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

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

This rocket was very easy t' build, even for a twelve year old. Begad! Instructions were excellent, well illustrated and written. Begad! Avast! T' three black motor mount parts act as centerin' rings and t' motor block. Arrr! One cements t' motor mount in, makin' sure t' launch lug holes are aligned. Then you cement t' fins and launch lugs in. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! T' shock cord and its mount are attached t' t' rocket, followed by t' nose cone and parachute. Arrr! Everythin' fits very well and sturdy for an Estes rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! T' shock cord was too short though, arrr, although I didn't think so that time. 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. Blimey! Blimey! T' fin decals were very large and covered almost t' whole fin. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! 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. Begad! T' motor was a tight fit and difficult t' remove before t' rocket be launched. There was motor retention, but it wasn't needed. Begad! This rocket requires three sheets o' wadding. Ahoy! I used an aluminum foil ball and two sheets o' wadding.

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

Recovery:
T' shock cord was too short, me bucko, ya bilge rat, so I added some nylon cord. Begad! T' external plastic shock cord mount was much better than t' tri-fold. Aye aye! Aye aye! It doesn't look that bad because it is streamlined.

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

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

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5