Brief:

Oversized basic rocket, 24" parachute

Construction:
Three balsa fins, slots in t' aft body tube section t' help align them, 36 inches o' tube and a plastic nose cone. Begad! Uses t' standard paper shock cord mount.

This was me first BETA series rocket, and everythin' went together pretty easily. Begad! Aye aye! Blimey! T' only tools needed are white or yellow glue, sandpaper, me hearties, me hearties, a pencil, shiver me timbers, and a ruler. T' two tube couplers are supposed t' go in with 3/4 inch in each tube. T' rearward one, however, stuck in t' aft tube with only 1/4 o' an inch showing. Ya scallywag! I need t' be a little more careful with those things. Begad! Blimey! I also had a little trouble drawin' t' alignment line for t' launch lugs. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Otherwise, t' directions were clear and easy t' follow.

Finishing:
T' rocket is a simple introduction t' spray painting, with only one color over t' whole thing. Avast! It is in this section that t' Prowler's one gimmick shows up -- t' decals glow in t' dark. For me first attempt t' spray paint a rocket, t' finish be excellent. Avast! T' stylin' is better than on a lot o' other Estes kits.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
T' motors recommended in t' instructions are B4-2, B6-2, C5-3, and C6-3. I didn't have a C5-3, matey, but I substituted a C6-5. Ahoy! Blimey! Liftoff is loud and slow, shiver me timbers, me bucko, as is t' be expected for a 4-ounce rocket with C power. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! Blimey! T' Estes quote o' 360 feet on a C seems about right.

Recovery:
T' shock cord is attached with t' standard folded-paper mount. Blimey! It seems rugged enough, shiver me timbers, but recovery might be easier with t' Estes logo cut out o' t' middle o' t' parachute. Blimey! Ejection on t' B's, shiver me timbers, particularly t' B6-2, shiver me timbers, was noticeably early. I be thinkin' o' tryin' it on a B6-4. Begad! T' C6-3 be about right; t' 5 was so late that it might nay have worked if we weren't launchin' down a hill. Begad! Avast! A few tiny holes appeared in t' parachute, ya bilge rat, but I saw no shock cord damage.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
A great demonstration rocket, big, spectacular, and low-flying. Arrr! No problem except that t' parachute needs a spill hole, and occasionally smoke was seen comin' from t' grass below t' pad. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! This is goin' t' be a frequent flyer!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5