Brief:
T' Rattler 7 was one o' a pair o' rockets that I bought specifically t' be built and flown t' followin' day at my first club launch back in 2001. Begad! Aye aye! An almost RTF (E2X) offerin' from Estes, t' Rattler 7 was a scale-like, pseudo-military missile with sticker graphics and 18mm power. Begad! Aye aye! Despite what sounds like a lack o' enthusiasm for this bird, matey, me hearties, I actually found it t' be a decent lookin' bird once completed and gained a grudgin' respect for its performance. (I paid $10.99 for this thing? Man, I really must have wanted t' fly that next day.)

Construction:
T' parts list:

• PNC-5A nose cone
• 5.5" length BT-50 (beige)
• 5.5" length BT-5 (beige)
• PFU50 plastic fin can
• TA550 plastic transition
• 18mm engine mount
• 12" length o' 1/8" shock cord
• 12" parachute

I bought this rocket because it looked like a quick build, me bucko, and as such I had no preconceptions about its durability. Arrr! Blimey! White glue was used t' build and install t' motor mount and t' traditional tri-fold shock cord. (I REALLY didn't go for t' "retro" type attachment method that t' instructions suggested with t' slit in t' body tube.) Plastic cement be used t' attach t' upper section o' BT-5 t' t' transition and t' fin can t' t' lower body tube. Instructions were pretty much as I remembered them bein' from me younger days. All in all, I be finished with the project within an hour and it had 18 hours for all o' t' glue t' harden. Or so I thought.

Finishing:
Finishin' involved stickin' a few stickers on t' fin can and body tubes. Aye aye! Ahoy! I seem t' remember t' instructions showing the decals as wraps, matey, ya bilge rat, me hearties, but I remember t' individual peel 'n' stick camo pieces.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
First flight was on a frigid but sunny day in northern Ohio, a day more suited for enjoyin' t' sunshine from inside while watchin' what would turn out t' be Dale Earnhardt's last Daytona 500 on television but that didn't stop us. Quilted coveralls were t' order o' t' day and we saw several memorable flights before t' Rattler 7 had its turn. Loaded with a B6-4 from t' comfort o' me van with t' heater on high, t' rocket left t' pad and flew a surprisingly straight flight considerin' t' wind. Ahoy! Begad! Just as t' forward motion stopped t' ejection charge fired, I heard t' term "sep" for t' first time ever. Ya scallywag! As I watched t' lower section float down on t' parachute, matey, I could also see another part flutterin' out over I-90. There would be no recoverin' t' upper section and t' lower section landed just behind where we had parked. When I got home I searched through t' contents o' me newly purchased Designer's Special, shiver me timbers, I found a length o' BT-5 and a balsa nose cone. Arrr! These were attached and would serve t' Rattler 7 for t' rest o' its flyin' days. Blimey! Aye aye! Subsequent flights were made on everythin' from a 1/2A6-2 t' an ill-advised C5-3. Ya scallywag! T' Rattler 7 was retired from service when a hot 1/2A6-2 ejection charge snapped t' too short shock cord and blew t' lower section of the rocket across B6-4 Field in 2003.

Recovery:
Recovery wasn't a problem. Begad! T' plastic fin can made this rocket fairly heavy and pretty much a straight up and down bird, great for small fields. T' 12" parachute was a perfect choice. Ya scallywag! (Other rockets with this can used a streamer, me bucko, matey, which was obviously a bad idea.)

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
PROs: Faux-missile styling. Avast! Aye aye! Impressive performance.

CONs: E2X. Blimey! Fairly fragile when built accordin' t' directions. Ya scallywag! Sticker decals.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5