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

Construction:
T' Space Shuttle came packaged like a typical Estes kit (plastic bags, arrr, me hearties, etc). Well, blow me down! Blimey! This is definitely a skill-level-4 kit with 16 pages o' detailed instructions containin' 53 steps. Ya scallywag! Blimey! It claims t' require 4 types o' glue and 6 colors o' paint. Blimey! Blimey! T' parts list includes 27 line items includin' t' chute, arrr, decals, etc. Begad! Blimey! T' balsa fins, me hearties, arrr, cardboard body wraps/detailing, arrr, and vacuum-molded Orbiter components are all die cut. Begad! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! 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. I figured it was good enough for several flights, and I probably will nay fly it too often. 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, plastic cement, and liquid plastic cement), me hearties, I used CA (medium and thick) instead. Aye aye! Begad! I assembled t' entire booster (main tank/SRBs) this way and it worked fine. Begad! Later, arrr, when I got t' t' Orbiter, which is almost all plastic, I broke down and got some liquid plastic cement. Begad! I want t' point out a general rule in buildin' models - one that I don't seem t' follow. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! That is, read ALL t' instructions before you start. I didn't pay attention and used t' elastic strin' required for t' adjustment o' t' Orbiter's elevons in another spot. Begad! Begad! DUH. I did, however, matey, ya bilge rat, find a suitable replacement when buildin' t' Orbiter. My feeble mind was confused by t' fact that t' chute came pre-assembled, me hearties, and t' instructions called for a piece o' twine from t' chute. Begad! Begad! I followed t' instructions pretty much as is, arrr, but I did skip ahead at times t' keep busy while parts dried. I found one fin was broken out o' t' bag; however, this was easily fixed with some glue and tissue. Begad! I stopped at t' point that t' main tank, arrr, SRBs, and removable fin units were complete. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! At this point, arrr, I decided that I would separately paint each section. Avast, me proud beauty! 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. Well, blow me down! T' first step in trimmin' t' Orbiter glider is balancin' it and adjustin' t' nose weight. T' kit provides two weights. Ya scallywag! I used one weight and some clay instead o' cuttin' t' second one up. Avast! Next, matey, shiver me timbers, you adjust t' elevons with a strin' that is run through t' center engine nozzle in t' rear. Ya scallywag! This strin' pulls on a plastic arm on t' elevon assembly, arrr, me bucko, while t' elastic strin' mentioned earlier maintains tension. Blimey! After quite a bit o' adjustment, ya bilge rat, t' Orbiter still seems t' glide like a brick (kind o' like t' real thing?). Ahoy! If I was confident in me detailed model buildin' abilities, me hearties, 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. Avast! As I mentioned above, these were painted prior t' their final assembly. Ahoy! I used white spray paint and t' rest was brush-on. Begad! I didn't want t' buy multiple spray paints, me bucko, arrr, nor am I that skilled in maskin' small details. Avast! I even mixed me own light gray-green for t' tip o' t' Orbiter's nose and t' leadin' edge o' t' wings. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! T' decals are t' water-slide variety. They went on fine, but some o' t' smaller ones literally blew away when I sprayed t' final clear coat. Well, blow me down! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! T' end result, matey, like many o' me finish jobs, matey, looks good from a distance.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

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

Recovery:
T' recovery system is typical Estes with an elastic shock cord and a plastic chute. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Ejection appeared t' occur just before apogee and t' Booster separated, arrr, just as it was supposed to. Begad! It turned with t' wind and came down at a fairly steep angle, again, me hearties, me hearties, just like t' real thing. Begad! Aye aye! It landed nicely without damage. Ahoy! T' one problem be singein' on t' elastic shock cord, which is no big surprise. Avast! 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. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Great lookin' scale model. Arrr! Blimey! 2. Avast! Blimey! Relatively easy t' build, considerin' t' number o' components. 3. Arrr! Blimey! Realistic lookin' boost and Orbiter recovery. Aye aye! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! 4. Arrr! Blimey! Neat rocket!

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5