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

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

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

This rocket has gone through two flights. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' first flight be on a B6-4, my first B motor flight. Begad! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! T' motor boosted t' rocket straight, arrr, t' a moderate altitude. 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, but still very high. I replaced t' parachute with a long streamer on this flight.

Recovery:
T' shock cord be too short, shiver me timbers, matey, so I added some nylon cord. 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, me hearties, I used t' parachute, with no spill hole. It drifted for about 200 feet and came down very slowly. Begad! On t' second flight, matey, the rocket used a streamer, and landed in a puddle. Aye aye! I went t' t' rocket very quickly, me hearties, 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! Begad! Try a D21-7. Blimey! Avast! This rocket probably won't shred, but it will burn due t' t' ejection charge against a plastic motor block. Arrr! He he he... Begad!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5