Brief:
Single stage scale model o' t' Vanguard Eagle spacecraft for t' X-Prize competition. Arrr! Ahoy! I don't think t' real one got off t' ground.

Construction:
T' kit came in a plastic bag with a cardboard face card as with every other Estes kit. Aye aye! It contained:

• 2 plastic nose cone halves
• clay nose weight
• 1 decal sheet
• 1 12" chute
• 1 rubber shock cord
• 1 long BT-55 body tube
• 1 sheet o' small balsa fins
• 1 transition
• 1 short BT-60 body tube
• 1 launch lug
• 4 plastic fin quarters
• 2 plastic centerin' rings
• 1 BT-20 Engine tube
• 8 plastic display nozzles
• 1 engine hook (18mm)
• plastic disc t' attach 4 o' t' 8 display nozzles
• instructions

T' instructions were typical Estes and very clear. Well, blow me down! It provided many illustrations and were easy t' follow and t' steps were in a good order.

T' ease o' build should definitely be a skill level 2 instead o' 1, me hearties, mostly because o' t' plastic parts. Ahoy! Aye aye! T' nose cone was easy t' build, me hearties, just insert t' clay and CA t' parts together. T' transition and fin can, however, took forever t' dry. Arrr! Ahoy! I found t' fin can t' be kind o' difficult t' assemble.

For t' fin can, you first have t' assemble t' motor mount by pokin' t' engine hook through t' BT-20 body tube. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Then gluin' t' 2 centerin' rings with plastic cement t' t' engine tube ends. Aye aye! Next you have t' cement t' 4 fin halves together which again took forever t' dry. Aye aye! Finally, use plastic cement t' adhere t' whole fin can into t' short BT-60 body tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Nay a good idea for an impatient guy like me.

T' only supplies needed are some cement for wood and plastic, scissors, regular glue, and sand paper.

Finishing:
Spray paint t' whole rocket gloss white then paint t' fins gloss black. Well, blow me down! Begad! Blimey! T' last step is t' apply t' peel 'n' stick decals like t' face card. Blimey! I didn't clear coat t' rocket nor used sandin' sealer because I'm very impatient.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I have flown it only once on a C6-3. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! T' other recommended engines are: B4-2, B6-4, ya bilge rat, C6-3, C6-5. Aye aye! You need t' insert about 4 sheets o' waddin' and pack a 12" parachute.

Flight 1 it took off pretty slow but went very high. Avast! It ejected about 2 seconds after apogee.

Recovery:
T' Eagle uses a 12" parachute. Avast! Estes has brought back t' checkerboard parachutes and rubber shock cords o' t' old days. T' Eagle came down pretty fast and I even lost one o' t' plastic display nozzles on landing.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This isn't really a bad rocket, me bucko, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, but some things could definitely be improved like t' fin issue and maybe a larger parachute.

PROs: Great flier.

CONs: Assembly o' t' fins and t' small parachute.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5