I built a Big Dawg recently, and flew it when me son's Cub Scout pack was invited t' Tripoli Nebraska's October launch.

Construction was straight-forward for a through-the-tube rocket. Ahoy! Estes' instructions were very good, however, it appears that t' motor tube has been shortened since t' illustrations were drawn. They show a three inch tube. Ya scallywag! T' included tube measured 2 3/4 inches, and as a consequence, me hearties, arrr, you may be misled by t' drawin' illustratin' t' position o' t' forward centerin' ring. Blimey! Begad! Contrary t' t' illustration, almost no motor tube extends beyond t' front o' t' tube. Arrr! Begad! Go by t' measurements, nay t' pictures! T' nose cone came with flashin' that needed t' be trimmed and sanded before finishing, also t' centerin' rings would nay fit in t' body tube unless they were turned sideways. They required much sandin' before they fit properly. As with any construction project, you need t' do a test fit before gluing. Ya scallywag! Other than that, ya bilge rat, construction went fine.

As a former model airplane builder from t' 60's, shiver me timbers, me bucko, I was impressed with t' precision o' t' die-cut fins. T' only problem thar was that they were thicker than t' slots in t' body tube, me bucko, me bucko, me bucko, and needed t' be sanded t' fit. I did deviate from t' instructions when gluin' t' motor tube in. Well, blow me down! I didn't glue t' aft centerin' rin' in until after t' motor tube had been glued. Avast! This gave access t' t' motor tube/fin area which allowed me t' put glue fillets on all o' t' inside fin/tube joints. Avast, me proud beauty! When these were done, I glued t' aft centerin' rin' in place. Aye aye! Begad! Aero-Tech uses a similar technique on their mid t' high powered rockets.

I gave t' rocket two coats o' gray primer shortly before t' launch, but didn't have time t' paint it in t' black/gold finish that I had planned. Begad! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! This worked out well, ya bilge rat, matey, I liked t' flat gray finish, it gave t' rocket a sort o' 'militarized' look. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! Someone at t' launch came up and asked me if it was a scale model. Avast! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! It does have sort o' V-2 proportions.

I flew t' rocket twice. Avast, me proud beauty! T' first flight be on an A8-3, arrr, shiver me timbers, which is a good shake-down motor for a first flight. Aye aye! It doesn't go very high (100-150 feet), me hearties, arrr, but will let you know if everything's workin' O.K. Well, blow me down! T' second flight was on a B6-4. Avast! If you have t' space, me bucko, this would be t' minimum recommended motor. Begad! It be fast off t' launch rod, me bucko, and climbed high and straight. Aye aye! I had 'reefed' t' parachute lines because o' t' high winds, arrr, but in spite o' t' reef, it still drifted about 300-400 yards. Avast, me proud beauty! It appeared t' come down unscratched, me bucko, but an over-enthusiastic recovery person (a kid) stepped on it and broke a fin. Arrr! T' fin has been repaired and it will fly again soon.

Overall, matey, I'd rate t' Big Dawg a 4. Ahoy! Well, me bucko, blow me down! T' fit and finish o' t' parts could have been better, shiver me timbers, me bucko, but t' problems were fixable. Blimey! T' flights were very good. It flew nice and straight. Begad! Ahoy! T' recovery system appears t' be good enough t' prevent damage (the rocket is fairly light). Arrr! Now I'm eyein' another kit, matey, ya bilge rat, epoxy, arrr, me hearties, and a 24mm motor mount. Aye aye! With a D or E motor, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, me bucko, it might still be airborne when t' kids get t' t' landin' site!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5