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

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

This rocket was very easy t' build, ya bilge rat, even for a twelve year old. Ahoy! Instructions were excellent, matey, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, well illustrated and written. 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. Then you cement t' fins and launch lugs in. Ya scallywag! T' shock cord and its mount are attached t' t' rocket, followed by t' nose cone and parachute. Begad! Everythin' fits very well and sturdy for an Estes rocket. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! T' shock cord be too short though, matey, me hearties, 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. Arrr! 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 was somewhat difficult. T' motor be a tight fit and difficult t' remove before t' rocket be launched. Avast! Blimey! There was motor retention, but it wasn't needed. Ya scallywag! Blimey! This rocket requires three sheets o' wadding. Begad! Blimey! I used an aluminum foil ball and two sheets o' wadding.

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

Recovery:
T' shock cord be too short, me bucko, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, 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, ya bilge rat, me bucko, shiver me timbers, I used t' parachute, arrr, shiver me timbers, with no spill hole. Blimey! It drifted for about 200 feet and came down very slowly. Aye aye! On t' second flight, shiver me timbers, the rocket used a streamer, me bucko, ya bilge rat, and landed in a puddle. Blimey! Ya scallywag! I went t' t' rocket very quickly, 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. Try a D21-7. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! This rocket probably won't shred, but it will burn due t' t' ejection charge against a plastic motor block. Well, me bucko, blow me down! Blimey! He he he...

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5