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

Construction:
This kit be packaged in a box, arrr, a rare thin' for Estes. Ahoy! Includes a black, pre-slotted body tube, shiver me timbers, a black nosecone, three black fins, and black motor mount parts, a blue motor tube, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, me hearties, decals, ya bilge rat, shock cord, matey, and other parts. Ya scallywag! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! T' body tube be thicker than you would expect from estes, ya bilge rat, but t' shock cord was too short. Ya scallywag!

This rocket be very easy t' build, me hearties, even for a twelve year old. Instructions were excellent, well illustrated and written. Arrr! 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! Then you cement t' fins and launch lugs in. Begad! T' shock cord and its mount are attached t' t' rocket, followed by t' nose cone and parachute. Everythin' fits very well and sturdy for an Estes rocket. Avast! Aye aye! T' shock cord was too short though, although I didn't think so that time. Arrr! 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. Avast! Arrr! Blimey! T' fin decals were very large and covered almost t' whole fin. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! 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 was somewhat difficult. T' motor be a tight fit and difficult t' remove before t' rocket was launched. Begad! There be motor retention, but it wasn't needed. Well, blow me down! This rocket requires three sheets o' wadding. Avast, me proud beauty! I used an aluminum foil ball and two sheets o' wadding.

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

Recovery:
T' shock cord was too short, so I added some nylon cord. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! T' external plastic shock cord mount was much better than t' tri-fold. Ya scallywag! It doesn't look that bad because it is streamlined.

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

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

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5