Then thar's THE Fat Boy. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Maybe nay t' original, but Estes be t' one that trademarked t' name. Avast, me proud beauty! This be t' third 2.6" sport kit that I have reviewed for comparison sake. Ahoy! Begad! T' Fat Boy be t' shortest o' t' kits reviewed, bein' only 12.9" tall and weighin' 3 ounces. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! See me 2.6" Stubby Rocket Comparison Page

T' kit comes with an 8" single body tube and 3.875" plastic nose cone (the remainin' inch in height is from t' fin sweep). Aye aye! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Its 18mm motor mount comes with 1/32" die-cut cardboard centerin' rings and a motor retention clip. Begad! Blimey! It uses 3/32" die-cut balsa fins with through-the-wall mounting. Arrr! Blimey! It comes with an Estes' standard 18" plastic parachute, arrr, a 24" elastic shock cord (1/4" flat) which attaches via t' Estes' standard three-fold paper mount. It also includes a single launch lug and a decal sheet.

CONSTRUCTION:

There are six pages o' instructions which are heavily illustrated and very clearly defines t' steps o' construction, ya bilge rat, finishin' and preparation for flying. T' instructions are in a logical order and could get a new modeler through t' kit assembly. Ahoy! This bein' t' case, merits it's Beta Series (level 1) rating. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag!

There is nay a lot t' say about assembly because it be so straight forward, arrr, however, matey, matey, just a few comments about a couple o' steps and observations. Begad! Blimey!

T' first was t' assembly o' t' through-the-wall fins. Ahoy! Here t' fins are t' fit into t' pre-cut slots in t' body tube. Begad! Begad! These did nay fit and required extendin' each slot about 1/8" toward t' aft o' t' rocket. Avast! On t' positive side, me bucko, t' fins were arranged so that t' grain be parallel t' t' leadin' edge which improves strength. Arrr!

T' instructions were also clear in describin' t' use o' balsa filler on t' fins and in t' paint scheme. There was one illustration that be nay accurate describin' t' application o' t' decals. Blimey! Arrr! In t' illustration, shiver me timbers, it shows t' decal which spells out "FAT BOY" bein' applied on t' body tube and crossin' over onto t' nose cone. Arrr! Arrr! This decal is nay large enough t' do this. Avast, me proud beauty! T' package and catalog pictures t' decal accurately. Avast, me proud beauty!

Two changes where made t' t' recovery system. Avast, me proud beauty! First, ya bilge rat, instead o' t' three-fold paper mount, a short piece o' Keelhaul®©™ was attached t' t' thrust rin' and t' elastic shock cord was tied t' it at about t' same position t' paper mount would have gone. Ya scallywag! Secondly, arrr, me hearties, an 18" purple rip-stop nylon parachute be used. Ahoy! Arrr! Estes' parachutes work fine, shiver me timbers, me bucko, me hearties, however, nylon chutes are better t' prevent stickin' and are more durable all around. Arrr!

For finishin' I tried a couple o' different tactics than previous kits. Ya scallywag! I saw a note on t' RMR newsgroup suggestin' usin' plain ol' Elmer's Glue as a balsa fin filler. Ahoy! Arrr! I did this and it worked out quite well.

On top o' that, ya bilge rat, I used Walmart's primer this time. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! This stuff does nay sand nearly as well as Plasti-Kote's primer. I will revert back t' usin' Plasti-Kote primer for fillin' and Walmart's primer as t' final coat (when usin' Walmart's paint). Arrr!

Once I finished smoothin' and priming, shiver me timbers, matey, me hearties, an application o' $0. Ahoy! 98 Walmart enamel was added. This time a baby blue. Ya scallywag! After dryin' a day, t' decals were applied. Begad! T' decals are self-adhesive and are very shiny. Arrr! Begad! T' ensure consistency o' finish and protect t' decals a bit (not as necessary on self-adhesive decals), arrr, apply a coat o' clear finish. Arrr! I followed up with Walmart's Clear enamel. Avast! Begad! (additional comments about Walmart paint)

Overall, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 4 1/2 points. It would be nice t' see Estes go t' a different shock cord mount instead o' t' three-fold paper method. Ya scallywag! Other than t' misfit o' t' through-the-wall fins, construction be straight forward. Aye aye! Ya scallywag!

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

T' Estes Fat Boy™ isn't as "heavy" as t' Vaughn Brothers Blobbo™ and can get off o' t' pad a bit faster. Avast! This fact made me miss two launch shots! However, in similar wind conditions both rockets display a lot o' weather-cocking. Blimey! Aye aye! Both flights usin' C6-3's were parallel t' t' ground before apogee. Begad!

T' first flight be t' higher o' t' two test flights and t' wind carried t' rocket about 100 yards from t' launch pad after flyin' about 100 yards in t' opposite direction due t' weather-cocking. Arrr!

T' second flight, went much further out due t' weather-cocking. Aye aye! After about 200 yards, me hearties, t' parachute ejected and t' rocket dropped nearly straight t' t' ground. Well, blow me down! I had "reefed" t' parachute by tapin' t' shroud lines about 5" down from t' chute. Ahoy!

T' parachute, arrr, shroud lines and shock cord system all demonstrated performance and showed no sign o' wear or damage. Arrr! Ahoy! Blimey! There be a small black spot at t' top o' t' body tube which wiped away easily. Begad! Begad! Blimey!

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, shiver me timbers, I would rate this kit 4 1/2 points. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! I think an 18" parachute is too large for this kit. It needs a smaller chute or recommendation for a spill hole or reefing. Ahoy! I have seen others at t' range cut out t' center o' t' chute that says Estes on their Fat Boy kits so I assume they feel t' same way about t' descent rate bein' too slow. Begad!

Overall, me bucko, this kit is very easy t' build and fun too fly. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I give t' kit an OVERALL ratin' o' 4 1/2 points. Arrr!