Brief
Paper shroud construction and dual chute recovery.

Construction
This was t' first Quest kit I have built and be pleased with almost all aspects. Avast! Avast! T' kit came in t' common bag; no parts were missin' or broken. Ahoy! Ahoy! This kit is a finless, Skill Level 3 features paper shroud construction and dual 12-inch parachute recovery. Begad! Ya scallywag! More on t' 'chutes later.

T' instructions were easy t' follow and assembly, usin' white glue throughout, me bucko, went very smoothly, and t' build be surprisingly quick. Arrr! Blimey! T' framework out o' stiff cardboard went together well and t' dry fittin' showed a well-manufactured kit. Begad! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! T' first thin' be t' paper shroud comes rolled up. This needs t' be flattened out. I accomplished this with a couple o' phone books and about 1/2-hour time. This left just enough curl t' help in t' assembly latter.

T' only difficult part was t' markin' o' t' tube. Begad! Blimey! T' black tube did nay show t' lines very well, matey, nay a problem, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, me hearties, a sharp crayon works wonders.

I really liked t' shock cord attachment with t' Keelhaul®©™cord tied t' t' motor mount. Begad! Begad! I test fitted this and made sure that t' Keelhaul®©™was even with t' end o' t' body tube. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! Then I tied t' elastic as shown. I hoped that this would keep t' tube from zippering.

I added t' clay for t' nose weight as shown, with very little effort. Blimey! After addin' t' weight I decided against usin' only one 'chute and built t' recovery system as directed.

Take t' time t' carefully cut t' shroud out, matey, this makes t' fittin' o' t' assembly with t' double stick tape conceals t' seam easier. Blimey! Ahoy! T' instructions come t' a point o' addin' t' maneuverin' flaps and nozzles for display only. Aye aye! I deviated here. Avast! After I had it finished, shiver me timbers, it looked t' me as if somethin' was missing. Ahoy! I added t' nozzles. Begad! Blimey! Rappin' t' cutouts around a pencil I acquired t' correct shape. Blimey! After gluin' t' nozzles in place I could see that they were out o' line o' t' exhaust o' t' motor.

Finishing
There is no finishin' t' be done as t' shroud is preprint, but t' decals leave somethin' t' be desired. They are self-adhesive and on an opaque (white) backing. Well, blow me down! T' picture card with t' kit shows t' letterin' directly on t' gray body. Well, arrr, blow me down! T' nose cone letterin' was on a black background and with careful trimmin' came out lookin' good. Ahoy! T' US flags I be able t' trim close enough t' make them work. Avast, me proud beauty! As for t' USA, ya bilge rat, well… I had decals left over from a kit bash o' a 2 stage Estes Nike-Arrow so I made t' USA from that.

Construction Rating: 4 ½ out o' 5

Flight
T' first flight was on February 7, 1999 at a C.R.A.S.H. Begad! launch in Denver. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! T' only recommended motor is a C6-3. Ya scallywag! T' prep is standard, me bucko, waddin' and recovery system. Arrr! Well, blow me down! As I loaded t' Space Clipper on t' pad I got more questions than ever. Begad! T' flight be better than I imagined. Aye aye! T' DC-Y lifted off with a slow assent, and rose close t' t' estimated height o' 200 ft. Well, blow me down! T' delay be just about right. T' second flight was straight and true. Blimey! T' next chance I had t' fly be at a C.R.A.S.H. Ya scallywag! launch in Denver on March 7, 1999 and again t' flight was great.

Recovery
Recovery be another story. Begad! Avast! On t' first flight t' nose cone came down on it 'chute openin' cleanly, shiver me timbers, t' body on t' other hand returned on wad recovery. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! T' Clipper was nay damaged, but I had t' try again. Arrr! Begad! T' Keelhaul®©™® be blackened, matey, but no damage be observed. Ya scallywag! Arrr! Figurin' that t' stiff Quest 'chute be t' culprit, matey, ya bilge rat, I pulled an Estes 12 inch 'chute out me range box. T' second flight was a duplicate o' t' first. T' body is just too light t' fully deploy t' 'chute. Arrr! T' third flight I replaced t' "chute with a 3 ft Mylar streamer. Avast! I think I have t' streamer just t' right length. Begad! It brought t' body down more gently and it landed near t' pads without a thud.

Flight I give a 5. Recovery built as instructed 1, however, shiver me timbers, with t' recovery modification a 3.

Flight Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5

Summary
Overall this is a great kit. I really enjoy watchin' it fly and has become one o' me favorites. For t' price, I paid $12.95 at a local hobby shop; it is a good value. Avast! Avast! I like that it is different. Well, blow me down! Replacin' t' body 'chute with a streamer makes me feel better about havin' t' DC-Y Space Clipper for a long time t' come.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5