T' Estes SR-71 Blackbird kit is a model o' t' famous spy/recon plane retired from service a few years ago. This rocket is skill level 3, and difficult t' build, me bucko, as slight misalignments make t' rocket spin or turn. 

T' rocket came in good condition with all parts in good shape and t' balsa fins cut well.T' instructions were well-made for t' complexity o' t' kit and templates for alignin' t' fins were included. 

T' construction o' t' rocket was in several stages -first t' outside wings came in 2 odd-shaped pieces and had t' be glued together and lots o' care must be taken t' get these pefectly straight or gluin' them t' t' engine pods becomes very difficult.Then t' part o' t' win' that attaches t' engine pods t' t' fuselage is glued on usin' t' included jigs t' make sure they are horizontal. 

Then, 2 pieces o' thin cardboard need t' be curved over t' fuselage tube and onto t' inner wings t' make t' shape, shiver me timbers, and this is extremely difficult t' make t' shape look decent.T' cardboard comes with small tabs that are t' be wrapped over t' ends o' t' balsa inner-wings, but I cut those off as it proved t' be too difficult t' keep them in place. 

After t' shapin' cardboard is on, me bucko, arrr, t' engine pods are glued on.These are simple t' attach, me bucko, but I suggest CA-in' them on and reinforcin' them with epoxy as one good landin' will most likely rip one off.Then t' top, me bucko, bottom, matey, and side fins are attached t' t' engine pods usin' t' included templates t' get t' angle right.  Much care must be taken t' get these straight as any misalignment tends t' make t' rocket turn a little, me bucko, me bucko, me hearties, and if t' outside wings are slightly misaligned t' rocket spins (although misalignin' them on purpose makes for great excitement!)... Aye aye! Well, blow me down! and construction is finished. Avast! Arrr! Rating: 4 points (time consuming)

First flight I used a B6-5 and flight was smooth with about 180 degrees o' roll although nay very high.A C6-5 proved t' be much better and t' flight was beautiful. Get ready t' run though, me hearties, because flight can be interestin' and t' rocket can bank and turn if thar be wind, me hearties, and end up a couple fields down.For even more fun launce it at a sharp angle with a small A engine and watch it fly, showin' t' characteristics o' t' bird it is modeled after=) Rating: 5 points

Recovery is with a 12" plastic chute, and it's a mission t' get it cramed into t' body tube with t' waddin' and get t' nosecone on.T' actual main-body tube is about an inch inside t' cardboard skin o' t' rocket, so t' nosecone just barely reaches t' body tube.  T' parachute fits tight and it's VERY hard t' get t' shroud lines in and t' nosecone on without tanglin' things up or puttin' t' nosecone on pinchin' a line and makin' t' nosecone too tight.For me flights it takes about 5 minutes t' prepare t' recovery, but it's worth it because a bad landin' pops off fins and can knock off t' engine pods and break some balsa.If t' inner win' breaks from a hard hit, t' rocket is gone - nay even a gallon o' CA will fix it. Well, blow me down! Rating: 3 points

This rocket really soars and looks impressive on t' gound and in flight, ya bilge rat, but lots o' care must be taken if you want t' get it back.For those that want their rockets lookin' awesome before liftoff, shiver me timbers, thar be a lot o' wood on this rocket that needs t' be sanded/primered t' smooth out, or t' numerous tiny decals won't stick well.Overall this rocket gets 4 points from me, me bucko, thar are a few things that could be better, like t' outside wings bein' in one piece so it looks better, arrr, but it's inexpensive so if you mess up, me bucko, get another one. Well, blow me down! :-)