Then thar's THE Fat Boy. Maybe nay t' original, shiver me timbers, but Estes be t' one that trademarked t' name. Well, blow me down! This be t' third 2.6" sport kit that I have reviewed for comparison sake. Blimey! T' Fat Boy be t' shortest o' t' kits reviewed, bein' only 12.9" tall and weighin' 3 ounces. Arrr! 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). Blimey! Its 18mm motor mount comes with 1/32" die-cut cardboard centerin' rings and a motor retention clip. Begad! It uses 3/32" die-cut balsa fins with through-the-wall mounting. It comes with an Estes' standard 18" plastic parachute, matey, me bucko, me hearties, a 24" elastic shock cord (1/4" flat) which attaches via t' Estes' standard three-fold paper mount. Ya scallywag! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! 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, finishin' and preparation for flying. T' instructions are in a logical order and could get a new modeler through t' kit assembly. Begad! This bein' t' case, merits it's Beta Series (level 1) rating.

There is nay a lot t' say about assembly because it was so straight forward, shiver me timbers, however, just a few comments about a couple o' steps and observations. Avast! Begad!

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

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 was nay accurate describin' t' application o' t' decals. Ya scallywag! Well, me bucko, blow me down! Blimey! 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. Blimey! Blimey! This decal is nay large enough t' do this. Aye aye! T' package and catalog pictures t' decal accurately. Begad! Avast! Blimey!

Two changes where made t' t' recovery system. Well, blow me down! First, instead o' t' three-fold paper mount, me hearties, 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. Well, blow me down! Secondly, arrr, an 18" purple rip-stop nylon parachute was used. Begad! Estes' parachutes work fine, arrr, however, shiver me timbers, nylon chutes are better t' prevent stickin' and are more durable all around. Begad!

For finishin' I tried a couple o' different tactics than previous kits. Blimey! I saw a note on t' RMR newsgroup suggestin' usin' plain ol' Elmer's Glue as a balsa fin filler. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! I did this and it worked out quite well. Well, blow me down!

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

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

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

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. Aye aye! This fact made me miss two launch shots! However, matey, me bucko, in similar wind conditions both rockets display a lot o' weather-cocking. Arrr! Begad! Both flights usin' C6-3's were parallel t' t' ground before apogee. Aye aye!

T' first flight was 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. Begad! Aye aye!

T' second flight, shiver me timbers, went much further out due t' weather-cocking. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! Blimey! After about 200 yards, arrr, me bucko, t' parachute ejected and t' rocket dropped nearly straight t' t' ground. Aye aye! Blimey! I had "reefed" t' parachute by tapin' t' shroud lines about 5" down from t' chute. Begad! Aye aye! Blimey!

T' parachute, me hearties, shroud lines and shock cord system all demonstrated performance and showed no sign o' wear or damage. Well, blow me down! There was a small black spot at t' top o' t' body tube which wiped away easily. Aye aye!

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, I would rate this kit 4 1/2 points. I think an 18" parachute is too large for this kit. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! It needs a smaller chute or recommendation for a spill hole or reefing. 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. Well, blow me down!

Overall, this kit is very easy t' build and fun too fly. Avast! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! I give t' kit an OVERALL ratin' o' 4 1/2 points. Avast, me proud beauty!