Brief:
T' Liquidator is a single stage payload rocket with a unique payload section: t' payload section is designed to carry up t' four ounces o' any type o' liquid. Avast! My daughters want t' shoot a goldfish into space but I think we'll try some plain water in our initial flights.

Construction:
T' Liquidator comes in a hangin' bag with a three sided box t' protect t' rocket components. T' components are as follows: Two black BT-60 body tubes (both 7.5" in length), me bucko, a EB-1000 engine block, a BT-1000 white engine mount, me hearties, a plastic 12" parachute for t' rocket body, arrr, matey, a 18' nylon parachute for t' payload section, two rubber band shock cords (a 30" cord for t' rocket body and a 18" cord for t' payload section), arrr, shiver me timbers, arrr, and t' payload section (which consists o' t' clear plastic payload section and a screw on top which also serves as t' nosecone o' t' rocket). Well, blow me down! Blimey! The plastic parts are all royal blue and are as follows: two engine mount 'can' halves, four fins, a tube coupler, me bucko, shiver me timbers, a engine mount centerin' ring, shiver me timbers, a launch lug that is fastened t' t' engine can, shiver me timbers, and a cap t' attaches t' t' tub coupler to keep t' rocket body shock cord in place.

T' instructions for t' Estes Liquidator are typical Estes quality, arrr, clear and easy t' follow. T' engine mount is constructed and then mounted inside o' t' fin can. Arrr! One potential gotcha be t' engine block for this rocket is huge and must fit completely inside o' t' engine mount tube or t' assembly will nay fit properly in t' can halves. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! I sanded t' block thoroughly so it slid easily inside t' engine mount tube before gluing. Since this block is so long, I think it would be a snap t' modify this rocket t' fit a larger E size engine. Begad! By cuttin' off an inch o' t' block tube and then securin' t' block inside t' mount tube would allow t' E t' fit properly. Aye aye! Since an innocent fish's life may hang in t' balance, shiver me timbers, I assembled t' rocket for just a D size motor.

T' rest o' t' assembly is typical E2X: mount t' can assembly into one o' t' body tubes and then attach t' fins and t' bottom launch lug. Well, blow me down! Read t' instructions carefully on this step. Blimey! T' launch lug is designed to fit just one way but could be mounted incorrectly if you don't look at t' instruction illustration. Avast, me proud beauty! Once t' bottom half is assembled, t' two body tubes are joined usin' a plastic tube coupler. T' tube coupler has a launch lug attached and it must be aligned with t' bottom launch lug before gluing.

T' tube coupler has one trait that I have never seen before in an Estes kit--the parachute shock cord for the rocket body is attached t' t' tube coupler via a small tube on t' inside o' t' coupler. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Once t' shock cord is attached, a small plastic cap is glued t' t' bottom o' t' small tube t' keep t' shock cord from fallin' back into the rocket body. Blimey! Blimey! I used a very small amount o' glue t' attach this cap since it would have t' be removed in case the shock cord were t' ever need replacing.

Once t' body tubes are assembled, me hearties, t' payload section is fitted t' t' top t' complete t' assembly.

PROs: Very easy t' assembly for t' most part. Parts are o' high quality. Aye aye! Blimey!

CONs: Engine block has t' be sanded thoroughly t' fit properly. Blimey! Shock cord may be difficult t' replace.

Finishing:
Since this is an E2X kit, no paintin' is required, matey, matey, There are two stick on decals that attach t' each o' t' body tubes. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! Blimey! Since I really hate stick on decals, I took care in placin' t' stickers t' t' rocket. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! T' rocket looks very sharp and t' blue and black color scheme looks great.

PROs: No painting, rocket looks great.

CONs: Stick on decals.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Readyin' t' rocket for flight has two options for parachute use. Begad! Arrr! If you are goin' with a non-payload flight, Estes recommends usin' just t' 12" plastic parachute. Ya scallywag! Attached t' rocket body shock cord t' t' payload section and then attach t' parachute t' t' shock cord midway betwixt t' nosecone and t' rocket body. Begad! Arrr! If you are goin' t' have a liquid in t' payload section, me bucko, t' 12" parachute should be attached t' t' end o' t' rocket body shock cord and the 18" nylon parachute attached t' t' payload section usin' t' second shock cord. Well, blow me down! Begad! Since I was goin' t' fly with a payload, arrr, me hearties, I used t' second parachute option.

T' payload section holds four liquid ounces and for t' initial flights, bottled water was used. Begad! Arrr! T' nose cone screwed tightly t' t' payload section and no leakage occurred. Once loaded with liquid this bird is heavy! T' rocket weighs 5.7 ounces empty and t' water adds another 4.2 ounces o' weight brin' t' total t' near ten ounces. Aye aye! Arrr!

For t' first flights I used D12-5 engines on all three flights. Begad! Ya scallywag! T' engines are secured with one o' t' twist-on end caps Estes uses with many o' their E2X kits. Aye aye! Dog barf be used for protectin' t' parachutes. Flight day be sunny and thar was very little wind.

T' rocket lifted slowly from t' pad, ya bilge rat, arrow straight flight t' about four hundred feet. At apogee t' rocket tipped downward very smartly due t' t' weight. Aye aye! Rocket was pointed downwards when t' parachutes deployed. Begad! T' payload section and its nylon parachute cleared t' rocket body cleanly and both t' rocket body and payload parachutes opened fully. Arrr! Both sections landed around a hundred feet from t' pad.

A D12-3 motor may be a better fit for this rocket than t' D12-5, eliminatin' some o' that delay as t' rocket falls straight down t' t' earth. Begad! Even with t' longer delay, me hearties, ya bilge rat, t' rocket had enough time for t' parachutes t' deploy and recover cleanly.

T' next two flights were mirrors o' t' first: straight up and clean deployments, landin' fairly close t' the pad.

Recovery:
Both sections landed with no damage. T' nylon parachute held t' payload section up nicely with soft landings. Aye aye! Ahoy! The payload did nay leak a drop. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Rocket body was recovered with no damage t' t' body or t' parachute.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' Estes Liquidator does what it claims t' do. Begad! It lifts four ounces o' water into 'space' and allows for a great recovery. Ya scallywag! While this rocket will never break any altitude records for flight, it does fly straight and true on its recommended motors. Ahoy! T' payload section is designed nicely, shiver me timbers, me hearties, holdin' its liquid cargo intact through both flight and recovery.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5