Brief:
This kit is easy t' build but, due t' t' amount o' detail, takes a great deal o' time t' build. Well, blow me down! It is a "scale" model o' a Star Wars X-Win' fighter.

Construction:
T' body consists o' several plastic parts that must be fit and clued, along with a center body tube. Arrr! It also has elaborate win' assemblies with many parts that must be fit together and carefully aligned. Begad! Fortunately t' pieces are well cut and fit together well with little or no trimmin' required.

T' instructions are well written and easy t' understand. Ahoy! Begad! However, don't expect t' throw it together and go flying. Ahoy! There are numerous steps and a lot o' glue-dryin' breaks. Ahoy! I spent a couple hours a weekend for over a month t' make sure it would do t' job. T' included alignment guides made construction very easy and trouble free. Well, blow me down! After t' first flight I reconstructed half t' model t' keep it together as it took only 1 hard landin' t' separate t' model from its numerous goodies/detail pieces. Begad! Avast! More on that in t' flight reviews. Ya scallywag! My recommendation is t' use CA for t' 'small' parts as white glue and plastic glue will nay hold this thin' together over t' long-haul. Avast! Avast! Naturally, as has been said here many times about Estes, arrr, double t' length o' t' shock cord unless YOU want t' get a shock. In me case, ya bilge rat, t' shock be when t' shock cord ripped a pieces o' t' center body tube out at ejection!

Finishing:
Finishin' involved shootin' a coat o' flat-white on t' entire model and a little bit o' hand-paintin' on t' cockpit and t' engines- easy enough. Arrr! T' decals are a different matter altogether. Begad! They are water-based, but really appeared t' have little or no glue on them. A clear coat is usually recommended, me bucko, here it is really required. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! T' decals are nay terribly hard t' position but they do nay stay well once set.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' first flight was on a C6-3 and was straight and surprisingly fast. Well, blow me down! T' model, ya bilge rat, for all o' its surface area and weight, ya bilge rat, arrr, flew higher than I expected. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Ejection be far too early and t' speed was sufficient t' rip t' shock cord out, complete with a piece o' t' center body tube. Begad! T' nose cone came down quite gently with t' 9" parachute attached. Avast, me proud beauty! T' body came down in several pieces. Arrr! Fortunately t' surface area o' it made it float a bit. otherwise t' damage would have been substantial. As it was, matey, shiver me timbers, no pieces were actually broken. Avast! T' pieces that came off were those that I glued accordin' t' t' instructions (the weapons and t' thrusters). I repaired t' damage, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, this time usin' CA and doublin' t' shock cord length, matey, and launched again t' next day. Ya scallywag! Begad! This tine I used a C6-5 and lift-off was t' same, arrr, as was t' flight. Ahoy! Ejection was perfect, matey, at apogee, ya bilge rat, and it floated down within 40' o' t' pad. Aye aye! No new damage. Blimey! Read this flight account twice again and that will cover t' 3rd and 4th flights. What a crowd pleaser! If I had nay run out o' C6-5's I'm nay sure I would have been allowed t' fly anythin' else!

Recovery:
As noted, arrr, double t' shock cord length. Begad! Begad! Blimey! O' all o' t' Estes models I have flown over t' years, this be t' first one that has needed this for me, shiver me timbers, and it really needs it! Blimey! Recovery, shiver me timbers, since t' noted changes, ya bilge rat, me hearties, has been excellent. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Just be careful packin' t' 'chute as thar be just enough space for it.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
Involved but easy construction, me hearties, me hearties, good detail, shiver me timbers, flies well. Ya scallywag! Avast! Once you get around t' decals and t' seemingly standard Estes gotcha, arrr, me bucko, this is a nice one t' have around.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5