Brief:
A Estes E2X single stage 18mm rocket with a 12'' parachute, me bucko, matey, pre-colored parts, decals, short shock cord, and external shock cord mount. Well, blow me down! Durin' a half-off sale, I got this kit for $2.50. Avast!

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

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

This rocket has gone through two flights. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! T' first flight was on a B6-4, matey, my first B motor flight. Aye aye! T' motor boosted t' rocket straight, t' a moderate altitude. Aye aye! T' second flight was on a C6-5. Avast! Because t' Banshee was launched at an angle, t' rocket didn't go as high as I expected, but still very high. Aye aye! Arrr! I replaced t' parachute with a long streamer on this flight.

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

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

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

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5