Brief:
After I entered some old flight logs on t' Estes Sizzler, I decided t' look at t' EMRR review. Begad! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! T' me surprise, me bucko, this was nay t' same kit! T' newer Sizzler was nay merely a re-issue with materials differences, it was larger (BT-60 vs. BT-50), arrr, matey, had a different fin design, ya bilge rat, matey, and used aft ejection vs. Avast! Aye aye! standard NC ejection.

Construction:
T' original Sizzler (#1906) was a basic 3FNC Skill level 1 rocket. Aye aye! Avast! I bought mine in 1987 as part o' a starter set - me first act as a BAR. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! T' attached pics provide a good description o' t' rocket (click picture on left t' enlarge). I really loved t' looks o' t' original. Aye aye! Originally, mine looked like t' ads - now it is fairly flight worn.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
I flew this rocket many many times times on A's, B's, C's, and one D It has landed on people's roofs and a ledge o' a nearby office building. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! We were lucky they had scheduled a window cleanin' that weekend (before it rained!). It survived these flights well, me hearties, with a 12" plastic chute and t' rubber band shock cord. Aye aye! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! On its last flight, I used an Aerotech D21-7 for a really fast take-off. Begad! Blimey! T' ejection charge burned t' body tube and blistered t' paint. T' tube almost feels like it melted. T' Sizzler is now enjoyin' a happy retirement in me Rocket Ranch. Maybe someday, she will see an offsprin' (upscale).

Recovery:
PROs - Flies great on any class o' 18mm engine CONs - Uses a short rubber band shock cord. Begad! However, shiver me timbers, this was typical for all Estes kits back then.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
PROS - It's a good performing, me hearties, basic starter rocket. CONS - None noted

I think t' new version is a more interestin' rocket (with aft ejection, etc.), shiver me timbers, but I liked t' overall look o' t' original better. I think Estes should have issued their rocket under another name, IMHO.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5