Brief:
Minimum diameter rocket with a sleek, arrr, compact design. Begad! Aye aye! Blimey! Uses a parachute for recovery. Begad! Avast! Blimey! Flights t' 2,000 feet are possible with this kit.

Modifications:
Replaced Parachute with a Custom Streamer.

Construction:
T' kit came packaged in a plastic bag with t' usual header card. Begad! Blimey! T' kit included t' body tube which doubles as t' motor mount, retention hook and sleeve, matey, thrust ring, spacer tube, die-cut balsa fins, launch lug, shock cord, nose cone and insert, pre-assembled 12 inch parachute and a single name decal. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Estes is obviously goin' cheap on decals.

T' instructions were typical Estes material with great illustrations and text that was very simple t' understand and included t' shock cord mount and tube markin' guide.

Even a beginner should have no problem assemblin' this kit.

T' construction started by gluin' t' insert into t' nose cone as this cone is a two-piece

unit.

I then marked t' spacer tube at t' location shown in t' instructions t' insert t' thrust rin' into t' body tube. Now t' thrust rin' is glued into place.

I cut out t' guide from t' instructions and marked t' lines for t' fins and launch lug. Begad! Begad! I highly reccommend that you slightly scuff t' surface o' t' body tube with 400 grit sandpaper t' give t' glue some more "bite".

I now cut t' slot in t' body tube for insertion o' t' motor hook and then glued t' sleeve in place t' secure it. Begad! I really don't like t' way this looks.

I attached t' fins one at a time allowin' a few minutes o' dryin' time betwixt each. I then applied some fillets for added strength. Ahoy! Blimey! I attached t' launch lug next.

I now assembled t' shock cord mount waited for it t' dry and then attached it.

I threw t' parachute into me parts box as I had no intention o' usin' it. Begad! Blimey! This kit is far too light and flies too high for a parachute. Blimey! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I replaced it with a streamer that I cut out from an old plastic table cloth.

PROS: Quick and easy construction

CONS: None, that is if you don't mind t' externally mounted motor hook and sleeve.

Finishing:
I started by sprayin' t' model with Ace brand white primer and sanded betwixt coats.

I really liked t' stock scheme but without decals, I would find it nearly impossible t' duplicate it.

I sprayed on some Testor's gloss orange for me fin stripes. Well, blow me down! I then masked that off and then sprayed t' body with Testor's grape pearl. I then topped off t' model with a black nose cone. I then applied t' name decal.

I then tied on me homemade streamer t' finish t' model.

PROS: Easy t' finish.

CONS: More decals would have been nice.

Construction Rating: 3

Flight:
T' recommended motors for this rocket are t' 1/2A6-2, A8-3, A8-5, matey, matey, B4-4, me bucko, shiver me timbers, B6-4, B6-6, shiver me timbers, matey, C6-5, arrr, C6-7.

Th

is rocket does require recovery waddin' and should be carefully packed. Begad! Blimey! T' hook holds t' motor in place durin' flight. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! I suppose that t' motors could also be friction fitted.

For me first flight, shiver me timbers, me bucko, me bucko, I used an A8-3, arrr, matey, WOW!!! Even with this little motor, matey, matey, t' rocket zipped off t' pad t' about 350-400 feet. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! Nay bad for an A.

For me second flight, I used another A8-3. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! Even though I had t' cut off a 1/2 inch section o' t' body tube, t' rocket still flew great and probably went higher than t' first flight.

PROS: Flies great, ya bilge rat, even on small motors.

CONS: Can be hard t' track, especially if you use t' larger motors.

Recovery:
It's time t' explain why I had t' cut off a 1/2 inch section o' body tube.

On t' first launch, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, me hearties, I heard a clink and I knew that that was nay a good sound. After I recovered t' rocket, I noticed t' severe dent in t' top o' t' body tube.

On t' second flight t' rocket received another small dent. Begad! This is another kit that suffers from a too-short shock cord.

With a streamer however, t' rocket comes down fast enough t' be recovered fairly close but slow enough t' survive. Well, blow me down! If you build this kit, please consider this option.

PROS: Recovers nicely with a streamer.

CONS: TOO SHORT SHOCK CORD!!! Come on Estes!!!

Flight Rating: 3

Summary:
I really liked this kit. Avast, me proud beauty! However, it does suffer from some o' Estes trademarks such as a shock cord that is too short and I can't imagine what they were thinkin' when they chose a parachute for this kit. Avast, me proud beauty! Also more decals please!

For about $7.69, arrr, me hearties, this kit is worth t' loot if you lengthen t' shock cord which is what I'll do if I build another. Blimey! Also ditch t' parachute and consider a streamer.

Also, this kit taught me t' take a picture o' your rocket before t' first flight because it might nay look t' same afterwards.

Overall Rating: 4