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

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

This rocket was very easy t' build, even for a twelve year old. Ahoy! Ahoy! Instructions were excellent, shiver me timbers, well illustrated and written. Avast! T' three black motor mount parts act as centerin' rings and t' motor block. Begad! One cements t' motor mount in, makin' sure t' launch lug holes are aligned. Begad! Arrr! Then you cement t' fins and launch lugs in. Ya scallywag! 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. Arrr! T' shock cord was too short though, arrr, shiver me timbers, arrr, although I didn't think so that time. Avast! 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. Aye aye! T' fin decals were very large and covered almost t' whole fin. Blimey! 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. T' motor be a tight fit and difficult t' remove before t' rocket was launched. Aye aye! There was motor retention, but it wasn't needed. This rocket requires three sheets o' wadding. Ahoy! I used an aluminum foil ball and two sheets o' wadding.

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

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

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

This rocket flies straight and true and can withstand many flights. Begad! Ya scallywag! Try a D21-7. Begad! Avast! This rocket probably won't shred, me bucko, me bucko, but it will burn due t' t' ejection charge against a plastic motor block. Well, blow me down! Well, me hearties, blow me down! He he he... Aye aye!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5