Brief:
This is a ready t' fly rocket modeled after t' Y-win' fighters from Star Wars. Begad! It looks good, me bucko, works well, me hearties, and could almost be perfect (for a RTF) if nay for t' traditional Estes recovery failure device (shock cord).

Construction:
I got this rocket on eBay. Ya scallywag! It be part o' a starter kit with t' Estes part number o' 1821. Blimey! I figured that for the price I would have been willin' t' spend that much for t' rocket itself (Part number 1492) and I got a new blast deflector, matey, launch rod, and 6 engines thrown in. Well, blow me down! Begad! I wish they had been C5-3s! This review is nay about t' beginner's set, though. Well, blow me down! Avast! It is about t' rocket.

T' model itself looks good. Begad! It is made o' a beige plastic with plenty o' little bumps, ridges, and protrusion for detail. Begad! Ahoy! Some o' these extruded "cables" are painted yellow or red. Blimey! Some highlights are in gray and the windshields are in black. Begad! Blimey! T' back ends o' t' engine pods are clear plastic within t' beige framework. Begad! Clear plastic fins for stability are located at t' back o' t' engine pods. These do nay actually detract from t' appearance o' the model at all. In fact, t' model looks very good.

This one is ready t' fly unless you want t' quibble about tyin' t' ready made parachute t' t' shock cord. Except for that, arrr, all you have t' do is prep t' rocket, hook it up and push t' button.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' maiden flight took place with an Estes B4-2. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! I prepped t' rocket by stuffin' in some dog barf and insertin' the chute. T' chute was a tight fit. Ahoy! Aye aye! Launch be perfect. Arrr! It roared straight up, nay too high, and ejected right at apogee. T' chute deployed in a puff o' dog barf and t' rocket came gently t' t' ground. I was ready t' try that again.

T' second flight was on an Estes C6-3. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Everythin' started out perfectly. Aye aye! T' rocket took off straight up and looked good. Arrr! Ejection came at just about t' right time but then me expectations were realized. Begad! Ya scallywag! T' elastic shock cord burned through. Blimey! Begad! T' nose drifted a long way under t' chute but was recovered without problem. Begad! T' body tumbled home and was recovered by t' planetary interference method. Avast! Both t' rocket and t' planet were unhurt.

Recovery:
PROs: No "probe", flies great, matey, me bucko, looks great, and is sturdy.

CONs: Elastic shock cord doomed t' failure.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
I am definitely goin' t' put this one back together. Blimey! Begad! I just need t' figure a way t' get some Keelhaul®©™® mounted in that teeny weeny little tube.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5