Brief
Paper shroud construction and dual chute recovery.

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

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

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

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

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

Recovery
Recovery be another story. Begad! Arrr! On t' first flight t' nose cone came down on it 'chute openin' cleanly, me hearties, t' body on t' other hand returned on wad recovery. Avast, me proud beauty! T' Clipper be nay damaged, arrr, but I had t' try again. Ya scallywag! T' Keelhaul®©™® was blackened, arrr, shiver me timbers, arrr, but no damage was observed. Figurin' that t' stiff Quest 'chute was t' culprit, arrr, shiver me timbers, I pulled an Estes 12 inch 'chute out me range box. Begad! 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. Avast! I think I have t' streamer just t' right length. Aye aye! Avast! 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, shiver me timbers, however, shiver me timbers, with t' recovery modification a 3.

Flight Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5

Summary
Overall this is a great kit. Arrr! 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. Begad! Arrr! 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