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

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

This rocket was very easy t' build, even for a twelve year old. Ahoy! Well, arrr, blow me down! Instructions were excellent, matey, well illustrated and written. Blimey! T' three black motor mount parts act as centerin' rings and t' motor block. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! One cements t' motor mount in, makin' sure t' launch lug holes are aligned. Aye aye! Then you cement t' fins and launch lugs in. Avast! T' shock cord and its mount are attached t' t' rocket, followed by t' nose cone and parachute. Arrr! Avast! Everythin' fits very well and sturdy for an Estes rocket. Well, blow me down! T' shock cord was too short though, although I didn't think so that time. Begad! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' fin decals were very large and covered almost t' whole fin. Avast! 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. Ya scallywag! T' motor was a tight fit and difficult t' remove before t' rocket was launched. Aye aye! There was motor retention, but it wasn't needed. Avast, me proud beauty! This rocket requires three sheets o' wadding. Avast, me proud beauty! 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, my first B motor flight. Avast! T' motor boosted t' rocket straight, shiver me timbers, t' a moderate altitude. Ahoy! Begad! T' second flight be on a C6-5. Because t' Banshee be launched at an angle, t' rocket didn't go as high as I expected, shiver me timbers, but still very high. I replaced t' parachute with a long streamer on this flight.

Recovery:
T' shock cord was too short, matey, me hearties, so I added some nylon cord. Arrr! T' external plastic shock cord mount was much better than t' tri-fold. It doesn't look that bad because it is streamlined.

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

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

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a great 18 mm rocket. 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. Begad! Blimey! Also, don't insert t' motor until you are at t' launch pad so you won't change your mind. T' motor is a pain t' remove.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5