Brief:
A Estes E2X single stage 18mm rocket with a 12'' parachute, matey, matey, pre-colored parts, decals, matey, me hearties, short shock cord, and external shock cord mount. Durin' a half-off sale, I got this kit for $2.50. Arrr!

Construction:
This kit was packaged in a box, matey, me hearties, a rare thin' for Estes. Blimey! Includes a black, pre-slotted body tube, matey, a black nosecone, shiver me timbers, arrr, three black fins, arrr, and black motor mount parts, shiver me timbers, a blue motor tube, arrr, shiver me timbers, decals, me hearties, me bucko, shock cord, and other parts. Well, blow me down! Begad! T' body tube was thicker than you would expect from estes, arrr, but t' shock cord be too short. Begad!

This rocket was very easy t' build, arrr, even for a twelve year old. Arrr! Instructions were excellent, well illustrated and written. Aye aye! Aye aye! T' three black motor mount parts act as centerin' rings and t' motor block. Avast, me proud beauty! One cements t' motor mount in, makin' sure t' launch lug holes are aligned. Avast, me proud beauty! Then you cement t' fins and launch lugs in. Begad! T' shock cord and its mount are attached t' t' rocket, followed by t' nose cone and parachute. Everythin' fits very well and sturdy for an Estes rocket. Begad! T' shock cord was too short though, although I didn't think so that time. Avast, me proud beauty! I added a two foot length o' nylon cord.

Finishing:
One just has t' remove t' flash from t' nose cone and apply t' orange decals. T' fin decals were very large and covered almost t' whole fin. Aye aye! Begad! I wondered why Estes didn't just use orange fins and t' name decal.(the fin decals are orange and include t' rocket's name).

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:

Installin' t' motor be somewhat difficult. Avast! T' motor be a tight fit and difficult t' remove before t' rocket was launched. Ya scallywag! There was motor retention, but it wasn't needed. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! This rocket requires three sheets o' wadding. Ya scallywag! I used an aluminum foil ball and two sheets o' wadding.

This rocket has gone through two flights. Blimey! Blimey! T' first flight was on a B6-4, my first B motor flight. Begad! Blimey! T' motor boosted t' rocket straight, t' a moderate altitude. Avast! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! T' second flight was on a C6-5. Begad! Blimey! Because t' Banshee be launched at an angle, t' rocket didn't go as high as I expected, shiver me timbers, but still very high. Blimey! Blimey! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Blimey! I replaced t' parachute with a long streamer on this flight.

Recovery:
T' shock cord be too short, shiver me timbers, so I added some nylon cord. Aye aye! T' external plastic shock cord mount was much better than t' tri-fold. Begad! It doesn't look that bad because it is streamlined.

On t' first flight on a B6-4, matey, I used t' parachute, with no spill hole. Well, blow me down! It drifted for about 200 feet and came down very slowly. Arrr! On t' second flight, ya bilge rat, me bucko, the rocket used a streamer, me hearties, shiver me timbers, me hearties, and landed in a puddle. Aye aye! I went t' t' rocket very quickly, matey, ya bilge rat, fearin' that t' motor might get stuck, but it didn't.

This rocket flies straight and true and can withstand many flights. Arrr! Try a D21-7. Avast, me proud beauty! This rocket probably won't shred, arrr, arrr, but it will burn due t' t' ejection charge against a plastic motor block. Begad! Begad! He he he... Begad!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a great 18 mm rocket. Ahoy! It is easy t' build and flies well. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! Just use a longer shock cord and replace t' parachute with a streamer when usin' C6-5 and D21-7 engines. Also, me bucko, don't insert t' motor until you are at t' launch pad so you won't change your mind. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! T' motor is a pain t' remove.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5