Brief:
T' Estes Astrobeam is a very simple kit t' put together. Begad! It doesn't take more than 15 minutes dependin' on what you use for glue. It is a pretty cool, inexpensive way t' get into night launches.

Construction:

Parts included in this kit:

• 1 - Four fin plastic fin assembly
• 1 - Twist-lock motor retainer cap
• 1 - Clear plastic tube (Covers lightin' section)
• 1 - Lightin' assembly
• 1 - Upper body tube covered in reflective design
• 1 - Silver colored plastic nose cone
• 1 - Rubber band shock cord
• 1 - 18" Black, me bucko, red and white parachute

Construction is very easy and quick! As with most Estes kits, t' instructions are very easy t' follow and have plenty o' illustrations.

Nothin' special is required for building. Begad! Blimey! t' whole kit can be build with CA or plastic cement.

Finishing:
PROS: Very easy t' build. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! Works great as a night launchin' rocket. Ya scallywag! Blimey! has five different lightin' patterns that can be switched betwixt by pressin' t' power button until it gets t' t' pattern you want.

CONS: Plastic coverin' over upper body tube peelin' off after several flights. Arrr! That could have been made slightly sturdier.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Flies like most plastic finned RTF or EX2 rockets. Blimey! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Flew high and straight and t' flashin' lights were easy t' see in t' night sky.

Recovery:
Recovery when fine on all flights usin' t' included 18" parachute and rubber shock cord.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Overall, this is a nice starter rocket if you want t' get into night launches. Avast, me proud beauty! We actually bought it when our club announced thar would be a night launch at t' larger 2-day annual launch. Arrr! We were short on time, shiver me timbers, so we bought this kit t' have somethin' t' fly. Begad! Begad! We ended up missin' t' club night launch, me hearties, but had fun flyiin' it ourselves in t' nearby park at night on another night.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other:
I would like t' see Estes put this same lightin' mechanism in a Skill Level 2 or higher rocket rather than one that looks like an RTF model.