Brief
Paper shroud construction and dual chute recovery.

Construction
This was t' first Quest kit I have built and was pleased with almost all aspects. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! T' kit came in t' common bag; no parts were missin' or broken. Blimey! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! This kit is a finless, me bucko, Skill Level 3 features paper shroud construction and dual 12-inch parachute recovery. More on t' 'chutes later.

T' instructions were easy t' follow and assembly, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, arrr, usin' white glue throughout, arrr, went very smoothly, me bucko, and t' build be surprisingly quick. T' framework out o' stiff cardboard went together well and t' dry fittin' showed a well-manufactured kit. Aye aye! T' first thin' be t' paper shroud comes rolled up. Begad! Aye aye! This needs t' be flattened out. I accomplished this with a couple o' phone books and about 1/2-hour time. Blimey! Ya scallywag! This left just enough curl t' help in t' assembly latter.

T' only difficult part was t' markin' o' t' tube. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' black tube did nay show t' lines very well, shiver me timbers, nay a problem, matey, me bucko, a sharp crayon works wonders.

I really liked t' shock cord attachment with t' Keelhaul®©™cord tied t' t' motor mount. Begad! I test fitted this and made sure that t' Keelhaul®©™was even with t' end o' t' body tube. Blimey! Then I tied t' elastic as shown. Avast, me proud beauty! I hoped that this would keep t' tube from zippering.

I added t' clay for t' nose weight as shown, with very little effort. Avast! After addin' t' weight I decided against usin' only one 'chute and built t' recovery system as directed.

Take t' time t' carefully cut t' shroud out, shiver me timbers, me bucko, this makes t' fittin' o' t' assembly with t' double stick tape conceals t' seam easier. Well, blow me down! T' instructions come t' a point o' addin' t' maneuverin' flaps and nozzles for display only. Begad! Begad! I deviated here. Ya scallywag! After I had it finished, it looked t' me as if somethin' be missing. I added t' nozzles. Ya scallywag! Rappin' t' cutouts around a pencil I acquired t' correct shape. Blimey! After gluin' t' nozzles in place I could see that they were out o' line o' t' exhaust o' t' motor.

Finishing
There is no finishin' t' be done as t' shroud is preprint, matey, but t' decals leave somethin' t' be desired. They are self-adhesive and on an opaque (white) backing. Blimey! T' picture card with t' kit shows t' letterin' directly on t' gray body. T' nose cone letterin' be on a black background and with careful trimmin' came out lookin' good. Aye aye! Arrr! T' US flags I was able t' trim close enough t' make them work. Avast! As for t' USA, ya bilge rat, well… I had decals left over from a kit bash o' a 2 stage Estes Nike-Arrow so I made t' USA from that.

Construction Rating: 4 ½ out o' 5

Flight
T' first flight be on February 7, 1999 at a C.R.A.S.H. Begad! launch in Denver. Well, blow me down! Begad! T' only recommended motor is a C6-3. Well, blow me down! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! T' prep is standard, waddin' and recovery system. Arrr! As I loaded t' Space Clipper on t' pad I got more questions than ever. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! T' flight was better than I imagined. Begad! T' DC-Y lifted off with a slow assent, arrr, and rose close t' t' estimated height o' 200 ft. Begad! T' delay was just about right. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' second flight was straight and true. Avast, me proud beauty! T' next chance I had t' fly was at a C.R.A.S.H. Begad! Begad! launch in Denver on March 7, 1999 and again t' flight was great.

Recovery
Recovery be another story. Aye aye! On t' first flight t' nose cone came down on it 'chute openin' cleanly, t' body on t' other hand returned on wad recovery. Ahoy! T' Clipper was nay damaged, but I had t' try again. T' Keelhaul®©™® was blackened, matey, but no damage was observed. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! Figurin' that t' stiff Quest 'chute be t' culprit, me hearties, I pulled an Estes 12 inch 'chute out me range box. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! T' second flight was a duplicate o' t' first. Avast, me proud beauty! T' body is just too light t' fully deploy t' 'chute. T' third flight I replaced t' "chute with a 3 ft Mylar streamer. I think I have t' streamer just t' right length. It brought t' body down more gently and it landed near t' pads without a thud.

Flight I give a 5. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Recovery built as instructed 1, however, arrr, with t' recovery modification a 3.

Flight Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5

Summary
Overall this is a great kit. Begad! Aye aye! I really enjoy watchin' it fly and has become one o' me favorites. For t' price, I paid $12.95 at a local hobby shop; it is a good value. I like that it is different. Avast, me proud beauty! Replacin' t' body 'chute with a streamer makes me feel better about havin' t' DC-Y Space Clipper for a long time t' come.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5