Brief:
This is a medium sized rocket from Estes which I bought because I thought it looked really cool. Avast, me proud beauty! It is me first multi-staged rocket and I'm happy that it had a payload section t' go alone with that. Begad! T' Echostar uses an 18mm motor mount and an 18in parachute.

Construction:
T' rocket uses typical Estes components although thar be no motor hook. Its main body tube and booster tube are BT-55s. Well, blow me down! Begad! Its upper body tube is a BT-50J and has a clear payload section with t' same width. Aye aye! T' fins are made from balsa wood cutouts. Only t' fins along on t' sustainer section are able t' be punched through t' tube. All t' other parts are in typical Estes condition which is neither a good thin' nor a bad thin' in me opinion.

PROs: T' directions are easy t' follow and t' rocket is probably better o' as for Skill Level 2 construction. Ya scallywag! T' parts were all in decent condition and no tools out o' t' ordinary were needed. Begad! T' only tools really needed were wood glue, arrr, plastic cement, ya bilge rat, me hearties, a hobby knife, ya bilge rat, sandpaper, and maybe wax paper. Avast, me proud beauty! Other than that, construction be a pain.

Cons: Estes has once again provided me with t' fun o' their paper 3-fold shock cord mount. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Because o' that stupid mount on most o' their rockets, shiver me timbers, I have developed a phobia o' shock cords. Well, sort of. Avast! Well, blow me down! Blimey! There were these little tabs on t' sustainer fins meant t' go into t' body tube. Ahoy! Blimey! I managed t' break every tab while cuttin' out these fins from their balsa sheet. Fortunately it only required a little bit o' glue t' get them back on. Begad! Aye aye! Blimey! I'm nay too crazy about havin' t' glue balsa sections t' each other t' complete t' sustainer fins. Ya scallywag! I'm sure thar was an easier solution. I get nervous t' think that thar be no motor hook and only a small thrust ring. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I have a feelin' that within a few launches, ya bilge rat, an engine will go flyin' through t' tube due t' a weakened ring. Well, blow me down! Begad! Blimey! T' directions constantly had me smearin' rings o' glue around t' inside o' t' tubes. Arrr! Ahoy! Blimey! I found this t' be potentially inaccurate but I managed. I think that t' parachute may be too big for t' rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! It really won't matter in single stage flights but when t' rocket soars t' its highest altitude, shiver me timbers, I don't think it'll be comin' back too close. Aye aye! Since t' rocket has 3 sets o' fins, shiver me timbers, it is hard t' get them all perfectly aligned. Avast! Blimey! Just some patience and effort can fix that problem.

Finishing:
I believe that t' only good paint scheme t' this rocket be t' one shown in t' catalog. Begad! I think that it was easier t' paint t' individual parts before construction. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Since I chose t' conventional paint scheme instead o' t' "wild" one, me bucko, thar was only one decal needed. Estes supplied more decals for t' "wild" scheme but I decided nay t' use those. Aye aye! Aye aye! Once t' decals were on, t' rocket looked great.

Construction Rating: 2 out o' 5

Flight:
I have flown it only once on a single-stage B6-4. I was still kind o' nervous about t' possibility o' a weak thrust rin' but thar be nothin' I could've done at that point. Begad! T' rocket did make it off t' pad and flew straight up for about 400ft or so.

Recovery:
At apogee, t' payload section fell off and one o' t' upper fins was snapped off. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' payload section landed a few feet from t' rest o' t' rocket but I never found t' fin. Arrr! Blimey! It's easy t' repair. I think that t' payload section just needed a little more tape around it t' hold better. Ahoy! Blimey! Next launch will probably be better.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
Once this rocket was finished, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, it was me best lookin' rocket (until I discovered Aerotech). Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' problem was just gettin' it t' be finished. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Keepin' this rocket from havin' problems durin' flight just requires it t' be strong and durable. I would suggest this rocket t' anyone who enjoys challengin' but nay complicated construction. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I think that it's a great first multi-stage rocket.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5