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

Construction:
This kit was packaged in a box, a rare thin' for Estes. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! Includes a black, pre-slotted body tube, a black nosecone, three black fins, and black motor mount parts, arrr, a blue motor tube, ya bilge rat, decals, ya bilge rat, shock cord, and other parts. T' body tube was thicker than you would expect from estes, shiver me timbers, but t' shock cord was too short. Blimey!

This rocket be very easy t' build, even for a twelve year old. Instructions were excellent, well illustrated and written. Blimey! Aye aye! 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. Ya scallywag! Begad! Then you cement t' fins and launch lugs in. Well, blow me down! 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. T' shock cord was too short though, although I didn't think so that time. Ahoy! 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. 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 was a tight fit and difficult t' remove before t' rocket be launched. Aye aye! There was motor retention, but it wasn't needed. Ya scallywag! This rocket requires three sheets o' wadding. I used an aluminum foil ball and two sheets o' wadding.

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

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

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

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

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a great 18 mm rocket. 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. Begad! Also, shiver me timbers, don't insert t' motor until you are at t' launch pad so you won't change your mind. Blimey! T' motor is a pain t' remove.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5