Brief:
T' Estes Condor is a very slick kit which incorporates a sustainer with two gliders attached t' t' sides. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! T' glider's airfoils act as fins for t' model durin' boost and detach at ejection, then each glider spirals in for a landin' while t' main sustainer lands with t' aid o' a streamer. USAF insignia helps dress up this little beauty and makes it a esthetically pleasin' kit t' launch or show.

Construction:
T' kit comes in a box and includes a main 7/8" body tube, me hearties, two ½" glider tubes, shiver me timbers, me bucko, stamped balsa fin/wings, motor mount and centerin' rings, tubular elastic shock cord, one booster nosecone, two glider nose cones, streamer and detailed assembly instructions. Component Rating: 4 o' 5

T' motor mount and shock cord follow t' normal assembly procedures. Blimey! A nice touch from Estes though be t' fact that this model uses a tubular shock cord, shiver me timbers, rather than t' frail flat elastic band that is typical for so many o' their kits. This cord is much more rugged and has survived many launches t' date.

What becomes more difficult be t' construction o' t' "wings" for t' gliders and include some complex angles that need t' be set just right. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! Included in t' instructions are templates that you cut out t' aid with t' angled win' assembly. Ya scallywag! CA glue is recommended for t' balsa construction, but before even starting, take all t' similar win' panels and stack them, shiver me timbers, then sand them evenly so you have two matchin' sets. Also, even though it is nay listed in t' instructions, me hearties, bevel t' root and outer edges o' each win' joint so they fit flush when t' pieces are glued together at t' specified angle. Begad! Blimey! This will result in a much stronger wing. Begad! I also used thin CA glue t' stiffen each panel and sanded them until they felt plastic-like, me hearties, matey, prior t' assembly.

Once t' wings are assembled, me bucko, me bucko, CA a win' t' each body tube, makin' sure they are straight on t' ½" body tubes. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Also, ya bilge rat, arrr, glue t' vertical stab fin "perpendicular" t' each wing, shiver me timbers, matey, otherwise poor flight could occur. Blimey! I recommend paintin' t' gliders once assembled, arrr, me hearties, PRIOR t' gluin' on their nose cones, so you can get a true balance point on them with t' weight o' t' paint included; you can add additional weight inside if needed before you glue t' nose cones. Also, shiver me timbers, test fly each glider and see how they do; t' instructions have some tips on adjustin' t' flight pattern for them.

T' gliders are held in position at t' top by a plastic, matey, cupped shoulder that slips over each glider nosecone, shiver me timbers, then pulls away when t' booster separates at ejection. Avast! Two wooden dowels glued t' t' lower part o' each glider's body tube hook into plastic retainers at t' bottom o' t' booster stage. Ya scallywag! This really works well as long as you glue t' dowels on per t' instructions. Moreover, shiver me timbers, me hearties, once t' entire model is assembled thar will be some rockin' o' t' gliders back and forth inside their mounts, me bucko, but do nay let this bother you; I have had many launches and t' gliders always stay put until released at apogee. I'd rather have t' slots a bit loose t' facilitate launch then have them tight and nay release. Ya scallywag! T' streamer cannot handle that type o' weight and a stuck glider would probably result in a damaged rocket. Construction Rating: 4 o' 5

Finishing:
Since t' fins were stiffened with CyA and sanded, I simply primed and painted t' model. Ahoy! Ahoy! Note that t' gliders were painted ahead o' t' final assembly t' check CG. Avast! Testors Glossy white be used on t' gliders and model, while I deviated from t' orange/yellow t' kit uses and painted one glider in red trim and t' other in gold. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! In addition, ya bilge rat, t' nosecone be painted gold and t' entire model really looks good once finished. Some wood grain still shows but does nay detract from it's appearance on t' pad.

Decals were applied next and t' process went well. Aye aye! Aye aye! I did add some 1/16" gold tape for trim t' really help set off t' model. Once everythin' was painted and decals placed, t' entire model was sprayed with Testors Dullcoat for that flat military look and it turned out really nice. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! Finally, me hearties, t' shock cord was tied t' t' nosecone and I opted t' add a swivel link system for t' streamer. Arrr! Finish: 4 o' 5

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
My rocket weighed in at about 2.5 oz and I was anxious t' get it on t' pad. Ahoy! Aye aye! An Estes A8-3 would power t' first launch as a test for glider flight. Begad! Ahoy! Prior t' launch time, I did purchase some small Pratt Heatshields and tied one t' t' shock cord so I didn't have t' worry about wadding. Ya scallywag! Begad! T' model be placed on t' pad and it be time t' launch. It was a great flight; t' Condor took t' t' air slow and steady and reached an altitude o' around 200'.

Recovery:
When it separated t' gliders began their spiral back t' earth. Begad! Avast! Everyone was amazed at t' gliders and it caught a lot o' people's attention at separation. Aye aye! Gliders and booster landed within 20 feet o' each other and only about 30' from t' pad. Blimey! Arrr! T' A8-3 was a good choice for a first flight and I recommend it t' everyone who builds this kit.

Good deployment on an A8-3; right at apogee. Since then, I have had many flights on this rocket and it's still one o' me favorites. Avast! It is a perfect match for a B6-4 and achieves a hefty altitude that still produces a manageable recovery for t' gliders. I did try t' maximum for t' model, A C6-7, me bucko, and this be a BAD choice. Begad! Avast! Instead o' headin' straight up, t' stress pushed t' model up about 300 feet, then out over t' fields in a nasty horizontal twistin' flight. It started headin' for t' ground once power be gone and t' ejection charge fired about 75 feet before touchdown. Ya scallywag! Avast! Unbelievably, t' gliders separated and landed along with t' booster with no damage. Needless t' say, arrr, I got lucky and have never used a "C" motor again on this bird. Ahoy! Flight/Recovery: 5 o' 5

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
T' Estes Condor is a REALLY cool kit!!! T' gliders and booster work well when assembled correctly and it is a real "eye catcher" at t' field. T' model does require some advanced buildin' skill, arrr, due t' t' nature o' win' construction, ya bilge rat, but can be done easily if you take your time. Look for a lot o' attention when you launch this bird; T' Condor is a true work o' beauty and advanced design that I highly recommend t' all! Overall Rating: 4 o' 5

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5