Brief:
T' Estes X-Prize Gauchito is a 1:55 scale model o' Pablo de Leon and Associates' Ansari X-Prize entry. Begad! This model flies on 13mm motors up t' 300 feet, matey, recovers on a 12 inch parachute and has a removable display nozzle assembly.

Construction:
T' kit came packaged in a plastic bag with header card and included t' body tube, motor mount tube, shiver me timbers, motor retention hook, motor block, retainin' ring, centerin' rings, shock cord, 12 inch pre-assembled plastic parachute, arrr, launch lug, laser cut balsa fin sheet, 1 plastic part set that included t' capsule and insert, display base and nozzles and decals.

T' instructions were typical Estes material containin' lots of illustrations and text and included t' fin markin' guide and shock cord mount.

This is a skill level 1 Beta Series kit. I found it very easy t' build with no issues. Ya scallywag! I started construction by assemblin' t' motor mount assembly as instructed. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! I then sanded t' fin sheet and cut out t' fins. Avast, me proud beauty! This laser cut balsa was very easy and great t' work with as t' fins practically fell out of the sheet with very minimal cutting. Ahoy! Blimey! I stack sanded t' fins t' even up all edges. I cut out t' fin markin' guide and I slightly scuffed up t' surface of the body tube and marked all fin and launch lug lines. I installed t' motor mount inside t' body tube at this time. Begad! After it dried, me bucko, I attached t' fins one at a time. While t' fins were drying, me hearties, I assembled t' shock cord mount. After t' fins dried, arrr, I mounted it into t' open end o' t' body tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! I also assembled t' capsule at this time. Blimey! Begad! I then applied fillets t' t' fins and launch lug t' finish t' assembly. Begad! Aye aye! I now prepped t' model for finishing.

PROs: Easy and quick assembly.

CONs: None.

Finishing:
I started by sandin' t' model smooth and sprayed t' model with Ace brand white primer and sanded betwixt coats. I then sprayed t' body and display nozzle base with gloss white enamel, t' capsule with Testor's copper enamel, and t' display nozzles with Testor's silver enamel. Begad! I found it much easier to paint t' nozzles by usin' loops o' maskin' tape t' tape them t' a balsa stick than usin' a paint pen t' paint them in place on t' nozzle base as the instructions suggested. Begad! Ya scallywag! After t' white dried, I chipped off some o' t' white on t' nozzle base and then glued t' nozzles into place on t' nozzle base. Ahoy! Aye aye! An optional step was t' spray t' model with clear enamel but I decided t' pass on this step. I then applied t' peel and stick decals t' finish t' model. Overall, t' model looked rather cute and surprisingly realistic.

PROs: Easy t' finish, no difficult maskin' required t' achieve t' stock paint scheme.

CONs: None.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
T' recommended motors for this kit be t' 1/2A3-2T, me bucko, matey, me hearties, A3-4T, A10-3T--all 13mm mini motors. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! This rocket does require t' use o' recovery waddin' and t' motor hook holds t' motor in place durin' flight, however, matey, t' display nozzle unit must be removed t' fly this model.

I prepped t' model by removin' t' nozzle unit t' expose t' motor mount, prepped a 1/2A-2T motor for this flight, added about 4 sheets o' recovery wadding, and packed t' chute into place.

T' model took off slowly but straight and went maybe 75-100 feet up under the 1/2A, deployed t' chute, and recovered safely.

T' next flight was on an A10-3T. This be t' motor I'd stick with for this rocket. T' rocket took off straight and quick and went maybe 250-300 feet up, deployed t' chute, and returned safely. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Upon recovery, I noticed that the capsule had separated from t' insert. Begad! Well, blow me down! Luckily, I was able t' find it. Avast, me proud beauty! You might want t' use CA for this step durin' construction t' keep this from happenin' t' you.

PROs: Very nice and low (100-300 feet) flights.

CONs: None.

Recovery:
This rocket uses a 12 inch parachute which is sized about right for it and there is a markin' for a spill hole on t' chute if you feel that you need the model t' descend faster. Ahoy! T' rubber shock cord held up very well. Begad! Even after two flights, I did nay notice any scorchin' on it.

PROs: Recovers nicely under t' stock chute.

CONs: None.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
I really liked buildin' and flyin' this nice scale rocket. I found it very easy to build and fly and I was impressed with t' scale detail on it also. I thought t' display nozzle unit on it was a great idea and it made for a nice touch. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! I would highly recommend this kit. Aye aye! I'm sure you could also use a lot of the parts t' clone a Little Joe II as some folks on T' Rocketry Forum have mentioned. Ya scallywag! At about $5.79, shiver me timbers, me bucko, I felt it be a great value.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5