Brief:
This is a review o' t' OOP Estes Master's Series Space Shuttle, me bucko, EST# 1284. It is a 1/162 scale replica o' t' Space Shuttle and includes both Orbiter and booster sections. These sections are connected at launch, boost on a single C5-3 or C6-3 engine, shiver me timbers, and separate when t' 'main engine' ejects. Ya scallywag! T' Orbiter uses glide recovery while t' booster uses a parachute. For flight, shiver me timbers, thar are removable fin units that mount in t' SRBs. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! For display, ya bilge rat, plastic nozzles are provided.

Construction:
T' Space Shuttle came packaged like a typical Estes kit (plastic bags, shiver me timbers, etc). Arrr! Blimey! This is definitely a skill-level-4 kit with 16 pages o' detailed instructions containin' 53 steps. Blimey! It claims t' require 4 types o' glue and 6 colors o' paint. Begad! Blimey! T' parts list includes 27 line items includin' t' chute, me bucko, decals, me bucko, etc. Aye aye! T' balsa fins, me hearties, cardboard body wraps/detailing, and vacuum-molded Orbiter components are all die cut. Aye aye! T' die cut plastic components made t' Orbiter assembly a lot easier, as I never seem t' get a good fit when I have t' cut them with a cutlass.

I built t' kit stock, down t' t' elastic shock cord. Aye aye! I figured it be good enough for several flights, and I probably will nay fly it too often. Ahoy! I substituted Titebond for t' white glue, and since I didn't want t' go out and buy 3 types o' glue that I normally don't use (contact cement, shiver me timbers, plastic cement, and liquid plastic cement), I used CA (medium and thick) instead. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! I assembled t' entire booster (main tank/SRBs) this way and it worked fine. Later, when I got t' t' Orbiter, which is almost all plastic, shiver me timbers, I broke down and got some liquid plastic cement. I want t' point out a general rule in buildin' models - one that I don't seem t' follow. Begad! That is, read ALL t' instructions before you start. Well, blow me down! I didn't pay attention and used t' elastic strin' required for t' adjustment o' t' Orbiter's elevons in another spot. Arrr! DUH. Ya scallywag! I did, matey, however, arrr, shiver me timbers, find a suitable replacement when buildin' t' Orbiter. Avast! My feeble mind be confused by t' fact that t' chute came pre-assembled, me bucko, and t' instructions called for a piece o' twine from t' chute. Blimey! I followed t' instructions pretty much as is, but I did skip ahead at times t' keep busy while parts dried. Ya scallywag! I found one fin be broken out o' t' bag; however, this was easily fixed with some glue and tissue. Well, blow me down! I stopped at t' point that t' main tank, SRBs, shiver me timbers, and removable fin units were complete. Begad! Ahoy! At this point, shiver me timbers, I decided that I would separately paint each section. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! After these sections are assembled, ya bilge rat, it would be very difficult t' paint them different colors. T' fit o' t' plastic Orbiter parts was nay perfect, but nay too bad. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' first step in trimmin' t' Orbiter glider is balancin' it and adjustin' t' nose weight. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! T' kit provides two weights. Begad! I used one weight and some clay instead o' cuttin' t' second one up. Next, you adjust t' elevons with a strin' that is run through t' center engine nozzle in t' rear. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! This strin' pulls on a plastic arm on t' elevon assembly, matey, while t' elastic strin' mentioned earlier maintains tension. Blimey! After quite a bit o' adjustment, me bucko, t' Orbiter still seems t' glide like a brick (kind o' like t' real thing?). Begad! Begad! If I was confident in me detailed model buildin' abilities, ya bilge rat, I would give a construction ratin' o' 2.5, shiver me timbers, but will give it t' benefit o' t' doubt and bump it up a point.

Finishing:
I decided t' use t' current Shuttle paint scheme, with a brown main tank and white boosters. As I mentioned above, me bucko, these were painted prior t' their final assembly. Avast, me proud beauty! I used white spray paint and t' rest was brush-on. Aye aye! Arrr! Blimey! I didn't want t' buy multiple spray paints, nor am I that skilled in maskin' small details. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I even mixed me own light gray-green for t' tip o' t' Orbiter's nose and t' leadin' edge o' t' wings. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' decals are t' water-slide variety. Well, blow me down! Well, me bucko, blow me down! Blimey! They went on fine, but some o' t' smaller ones literally blew away when I sprayed t' final clear coat. Ahoy! Begad! Blimey! T' end result, like many o' me finish jobs, looks good from a distance.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
T' kit flies on C5-3 and C6-3 engines only. Blimey! I chose a C6-3 because that is what I had available. Begad! T' winds were blowin' betwixt 5-10 mph (my guess) when I launched. T' boost was slow (read that realistic) and thar was some wobble and weathercocking.

Recovery:
T' recovery system is typical Estes with an elastic shock cord and a plastic chute. Avast, me proud beauty! Ejection appeared t' occur just before apogee and t' Booster separated, ya bilge rat, just as it was supposed to. Begad! It turned with t' wind and came down at a fairly steep angle, again, just like t' real thing. Aye aye! It landed nicely without damage. Well, blow me down! T' one problem be singein' on t' elastic shock cord, which is no big surprise. Begad! I will have t' replace it before t' next flight - should have done it at t' start! I rate t' flight/recovery at 5/5, and take off ½ point for t' elastic shock cord.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
PROs 1. Begad! Great lookin' scale model. Begad! 2. Aye aye! Relatively easy t' build, considerin' t' number o' components. Ya scallywag! 3. Realistic lookin' boost and Orbiter recovery. 4. Neat rocket!

CONs 1. Well, blow me down! Fin stock be broken out o' t' package. Begad! 2. Blimey! Some steps are hard t' understand and require lookin' at all t' finishin' diagrams t' understand what is intended 3. Begad! T' fit o' t' Orbiter parts is so-so 4. Avast, me proud beauty! Junky recovery components - typical Estes.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5