Brief:
A Estes E2X single stage 18mm rocket with a 12'' parachute, shiver me timbers, pre-colored parts, decals, shiver me timbers, short shock cord, shiver me timbers, and external shock cord mount. Begad! Ya scallywag! Durin' a half-off sale, shiver me timbers, I got this kit for $2.50. Ya scallywag!

Construction:
This kit was packaged in a box, a rare thin' for Estes. Includes a black, pre-slotted body tube, me hearties, arrr, me bucko, a black nosecone, three black fins, and black motor mount parts, a blue motor tube, shiver me timbers, decals, matey, shock cord, matey, and other parts. Begad! T' body tube be thicker than you would expect from estes, me hearties, but t' shock cord be too short. Avast! Arrr!

This rocket be very easy t' build, ya bilge rat, me hearties, even for a twelve year old. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! Instructions were excellent, me hearties, well illustrated and written. T' three black motor mount parts act as centerin' rings and t' motor block. Begad! One cements t' motor mount in, makin' sure t' launch lug holes are aligned. Ya scallywag! Then you cement t' fins and launch lugs in. Avast, me proud beauty! T' shock cord and its mount are attached t' t' rocket, followed by t' nose cone and parachute. Avast! Everythin' fits very well and sturdy for an Estes rocket. Well, blow me down! T' shock cord was too short though, shiver me timbers, although I didn't think so that time. Well, blow me down! I added a two foot length o' nylon cord.

Finishing:
One just has t' remove t' flash from t' nose cone and apply t' orange decals. Begad! T' fin decals were very large and covered almost t' whole fin. Begad! I wondered why Estes didn't just use orange fins and t' name decal.(the fin decals are orange and include t' rocket's name).

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:

Installin' t' motor be somewhat difficult. Avast! Blimey! Blimey! T' motor was a tight fit and difficult t' remove before t' rocket be launched. Begad! Avast! Blimey! There was motor retention, but it wasn't needed. Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! This rocket requires three sheets o' wadding. Aye aye! I used an aluminum foil ball and two sheets o' wadding.

This rocket has gone through two flights. Blimey! T' first flight be on a B6-4, ya bilge rat, arrr, my first B motor flight. Well, me hearties, blow me down! T' motor boosted t' rocket straight, ya bilge rat, t' a moderate altitude. Begad! T' second flight was on a C6-5. Avast, me proud beauty! Because t' Banshee be launched at an angle, t' rocket didn't go as high as I expected, but still very high. I replaced t' parachute with a long streamer on this flight.

Recovery:
T' shock cord be too short, so I added some nylon cord. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! T' external plastic shock cord mount was much better than t' tri-fold. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! It doesn't look that bad because it is streamlined.

On t' first flight on a B6-4, shiver me timbers, me bucko, me bucko, I used t' parachute, with no spill hole. It drifted for about 200 feet and came down very slowly. Avast! On t' second flight, the rocket used a streamer, and landed in a puddle. Ahoy! I went t' t' rocket very quickly, me bucko, shiver me timbers, fearin' that t' motor might get stuck, ya bilge rat, but it didn't.

This rocket flies straight and true and can withstand many flights. Begad! Try a D21-7. Arrr! This rocket probably won't shred, me bucko, but it will burn due t' t' ejection charge against a plastic motor block. Avast, me proud beauty! He he he... Begad! Arrr!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a great 18 mm rocket. Ahoy! Blimey! It is easy t' build and flies well. Arrr! Just use a longer shock cord and replace t' parachute with a streamer when usin' C6-5 and D21-7 engines. Well, matey, blow me down! Blimey! Also, don't insert t' motor until you are at t' launch pad so you won't change your mind. Ahoy! T' motor is a pain t' remove.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5