Brief:
Smaller version o' Estes' classic Der Red Max kit. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! It has a balsa nose cone, waterslide decals, streamer recover and is powereed by Estes 13mm Mini Motors. Ahoy! Arrr! T' model be built and t' review submitted as part o' the 2010 EMRR Challenge for t' "Hit List" component.

Construction:

• 1 - 13mm Engine Mount Tube
• 1 - Estes Engine Hook
• 1 - Mylar Hook Retainer
• 1 - 13mm Engine Block
• 2 - Laser Cut Centerin' Rings
• 1 - 5" BT-50 Body Tube
• 3 - Laser Cut Balsa Fins
• 1 - Launch Lug
• 1 - Screw Eye
• 1 - Balsa Nose Cone
• 1 - Elastic Shock Cord
• 1 - Streamer
• 1 - Waterslide Decal Sheet

The quality o' this kit was very good. Ya scallywag! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Blimey! I had purchased two kits for t' "Hit List" part o' t' EMRR 2010 Challenge. Both arrived from http://LongLongJonRocket.com in great condition. T' parts were very good quality. Arrr! Aye aye! Blimey! I especially liked t' quality o' t' nose cone and fins.

As with all Estes’ kits I have built, arrr, t' instructions were very clear and easy t' follow. They had plenty o' illustrations for first time modelers. Ya scallywag!

First is sandin' t' fins. T' instructions show me preferred method. Well, blow me down! Sand each side o' t' fin sheet before removin' t' fins. Arrr! Then cut them out and "stack" them when sandin' t' edges. Aye aye! This helps t' keep them uniform. T' leadin' edges were rounded and t' root and trailin' edges left squared.

T' motor mount is then assembled with t' motor tube, shiver me timbers, two centerin' rings, me hearties, me hearties, an engine hook and Mylar hook retainer. Begad! This was pretty straight forward.

Tube markin' is them done with a cut-out markin' wrap and lines extended with a door jam or other angled marking tool.

T' three fins are then glued on and aligned. Ahoy! Blimey! A fin alignment guide is provided, printed on t' instruction sheet. Arrr!

T' body tube is then marked for t' launch lug attachment and t' lug is sanded and glued on. Avast, me proud beauty!

T' motor mount is then glued into t' body tube flush with t' end. Ahoy! Arrr! This is a change from many other Estes kits. Many glue in t' motor mount before attachin' t' fins. Avast!

T' instructions then call for screwin' in t' eyelet t' t' balsa nose cone. Blimey! There be no mention o' gluin' in t' eyelet in t' instructions. Begad!

I sanded t' nose cone, filled it with Elmer's Wood Filler, and sanded again.

For t' eyelet, screwed t' eyelet in t' center o' t' nose cone base and then unscrewed it. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I epoxied it in the hole and spread some epoxy around t' base. With larger rockets, me hearties, I would have epoxied in a harder wood dowel for mountin' t' eyelet. Avast! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey!

T' shock cord attachment uses t' standard three-fold Estes method. T' folded, matey, glued mount is then glued in the top o' t' body tube far enough down nay t' block t' base o' t' nose cone when inserted. Begad!

I prefer t' use Keelhaul®©™® cord attached t' t' motor mount, matey, but stuck t' t' instructions for this review.

Finishing:
T' balsa fins and nose cone were very good quality and were easy t' sand smooth and finish.

Fillets were applied t' t' fins and launch lug and let t' dry.

T' instructions called for fillin' and sandin' t' nose cone and fins. Blimey! Begad! I did this and also filled t' body tube spirals at t' same time. Ahoy!

I filled t' spirals on t' body tube for this stock Mini Max and decided t' nay fill t' spirals on t' modified Mini Max t' show t' difference. Arrr!

Fillin' in t' spirals does make a difference... Blimey!

I used cheaper ColorPlace primer and paint from Wal-Mart with very good results. Begad! It's about 1/3 t' cost o' the Krylon they sell and I often get better results with t' cheaper one. Begad! Both brands are made by t' same company. Arrr!

T' waterslide decals are applied last. Begad! After they had dried for a day, I painted Future floor wax over them with a fine, flat paint brush t' seal and protect them. Begad! Begad!

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
We flew three flights on Estes A3-4T motors. Ya scallywag! All flights were nice and straight despite t' wind we had that day. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! This is a great flyin' little rocket.

Recovery:
Recovery be great on all three flights with t' provided streamer. Well, blow me down! Arrr! No damage at all.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
I had fun buildin' both this unmodified Estes Mini Max and a modified version. Well, arrr, blow me down! Both flew great on t' A3-4T motors. Begad! Ya scallywag! I highly recommend this kit.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5