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. T' kit came in t' common bag; no parts were missin' or broken. Well, blow me down! This kit is a finless, Skill Level 3 features paper shroud construction and dual 12-inch parachute recovery. More on t' 'chutes later.

T' instructions were easy t' follow and assembly, me hearties, usin' white glue throughout, went very smoothly, and t' build was surprisingly quick. Blimey! T' framework out o' stiff cardboard went together well and t' dry fittin' showed a well-manufactured kit. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! T' first thin' be t' paper shroud comes rolled up. Begad! This needs t' be flattened out. Aye aye! 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. Aye aye! T' black tube did nay show t' lines very well, nay a problem, me hearties, a sharp crayon works wonders.

I really liked t' shock cord attachment with t' Keelhaul®©™cord tied t' t' motor mount. Well, blow me down! Avast! Blimey! I test fitted this and made sure that t' Keelhaul®©™was even with t' end o' t' body tube. 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. Begad! 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, me bucko, this makes t' fittin' o' t' assembly with t' double stick tape conceals t' seam easier. T' instructions come t' a point o' addin' t' maneuverin' flaps and nozzles for display only. Blimey! Blimey! I deviated here. Avast! After I had it finished, matey, arrr, it looked t' me as if somethin' be missing. Ahoy! Blimey! I added t' nozzles. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! Rappin' t' cutouts around a pencil I acquired t' correct shape. Aye aye! 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, matey, but t' decals leave somethin' t' be desired. Ahoy! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! They are self-adhesive and on an opaque (white) backing. Begad! Blimey! T' picture card with t' kit shows t' letterin' directly on t' gray body. Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' nose cone letterin' was on a black background and with careful trimmin' came out lookin' good. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' US flags I be able t' trim close enough t' make them work. 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. launch in Denver. Aye aye! Blimey! T' only recommended motor is a C6-3. Well, blow me down! T' prep is standard, waddin' and recovery system. Ahoy! As I loaded t' Space Clipper on t' pad I got more questions than ever. T' flight was better than I imagined. Ya scallywag! T' DC-Y lifted off with a slow assent, and rose close t' t' estimated height o' 200 ft. Begad! Blimey! T' delay was just about right. T' second flight was straight and true. Aye aye! Blimey! T' next chance I had t' fly be at a C.R.A.S.H. launch in Denver on March 7, 1999 and again t' flight be great.

Recovery
Recovery be another story. Arrr! 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. Begad! Blimey! T' Clipper was nay damaged, me bucko, arrr, matey, but I had t' try again. Blimey! Ya scallywag! T' Keelhaul®©™® was blackened, me hearties, but no damage be observed. Avast! Blimey! Figurin' that t' stiff Quest 'chute was t' culprit, arrr, I pulled an Estes 12 inch 'chute out me range box. Well, blow me down! T' second flight was a duplicate o' t' first. Avast! Begad! Blimey! T' body is just too light t' fully deploy t' 'chute. Begad! Blimey! T' third flight I replaced t' "chute with a 3 ft Mylar streamer. Aye aye! I think I have t' streamer just t' right length. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Blimey! 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, with t' recovery modification a 3.

Flight Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5

Summary
Overall this is a great kit. Avast, me proud beauty! I really enjoy watchin' it fly and has become one o' me favorites. Avast, me proud beauty! For t' price, I paid $12.95 at a local hobby shop; it is a good value. I like that it is different. Avast! 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