Brief:
From t' year 1971 until 1980 Estes produced t' original version o' t' Interceptor. Avast! It is considered by many t' be t' quintessential kit o' model rocketry's "Golden Age". Blimey! Many online auctions for t' original sealed kits can go up t' hundreds o' dollars! Fortunately for those o' us who are fans o' t' futuristic design but without a huge bankroll Estes finally re-released a new version o' t' kit in late 2007! There have been many improvements on t' original incorporated into this version.

Construction:

• PNC-55EJ Nose cone
• Injection Molded Plastic Tail cone
• 2 Injection Molded Plastic Win' Pods
• 18" long BT-55 Body Tube
• 2.75" BT-20 Motor Tube
• Engine Clip
• 1/8" Launch Lug
• Shock Cord o' ~24 inches o' rubber
• 18" Parachute
• Laser Cut 1/8" Balsa Fin Stock
• Laser Cut 3/32" Balsa Fin Stock
• 2 Injection Molded Plastic Antennas
• 2 Cardboard 20-55 Centerin' Rings
• 2 Large Water Slide Decal Sheets

All o' t' required parts were present and in good condition. Blimey! Estes has included slip sheets with t' decals t' prevent damage t' them. Begad! T' original kit had wooden dowels that have now been replaced with plastic for t' antennas and t' win' pods now are two pieces joined lengthwise instead o' a nosecone, body tube and tail cone.

T' instructions are what you would expect from Estes. Well illustrated and reasonably easy t' follow with even a minimum o' modelin' experience. Begad! As usual, matey, you build t' motor mount first and glue it into t' airframe. Next t' fins go on and then t' plastic bits. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! I left t' ribbed tail cone off o' t' aft o' t' model until after it be painted t' make it easier t' paint without masking.

Two things t' note about t' construction. Aye aye! T' first is that t' "antennas" for t' top o' t' fins have slots for t' balsa t' fit into. On me kit, and others o' which I have heard discussed online, t' slot is overly long lengthwise, leavin' a gap that has t' be filled.

T' other potential "gotcha" is nay a big deal either, me bucko, me hearties, but should be noted. Ahoy! Blimey! T' two fins that go on t' bottom aft o' t' model are adhered t' t' model with t' large part towards t' front. On nearly half t' finished models o' this kit that I have seen (includin' mine...oops!) they are glued on backwards! I didn't notice that I had done this until after I had t' finished paint and 3/4 o' t' decals on. Begad! It doesn't affect t' stability o' t' kit, me hearties, it just gives it a slightly different look.

Finishing:
T' finishin' for t' Interceptor is easy and difficult. T' stock paint job is white with red orange win' pods and a black tail cone. Aye aye! A quick coat o' Kilz® primer and sandin' was all t' prep required and t' whole model got a coat o' white. Avast! I then masked t' wings and painted t' pods orange. Ahoy! I painted t' tail cone black separately and glued it in place afterward.

After I had built and painted t' model, ya bilge rat, I was terribly disappointed. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! I looked at it sittin' on t' table without t' decals and was struck by t' thought "Wow, me bucko, matey, that looks really, really boring!" It be t' decals that make this model spectacular. After t' decals, me hearties, it went from "ho-hum" t' "WOW!"

I have read several discussions online about how modelers think that t' decals are thin and hard t' work with. My experience be t' opposite. Begad! While I have had a good deal o' experience with water slide decals, ya bilge rat, I wouldn't consider myself an "expert". While thar are a TON o' decals for t' Interceptor, matey, ya bilge rat, I didn't have many problems with them. Begad! I took me time carefully cuttin' out t' decals and applyin' them. Ahoy! It took nearly two and a half hours without a break t' do this. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! That's a whole lot o' decals.

T' one potential "gotcha" here be t' two long thin decals with wordin' o' "U.S. Begad! Air Force FC-803" and t' decal o' t' yellow stripe around t' airframe must either be overlapped or carefully trimmed. Begad! I'm nay sure how t' design o' these three decals could be improved, but they must be applied very carefully t' avoid nudgin' t' others out o' place.

To finish off t' Interceptor and seal t' decals in place, ya bilge rat, I gave it a couple o' coats o' Future floor polish.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
As much time and effort that went into t' Interceptor, matey, I was just a little leery about actually launchin' it. Arrr! Avast! For t' first flight o' me new show piece, shiver me timbers, matey, I loaded up a C6-3 and a handful o' dog barf waddin' and waited for a lull in t' breeze. Blimey! Begad! I didn't want t' take any chances o' t' rocket driftin' into t' water all around our launch site.

After t' countdown, t' Interceptor shot off t' pad and into t' sky. Aye aye! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! It be a nice smooth arc slightly into t' winds aloft. Right at apogee t' large parachute popped and it gently rifted back t' within 50 feet o' t' pad.

For t' first flight, I was cautious about usin' t' longer delay as t' Interceptor is a fairly heavy, draggy rocket. Aye aye! In t' followin' flights I tried goin' t' t' recommended C6-5 and t' flight profile has been about t' same, shiver me timbers, with t' ejection just past apogee instead o' at it.

Recovery:
I be somewhat concerned about t' shock cord in t' kit. It had been many years since I had seen one o' t' "rubber band" style cords in an Estes kit. Well, blow me down! It also seemed a bit short. For t' amount o' work that had gone into t' rocket, I didn't want it t' snap after only a couple o' flights so I swapped it out for 1/4" elastic that I felt more comfortable with.

T' parachute for t' Interceptor is sized perfectly. Arrr! It gives t' rocket a nice, gentle recovery without driftin' a mile down range.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
T' return o' t' Estes Interceptor is somethin' that I never thought that I would see. My modelin' skills were nay up t' buildin' it at t' time t' original kit was in production, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, me bucko, so thankfully I now have t' opportunity t' build this classic design now.

T' construction o' t' rocket was very straight forward, without any major "gotchas". Begad! T' finishin' is both t' main pro and con t' t' kit. Arrr! Arrr! There are a LOT o' decals. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Take your time with them and you will be rewarded with an amazin' lookin' rocket. Well, blow me down! Rush it and it will show.

Luckily, t' Interceptor is as good a flier as it is a display piece. Blimey! While I have nay had t' guts t' try launchin' it on t' smaller recommended motors, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, I am happy t' report that even on a medium size field thar should be no problems with recovery.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other:
Here be t' technique that I use for applyin' t' decals that might be o' use t' a novice with water slide decals. Avast! Soakin' t' decal thoroughly, me hearties, ya bilge rat, just t' t' point where is will slide on t' backin' paper, but nay so long that it floats off t' backin' in t' water. Begad! Put a small amount o' water onto t' model where you are goin' t' position t' decal. Aye aye! Position t' decal, still on t' paper in t' location where you want it. Begad! Begad! Now, me bucko, press lightly on one edge o' t' decal and hold it still. Begad! Aye aye! With your other hand, arrr, gently pull t' paper out from under t' decal. Do NOT attempt t' slide t' decal off t' paper. Begad! Once t' decal is on t' model, as long as thar be a bit o' water under it, ya bilge rat, it can be nudged around a bit. Do NOT attempt t' make any major shifts or t' decal can tear. Aye aye! If you HAVE to, slide t' decal back onto t' backin' paper and reposition it. Avast, me proud beauty! After t' decal is in it's final position, me hearties, ya bilge rat, arrr, gently wipe away t' excess water, workin' from t' center o' t' decal outwards. Begad! Be very careful. If you are too aggressive, arrr, you might nudge it out o' position.