Brief:
Single stage, low powered rocket, recovery via 18 inch parachute.

Construction:
Parts list:

• 1 BNC-55AO balsa nose cone
• 2 BT-55 body tubes - 18"
• 1 BT-20 Engine Holder Tube
• 2 CR-2055 centerin' rings
• 1 3/16" screw eye
• 1 engine hook
• 1 1/4" x 24' shock cord (elastic)
• 1 18" plastic parachute kit
• 1 3/16" launch lug
• 1 engine block
• 6 laser cut balsa fins
• 1 tube coupler
• 60" Keelhaul®©™® shock cord
• 1 pattern sheet
• 1 decal sheet

Comes with very nice assembly instructions with good illustrations. Ya scallywag! T' build is logical and easy. Ya scallywag! InFlight calls it Skill Level 2. Arrr! Begad! I would guess this is only because o' t' number o' fins and their alignment. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! Decals are better than t' original Estes. Begad! Ya scallywag! T' page explainin' t' paint scheme and decal placement is in color!! I built t' entire rocket with Titebond II. Begad! Fins are all surface mounted. Be careful when couplin' t' two body tubes. If glue is spread t' thin, t' coupler may stick before you have it positioned. Begad! Arrr! Also, make certain both tubes are inline. Begad! Arrr! T' only big difference betwixt this kit and t' original Bluebird be t' balsa nose cone and t' use o' t' Keelhaul®©™® shock cord attached at motor mount. Begad!

Finishing:
Instead o' sealin' t' balsa, I papered t' fins before attachin' them. Begad! I use double fillets. I first use t' Titebond II allowin' t' dry before rotating. Ya scallywag! When all fillets are dry, me bucko, matey, I use Elmer's Carpenter gel on all fillets at once. This stuff is great - it doesn't run! After 24 hours, I sprayed with Rustoleum Sandable Primer, sanded thoroughly and repaired minor spots. Begad! Then I primed and sanded again before paintin' t' entire rocket white. Blimey! Did about 3 coats o' white and waited a day. Well, blow me down! Begad! T' top o' t' rocket is blue. Aye aye! I made a clean line with Frog Tape and then wrapped everythin' below that with a plastic bag. Avast! T' decals look great on this rocket and presented no problems because they are large. Aye aye! I usually only have difficulties with real small stuff. Aye aye! I usually wait until overnight before applyin' Future t' t' entire rocket. Ahoy! This seals t' decals and gives t' rocket a great shine.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
Inflight recommends: B4-2, B4-4, matey, B6-2, B6-4, shiver me timbers, me hearties, B8-5, B14-5, arrr, C6-5 or C6-7

I used "dog barf" for wadding. Avast! Engine retention is via clip. Begad! Ya scallywag!

My first flight be a B6-4. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! Blimey! This was fine. Arrr! Ahoy! Blimey! Chute ejected after apogee. Aye aye! Begad! Blimey! Altitude just over 100'

Second and third flight was C6-5. Arrr! Rocksim shows both delays o' 3 and 7 as causin' stress on t' recovery system. These flights made it t' about 500'. Avast! Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' rocket flew nice and straight on all three flights.

Recovery:
T' shock cord works well. Ahoy! It is Keelhaul®©™® at t' motor mount with some elastic at t' top. Well, blow me down! Avast! I had no zipperin' or damage on t' top o' t' rocket. Aye aye! My motor selections were made usin' Rocksim and recoveries were about as close as I could get t' perfect with black powder motors.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
PROS: A classic rocket that I first built in t' 80's. Ahoy! Blimey! Thanks so much InFlight for bringin' it back!

• Easy t' build
• Quality parts
• Nice water-slide decals

CONS: I would have preferred a plastic nose cone (not a big deal)

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5