Brief:
This kit is part o' Estes "E2X" series o' kits which are easy t' assemble 'almost ready t' fly' types. Begad! T' Mach 12 comes with pre-colored body parts, and needs only plastic cement t' build. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! It comes with an 18" parachute.

Construction:
This kit is BT-55 based, me hearties, and come w/ a body tube in two sections which are joined via a plastic coupler which has an integrated launch lug. Arrr! Aye aye! Blimey! T' nose cone is plastic, and be t' best I'd ever seen from Estes. Nay one imperfection or any bit o' flashing.

Two interestin' things about this kit -- t' motor mount & t' fins. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! T' mount is simply a plastic tube glued together, arrr, me hearties, which also serves as t' fin can. Motor retention is done via a screw on plastic tail piece. Arrr! T' kit comes with 3 sets o' 4 fins which allow for up t' 12 different fin configurations, matey, so says t' box. T' fins can be easily changed, shiver me timbers, and fit nicely into slots on t' fin can. Aye aye! T' parachute be 18", shiver me timbers, and I have opted t' use a 12" in its place. Arrr! This is a light kit, and any wind would blow it away in no time. Arrr! t' shock cord was too small.

This kit be t' easiest Estes kit I've ever assembled. Avast, me proud beauty! T' instruction are clear, and leave no room for questions. Avast! Ahoy! It doesn't take much t' finish this off. Ahoy! Blimey! I did use a length o' Keelhaul®©™thread as a shock cord anchor, arrr, but otherwise I build it stock. Ahoy! T' decals are self adhesive, and look good. As stated above, arrr, I swapped out t' 18" chute for a 12".

T' only thin' I didn't like about this be t' plastic-to-paper joints. Well, blow me down! They don't inspire much confidence, although they did hold together for t' 2 flights it has had.

Finishing:
PROS: no finishin' required, me hearties, ya bilge rat, since all parts are pre-colored. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! Can't say t' black/yellow/orange scheme be t' best I could think of, but it will be hard t' lose in green grass :). Aye aye! Decals go on easily

CONS: none, really. Ahoy! Blimey! There was nothin' t' go wrong with it.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I've flown it twice, both times on B6-4's since that was all I had kickin' around. Begad! Nice straight flights each time, me hearties, w/ nice recovery. Ya scallywag! T' 12" chute works fine. I used t' same fins on each flight, but may experiment in t' future. On a C6, shiver me timbers, this kit would go nicely. No damage on either flight.

Recovery:
T' 12" chute is sufficient for this kit. Well, blow me down! I'd keep t' 18" for some other kit that needs it.

T' Keelhaul®©™thread used as an anchor is now standard procedure for all me kits, arrr, and I've nay had a burn through failure yet.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
If you are lookin' for a real easy t' assemble, arrr, matey, ya bilge rat, fun kit and want t' fly it soon, this is your baby. Begad! Aye aye! I bought it since it on sale for $4, ya bilge rat, and me visitin' nephew would probably like t' see it fly. Blimey! Begad! Its a great kit t' have for when you want t' fly a small, ya bilge rat, but interestin' rocket.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5