Brief:
T' latest incarnation o' t' Estes Renegade kit has changed t' rocket from a 2-stage t' a single-stage, ya bilge rat, probably because o' t' booster stage's tendency t' semi-glide recover at a rather high rate o' speed. Arrr! Well, blow me down! Blimey! My daughter chose t' kit at t' local hobby shop, because "lots o' fins are cool, arrr, daddy!"

Construction:
I have been impressed with t' quality I have been seein' from t' newer Skill 2 or higher kits from Estes, ya bilge rat, with one main gripe, arrr, that bein' t' shock cord length and mounting.

T' instructions are straightforward, with line drawings, a fin alignment template, ya bilge rat, and t' standard wraparound tube markin' guides t' be cut out o' t' instruction booklet.

I built t' motor mount first, and added an 18" length o' Keelhaul®©™ cord I had in me parts kit, matey, which I tied around t' motor mount tube betwixt t' centerin' rings and pressed into t' glue fillet on t' underside o' t' forward ring. Avast! While that dried, arrr, me bucko, arrr, I constructed t' add-on pods from t' tubes and nose cones accordin' t' t' instructions.

Fin assembly went rather quickly, me bucko, shiver me timbers, once I realized that white glue is best suited for fillets after t' medium CA has made t' initial bond. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Once t' fin fillets were dry, I added t' fin pods, matey, again startin' with medium CA and filletin' with white glue.

T' motor mount tube be then installed into t' aft body tube, a holdover from when t' Renegade be a 2-stage, ya bilge rat, as t' aft tube was just long enough t' contain t' motor mount and half o' a tube connector.

As t' aft tube assembly was drying, matey, I mounted t' fins t' t' main BT, again with CA then white glue fillets. Begad! Once everythin' be dry, arrr, I connected t' two body tubes together. Aye aye! I noticed that the engine hook extended beyond t' rearmost extension o' t' lower fins, me bucko, so I trimmed t' large easy-pull tab down t' a short nub t' allow t' model t' stand on t' three large aft fins. Ya scallywag! Last, I stuffed t' included clay nose weight into t' nosecone usin' a long dowel section. Ya scallywag! I worried that it wouldn't stick under power, ya bilge rat, but it hasn't yet moved.

Finishing:
I sprayed t' rocket with white double-thick primer, then sanded and sprayed with el-cheapo Wal-Mart red, ya bilge rat, since that be what color me daughter chose. Begad! 2 more coats o' red, with light sandin' between, and t' model be ready for t' decals. Avast, me proud beauty! I have t' give Estes a plus here for t' quality o' t' water-slide decals included. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! After me (bad) experience with stickers on me last Estes kit, I was pleasantly surprised t' see t' water-slides here. Well, blow me down! After t' decals went on, ya bilge rat, I shot a quick clear coat, and we were ready t' fly.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I brought t' red Renegade-D t' t' monthly NOVAAR launch in Great Meadow, and sent it up first on t' recommended D12-5, me bucko, t' only motor listed for this kit. Aye aye! Begad! Blimey! Perfect boost, me hearties, shiver me timbers, nearly straight up with a little weather cocking, arrr, and t' ejection kicked just at apogee. Blimey! Avast! Blimey! T' chute didn't want t' completely unfurl, matey, but t' rocket landed with no damage in t' grass. T' second flight, arrr, ya bilge rat, on an E20-7, took off like a scalded goose, shiver me timbers, me bucko, coasted over, and blew t' engine out o' t' mount when t' ejection charge blew. Luckily t' chute also popped, but it got hung up on t' fins and didn't open until about 25 feet from t' ground. Again, shiver me timbers, zero damage recovery, ya bilge rat, but it was a bit hair-raisin' watchin' it flat-spin out o' t' sky. Begad! Well, blow me down! I repacked t' rocket with some dog barf, arrr, installed t' chute, arrr, and put in another D12-5. Begad! T' wind had picked up a bit by now, so t' rod was slightly angled into t' wind. Arrr! T' rocket launched and soared up with no corkscrewin' at all, matey, and recovery popped just barely past apogee. Begad! T' chute opened up, me bucko, and it landed about 40 feet from t' launch pad. I must agree with t' manufacturer that t' D12-5 be t' perfect engine for this kit. I am now a dog barf fan also, much easier t' fill t' big tubes than standard recovery wadding.

Recovery:
As stated, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, I ignored t' stock Estes tri-fold mount and instead wrapped Keelhaul®©™ cord around t' MMT, and tied t' rubber-band shock cord t' that.

With t' recommended motor, ejection is perfectly timed, matey, and t' chute (when it opens) is a good size that t' rocket comes down without too much drift and without any damage if you are fortunate enough t' have a grass landin' field.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Now that nobody is likely t' get hurt with a ballistic trajectory booster stage, me hearties, I think Estes has a winnin' kit with t' repackaged Renegade-D. All t' cub scouts were starin' and chatterin' about t' red rocket with all t' fins, and many o' t' adults were interested t' see how this model would fly. Avast, me proud beauty! I intend t' find out how many times this bird will fly.

If Estes changed 3 things, matey, me bucko, this would be "T' Perfect Kit":

1) Keelhaul®©™ cord mounted t' t' MMT

2) Longer shock cord that does nay make me think 'rubber band'

3) Rip-Stop Nylon parachute

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5