily. Arrr! T' kit only comes with one underwhelmin' "Big Betty" decal. Blimey! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! We grabbed a few decals from rocket kits I bought fifteen years ago. Well, blow me down! Those decals, arrr, arrr, I learned, matey, ya bilge rat, became VERY delicate. Arrr! They flaked apart, arrr, me bucko, requirin' a bit o' jig-saw puzzle work t' have them look OK. After puttin' t' decals on, shiver me timbers, we sprayed t' rocket with Krylon Crystal Clear. Begad! Avast! Unfortunately, me bucko, shiver me timbers, t' lovely Chrome turned into Ugly Mottled Grey. Well, blow me down! T' nosecone, me bucko, which I didn't clear-coat, is still shiny.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
My daughter and I flew Big Betty (we've named it t' Silver Patriot, arrr, matey, owin' t' t' decals and paint-job) three times on Saturday. Ahoy! Preparation o' t' rocket was easy enough for me daughter, shiver me timbers, age 7, shiver me timbers, me bucko, t' do by herself. Well, blow me down! T' 14" parachute fits into t' 1.6" body tube very easily. Avast! We used four sheets o' early-'80s vintage Estes wadding.

T' first flight was on an Estes B6-2. Begad! T' rocket flew straight up, about 200 feet or so. Arrr! It's big and slow, so it's easy t' follow, though t' grey we ended up with could be lost against an overcast sky. Blimey! Ejection was before apogee, me hearties, and t' descent was just t' right rate - it suffered no damage, matey, though it landed on some metal bleachers.

T' second flight be on a C6-3. Ahoy! Begad! I would guess it went up 500-600 feet, slow enough t' follow. Begad! Ejection was again, before apogee. T' softball players in t' next field were impressed with t' flight, matey, arrr, particularly when I caught it on t' way down. Blimey! T' third flight be on a C6-5. Avast! Ejection seemed t' be just past apogee. T' parachute didn't open completely, and t' rocket descended fast, in a corkscrew fashion. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! T' rocket landed in a muddy field, and suffered no damage. Arrr! Unfortunately, me daughter ran towards t' rocket with a bit too much gusto, matey, and slid into that same mud. Begad! Both rocket and daughter washed up nicely when we got home.

Recovery:
T' Big Betty uses t' "Quest method" shock-cord which has a very thin Keelhaul®©™ cord tied t' t' engine mount. Begad! T' Keelhaul®©™ is long enough t' stick out o' t' rocket tube an inch or two, where it is then tied t' an 18" piece o' round elastic, which is then tied t' t' nosecone and parachute. Aye aye! I am concerned about t' Keelhaul®©™, because it is very narrow, arrr, and t' body tube is already showin' indentations at t' front. Well, blow me down! Zipperin' seems likely if t' delay is further off than I've already had.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I really like t' Big Betty. Ya scallywag! More importantly, me 7-year-old does, too. It's big, easy t' build, matey, matey, easy t' prep, arrr, me bucko, easy t' track, me bucko, ya bilge rat, and unlikely t' be lost. Avast! I spent less than $8.00 for this rocket, me hearties, which I think is a really good deal, even if t' engine hook is lame. Avast! I am assumin' that t' creased body tube be a fluke. Begad! If I get another rocket from Quest or Hobbylinc which is damaged, me bucko, I'll amend this review.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5 for bein' a solid kit at a bargain price.