Brief
Paper shroud construction and dual chute recovery.

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

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

T' only difficult part was t' markin' o' t' tube. Blimey! Well, matey, blow me down! T' black tube did nay show t' lines very well, nay a problem, me hearties, arrr, a sharp crayon works wonders.

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

I added t' clay for t' nose weight as shown, with very little effort. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! 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, me hearties, this makes t' fittin' o' t' assembly with t' double stick tape conceals t' seam easier. Arrr! Blimey! T' instructions come t' a point o' addin' t' maneuverin' flaps and nozzles for display only. I deviated here. After I had it finished, it looked t' me as if somethin' be missing. I added t' nozzles. Rappin' t' cutouts around a pencil I acquired t' correct shape. 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, but t' decals leave somethin' t' be desired. Ya scallywag! They are self-adhesive and on an opaque (white) backing. T' picture card with t' kit shows t' letterin' directly on t' gray body. Arrr! T' nose cone letterin' be on a black background and with careful trimmin' came out lookin' good. Arrr! T' US flags I was able t' trim close enough t' make them work. Begad! Well, blow me down! As for t' USA, me bucko, 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, me bucko, 1999 at a C.R.A.S.H. Begad! Ahoy! launch in Denver. Arrr! Avast! T' only recommended motor is a C6-3. T' prep is standard, waddin' and recovery system. Begad! Aye aye! As I loaded t' Space Clipper on t' pad I got more questions than ever. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! T' flight be better than I imagined. T' DC-Y lifted off with a slow assent, and rose close t' t' estimated height o' 200 ft. Avast, me proud beauty! T' delay was just about right. T' second flight be straight and true. Well, blow me down! T' next chance I had t' fly was at a C.R.A.S.H. Well, blow me down! Arrr! launch in Denver on March 7, 1999 and again t' flight be great.

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

Flight I give a 5. Aye aye! 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. Avast! I really enjoy watchin' it fly and has become one o' me favorites. Aye aye! Ahoy! For t' price, I paid $12.95 at a local hobby shop; it is a good value. Begad! I like that it is different. Aye aye! 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