Brief:
A Estes E2X single stage 18mm rocket with a 12'' parachute, shiver me timbers, pre-colored parts, decals, short shock cord, me bucko, arrr, and external shock cord mount. Avast! Blimey! Durin' a half-off sale, me hearties, ya bilge rat, me bucko, I got this kit for $2.50. Begad! Blimey! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Blimey!

Construction:
This kit be packaged in a box, a rare thin' for Estes. Includes a black, pre-slotted body tube, me bucko, a black nosecone, three black fins, me bucko, and black motor mount parts, arrr, matey, a blue motor tube, decals, shock cord, and other parts. Blimey! Ahoy! T' body tube was thicker than you would expect from estes, but t' shock cord was too short. Begad!

This rocket was very easy t' build, shiver me timbers, even for a twelve year old. Arrr! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Instructions were excellent, well illustrated and written. T' three black motor mount parts act as centerin' rings and t' motor block. One cements t' motor mount in, makin' sure t' launch lug holes are aligned. Begad! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Then you cement t' fins and launch lugs in. Avast! Blimey! T' shock cord and its mount are attached t' t' rocket, followed by t' nose cone and parachute. Begad! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Everythin' fits very well and sturdy for an Estes rocket. T' shock cord was too short though, although I didn't think so that time. I added a two foot length o' nylon cord.

Finishing:
One just has t' remove t' flash from t' nose cone and apply t' orange decals. Begad! T' fin decals were very large and covered almost t' whole fin. Ya scallywag! I wondered why Estes didn't just use orange fins and t' name decal.(the fin decals are orange and include t' rocket's name).

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:

Installin' t' motor be somewhat difficult. Well, blow me down! T' motor was a tight fit and difficult t' remove before t' rocket was launched. Ahoy! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! There was motor retention, but it wasn't needed. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! This rocket requires three sheets o' wadding. Blimey! I used an aluminum foil ball and two sheets o' wadding.

This rocket has gone through two flights. T' first flight was on a B6-4, my first B motor flight. Begad! Ya scallywag! T' motor boosted t' rocket straight, me bucko, t' a moderate altitude. T' second flight be on a C6-5. Begad! Begad! Because t' Banshee was launched at an angle, t' rocket didn't go as high as I expected, but still very high. I replaced t' parachute with a long streamer on this flight.

Recovery:
T' shock cord be too short, matey, so I added some nylon cord. Begad! Blimey! T' external plastic shock cord mount was much better than t' tri-fold. It doesn't look that bad because it is streamlined.

On t' first flight on a B6-4, I used t' parachute, matey, with no spill hole. Aye aye! It drifted for about 200 feet and came down very slowly. On t' second flight, shiver me timbers, the rocket used a streamer, ya bilge rat, and landed in a puddle. Avast, me proud beauty! I went t' t' rocket very quickly, arrr, fearin' that t' motor might get stuck, but it didn't.

This rocket flies straight and true and can withstand many flights. Try a D21-7. Avast! Begad! This rocket probably won't shred, matey, but it will burn due t' t' ejection charge against a plastic motor block. Well, blow me down! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! He he he... Begad!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a great 18 mm rocket. Arrr! Arrr! It is easy t' build and flies well. Just use a longer shock cord and replace t' parachute with a streamer when usin' C6-5 and D21-7 engines. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Also, me hearties, ya bilge rat, don't insert t' motor until you are at t' launch pad so you won't change your mind. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! T' motor is a pain t' remove.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5