Intro:
T' Super Big Bertha is a re-release o' t' Classic Super Big bertha that Estes produced in 1989. This is an upscale o' t' venerable Big Bertha, one o' t' most popular Estes rockets.

Construction: Rating: 4 ½

T' Super Big Bertha comes in a cardboard box that helps t' protect t' components very well. Aye aye! None o' t' parts were missing, and all were in good condition. Begad! T' materials are t' typical good quality Estes components. T' kit includes two large body tubes, body tube coupler, me hearties, nose cone, matey, ya bilge rat, long motor mount tube, Engine hook, shiver me timbers, matey, 4 centerin' rings, matey, two balsa wood sheets for fins, assembled parachute, a ridiculously short shock cord, me hearties, me bucko, and a decal sheet.

T' instructions are a reprint o' t' original 1989 instructions. Arrr! Blimey! Included in t' kit is another sheet o' instructions that points out t' new shape o' t' engine hook as well as t' pre-assembled parachute. Blimey! Blimey! T' instructions follow a logical order and are illustrated heavily in t' typical Estes fashion. A wrap around fin markin' guide is also included.

T' kit assembles easily. There is nothin' out o' t' ordinary with this kit. Avast! T' only thin' that you will notice is that this kit is big. T' length o' t' rocket can be a challenge t' handle durin' t' assembly process.

I did do two minor modifications t' t' kit. Blimey! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! T' first was t' poke a row o' holes down t' attachment lines for t' fins. Ya scallywag! Blimey! This allows t' glue t' flow through t' holes t' form a stronger joint.

T' second modification was t' add a baffle for t' ejection gasses. Begad! Arrr! This was in response t' t' instructions callin' for 12 t' 14 sheets o' recovery wadding, which I felt was a little excessive. T' baffle causes t' ejection gasses t' make two 90 degree turns before it enters t' parachute compartment. This will stop any o' t' hot particles and allow t' hot gasses t' continue. Begad! T' add t' baffle I followed these steps. Blimey! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Betwixt step 7a and 7b, I took t' one remainin' centerin' rin' and punched 8 holes around t' ring. Avast! Ahoy! Then I took a hole punch and added 8 holes near t' upper end o' t' engine mount tube. Avast! Next I took t' disks that were punched out o' t' center o' t' centerin' rings, glued t' stack o' four together, and allowed them t' dry. Ahoy! Avast! Then I sanded this stack until it fit in t' top o' t' engine tube, and glued them there. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! Now finish step 7b as illustrated. Avast, me proud beauty! In step 8 do nay put glue in t' remainin' body tube, ya bilge rat, use a long stick and apply t' glue from t' top once t' two body tubes are joined together. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! T' rest o' t' kit is assembled in t' normal manner. Avast!

T' rocket is finished in t' normal manner. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Sandin' sealer on t' fins, primer, then an overall coat o' white paint. Once this is dry t' lower part o' t' rocket is painted red with t' exception o' one fin. Well, blow me down! There are two peel and stick decals that are t' be applied, One is a set o' red rings that are applied just above t' section that was previously painted red. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! This decal can be used as a template if you would like t' paint t' rings when t' rest o' t' red is painted in order t' match t' colors more closely. Ya scallywag! Begad! T' second decal be t' "Super Big Bertha" Logo, matey, which is slightly redundant at this point. Ya scallywag! If you finish your rocket in this manner it will be unmistakable at any launch, me bucko, nay t' mention it is almost three feet tall as well.

Flight/Recovery: Rating: 4

T' only motor recommended for this bird be t' D12-5. Well, blow me down! It is held in with t' standard Estes engine hook. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Then t' 12 t' 14 sheets o' waddin' are added along with t' parachute on top. Avast, me proud beauty! I used 2 sheets with t' modification.

Both flights so far have been on a D12-5. Ahoy! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! T' delay for this motor seems a tad long for this size o' rocket. Ahoy! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! T' first flight was near perfect with t' ejection comin' shortly after apogee. Aye aye! Blimey! T' parachute is sized almost perfectly for this model, I wouldn't even add a spill hole. T' rocket be then smartly re-prepped for a second flight. Arrr! Blimey! This time t' rocket weathercocked more and t' ejection charge fired long after apogee, matey, matey, almost halfway back t' t' ground. Begad! Blimey! At t' speed o' t' rocket t' nose cone was barely pushed away from t' body and t' parachute was blown back over t' body o' t' rocket. T' resultin' swan dive crimped t' body tube slightly in front o' t' last centerin' ring. Well, me bucko, blow me down! Blimey! T' body tube also cut a crescent shaped hole in t' parachute on impact. Blimey! Blimey! Considerin' this, shiver me timbers, I would like t' try this on a D12-3 and see if t' delay is more appropriate for this model. t' old Estes catalogs list t' D12-3 as t' motor for t' "first Flight".

Summary: Rating: 4

This is an interestin' upscale o' t' venerable Big Bertha. Arrr! T' construction is easy, but t' requirement for 12-14 sheets o' waddin' seems excessive. Avast, me proud beauty! I would like t' see baffle construction, arrr, since they can use t' Centuri baffle, but I guess they have a vested interest in sellin' waddin' as well as motors. Begad! Ya scallywag! Overall this model is easily seen and gives great slow flights on t' "D" motors.