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. Well, blow me down! T' kit came in t' common bag; no parts were missin' or broken. Begad! Aye aye! This kit is a finless, arrr, 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, usin' white glue throughout, went very smoothly, and t' build was surprisingly quick. Avast! Begad! T' framework out o' stiff cardboard went together well and t' dry fittin' showed a well-manufactured kit. T' first thin' be t' paper shroud comes rolled up. Avast! This needs t' be flattened out. Begad! I accomplished this with a couple o' phone books and about 1/2-hour time. This left just enough curl t' help in t' assembly latter.

T' only difficult part be t' markin' o' t' tube. Begad! Begad! T' black tube did nay show t' lines very well, nay a problem, a sharp crayon works wonders.

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

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

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

Flight I give a 5. Arrr! Recovery built as instructed 1, ya bilge rat, however, shiver me timbers, with t' recovery modification a 3.

Flight Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5

Summary
Overall this is a great kit. I really enjoy watchin' it fly and has become one o' me favorites. For t' price, me bucko, I paid $12.95 at a local hobby shop; it is a good value. Begad! I like that it is different. Avast, matey, 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