Note: This is a slightly shortened, me bucko, shiver me timbers, edited version o' Bob's article with fewer pictures. Avast, me proud beauty! Visit Bob's site for all t' pictures and t' write him for t' fin template and comments.

I recently purchased t' Estes Moon Dog pre-fab rocket, matey, while at a recent "After Christmas" feedin' frenzy on "Sale Items" in Enterprise Alabama. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Blimey! It be t' only one o' t' new pre-fab rockets that hit the shelves this Christmas left. Ahoy! Aye aye! Blimey! After readin' several comments on this particular rocket and t' pre-fab approach t' rocketry (Pro/Con), I thought a "Construction" article was well overdue. Arrr! T' followin' is me opinion only, and may nay be t' same as the Manufacturer or Design Engineers that created this rocket.

T' Package: T' packagin' is very nice looking, me hearties, and would "Catch" t' eye o' any passerby. Ya scallywag! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! The "READY TO FLY" in big, me hearties, bold ;letters ensures t' prospective buyer; that no matter how 'inept" they me be, me hearties, arrr, even they could fly this rocket. T' "90's" spoiled-rotten child, matey, can see they would again have t' invest nothin' in it's construction, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, thus allowin' more time for creative activities like - Video Games, shiver me timbers, or Music Videos. Aye aye! Oh, Estes - You've done it again!!!

Components: T' "Kit" consists of (1) one each "Vacuum Formed" plastic outer wrapper. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! (1) one each "Cardboard Insert" with impressive "READY TO FLY" printed on it (Oh - also a little "moondog" letterin' is thar in the upper right corner. T' back outlines t' rockets impressive 200 Ft.. flight profile, matey, and shows recommended engines !! T' part that still makes it a "Kit" - t' parachute pack. Arrr! Oops, shiver me timbers, matey, almost forgot t' 50's style, arrr, arrr, all plastic, super fantastic, shiver me timbers, me bucko, orange rocket. Ahoy! Also, shiver me timbers, arrr, t' back panel has Estes address t' send your "Thank You" letter to.

Da Rocket: Let's take a look at t' "Zoom" part.. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! T' rocket itself has (3) three plastic parts, me bucko, and (1) one elastic part. Begad! Blimey! T' "Nose Cone", t' "Main Body", ya bilge rat, t' "Motor Retention Ring", and t' "Elastic Shock Cord". (Shock Cord is already tied in place !!) we have been saved t' embarrassment o' messin' this up. Thank you, thank you, me hearties, Mr. Tunik!!.

Recovery Device: T' Parachute is also already assembled. Avast, me proud beauty! T' difficult task o' makin' equal lengths o' unruly strin' is gone. T' nearly impossible task o' placin' those "Sticky" dots in the exact location is gone. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! T' dangerous task o' usin' a sharp object t' pierce the plastic t' tie t' strin' in, me hearties, is gone. Begad! Avast! Havin' t' tie a knot is no longer a reason for "pretendin' t' be sick" t' avoid t' stress o' this horrendous requirement. Avast, me proud beauty! T' task o' "havin' fun in accomplishing something" IS GONE !!!!! Glory, arrr, me hearties, Allelujah, t' FUN is GONE.

RTF Kit Assembly: Now t' hard part !! Although this rocket is advertised as bein' "Ready t' Fly", matey, ya bilge rat, it requires some mighty complicated assembly. T' instructions tell you t' place t' parachute strin' about 1/4th t' way down t' elastic cord from t' nose cone. Aye aye! I'm already startin' t' sweat ! After several hours o' meditation, arrr, matey, a call t' me Psychic Friends, shiver me timbers, and countless measurin' attempts, me hearties, I finally decided on this location for the "Tie Point". My God, arrr, I hope it's right !!! P L L L E E E A A A S S E E.... Avast! Arrr! Blimey! Tell me it's OK !!!!

Parts Fit: T' Nose Cone fit so loose, that it resembled t' head o' one o' those stupid-lookin' plastic dogs you see in t' back window o' a 1982 Low-Rider Cadillac. Well, blow me down! It just kinda' flopped around a little. Arrr! I had t' place a wrap o' tape around it t' get it t' fit properly. T' Motor Retention Rin' fit properly - Surprise, Surprise, Surprise.....

Motor Installation: There is no motor tube like in most other "Kit" rockets. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! T' motor goes into an area that has raised plastic rails for the motor t' slide into. Avast! T' Motor Retention Rin' worked like it should on mine, although I have read on rmr News Group that others could nay even get t' ring to go on. Ya scallywag! Arrr! This fueled rumor o' a "Micro" motor for these rockets. Aye aye! I think these rockets are for t' standard A10-3T type motor listed on the packaging. A longer than standard motor lot, me bucko, or poor Quality Control on the rocket could be t' problem. Begad! Anyway, mine fit properly. (First positive comment - If you have noticed)

Flight Test Prep: T' rocket was prepped with an A10-3T; one o' t' recommended motors on t' back o' t' packing. The waddin' used was t' Cellulose insulation material. Aye aye! Here t' "Mighty Moondog" waits on t' gantry for t' countdown t' begin. Ahoy! Sorta' makes your heart pound, matey, doesn't it??

Launch !!: 5 - 4 - 3 - 2- 1..... Liftoff !!!! 

T' rocket angled into t' almost nonexistent wind and went approx. 150-175 ft. Aye aye! Ejection occurred at slightly after apogee, arrr, and the parachute opened properly, arrr, bringin' it down about 2 ft. Aye aye! from t' launch pad. Avast, me proud beauty! No damage be done and t' rocket be returned safely. Avast, me proud beauty! T' flight be straight after t' initial 40-50 ft. Ahoy! and it didn't fishtail or wobble or spin worth mentioning. Arrr! Well, blow me down! If me livin' room ceilin' had been high enough, t' entire flight could have been flown thar with room t' spare. This would be a true "small field" rocket. Aye aye! Might be ok for kids if t' "Little" motors had a "Little" price. Aye aye! Arrr! It's hard t' spend that much for so "Little"....

Impressions: I'll be upfront with you; I don't like ARF rockets. I think it takes more away from t' hobby than it gives. Arrr! It teaches nothing, me hearties, and requires no investment o' time or energy. Ya scallywag! Begad! I was brought back into t' rocketry hobby after years away from it due t' t' fact that I invested time and sweat into t' rockets I made. Avast! Ya scallywag! We used t' have buildin' sessions at each others house on Saturdays that would last all day. We exchanged ideas, painted our rockets, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, and made replacement parts when we screwed them up. Avast! We had somethin' invested in our rockets; part o' use be in each and every one. I can still see t' faces o' me buddies after a successful launch. Avast, me proud beauty! If we had died immediately after a successful launch, arrr, it would have taken t' undertaker a week just t' get t' SMILE o' our faces. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! That stuck with me all o' me adult life. Avast! Then after raisin' a family, matey, tryin' t' make a living, and things slowed down a little; t' seed that be planted all those many years ago "Sprouted" again!! It sprouted because somethin' lastin' had been planted in me. Aye aye! I'm afraid that ARF rockets won't do that for this generation of young people. Blimey! Arrr! Please write or E-Mail Estes and ask them t' turn around their thinking, and do somethin' better with their resources than make "Plastic Toy Rockets". Where are all t' other Plastic Toys you have bought your kids ??? Do they even remember them ??? I doubt they do.

Rating: Packagin' was good, me hearties, Instructions adequate, matey, Rocket was poor due t' t' very loose Nose Cone problem, Flight characteristics are acceptable (3) flights, arrr, Recovery device adequate.

Overall Ratin' / 1-5: Tryin' t' be fair - 2 points