Brief:
T' Blue Ninja is a very basic four-fin rocket in t' Estes E2X line, with one special feature, matey, its a big rocket, usin' 24mm motors. Avast! Like all t' E2X kits it builds smartly and easily without painting, usin' plastic parts except for t' body tubes. Begad! T' completed rocket sports a reflective blue finish and a big, powerful look that is a big hit with t' younger rocketeers (and some o' t' older ones!) T' completed rocket is over 31 inches tall and weighs a respectable 145 grams (5.1 oz.)

Construction:
This kit is entirely typical o' Estes E2X kits. It arrived in a bag with all parts present and accounted for. Ahoy! T' two body tubes immediately catch t' eye. Ya scallywag! They are 12'' and 8'' inches long and over 1.6 inches in diameter (BT-60). Avast! They are also wrapped in a reflective, ya bilge rat, sparklin' coverin' (Estes calls it “prismatic” that gives t' Blue Ninja it's distinctive look. Well, blow me down! T' nosecone, shiver me timbers, fin can, me bucko, fins and tube connector are all black plastic, me bucko, me hearties, and seemed well molded. Ahoy! Surfaces are generally smooth, ya bilge rat, with a nice, ya bilge rat, matey, me bucko, 'satin' finish. Begad! T' fits are good and required only a little trimmin' with t' hobby knife.

T' most interestin' part o' t' Blue Ninja construction be t' engine mount, which is a little different that other Estes kits. Begad! Arrr! T' aft 5 inches o' t' rocket body is a molded plastic 'unit' in two halves. Ahoy! In addition t' slots for t' fin tabs, me bucko, this unit supports t' engine tube and provides a mount for t' engine-retention cap. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! A plastic centerin' rin' (of sorts) fits over one end o' t' paper motor tube. Arrr! This rin' fits into tabs inside t' fin mount. Begad! Begad! T' other end o' t' motor tube rests in a socket at t' upper end o' t' fin mount unit. Begad! T' top half o' t' fin-mount unit glues in place with plastic cement. Avast! Avast! A standard size 24mm motor like t' D12 or C11 will protrude about ½ inch from t' end o' t' motor tube. Well, blow me down! A plastic cap restrains t' motor and hides it, shiver me timbers, givin' a nozzle-like stylin' t' t' end o' t' rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! This cap twists into place with a bayonet mount, and has appeared on several Estes E2X kits. Begad! It’s very easy and effective t' use, if a bit heavier than a standard motor clip. (It may be possible t' move t' motor block forward t' accommodate t' longer E9 motors. I didn’t think o' it at t' time but I believe t' motor tube is long enough. Aye aye! Avast! Accordin' t' Rocksim this kit ought t' fly well on those long-burnin' motors).

T' plastic fins glue t' t' plastic fin-mount unit with plastic cement (you get t' idea) T' fins have short tabs t' align them and perhaps provide a bit o' strength. Ahoy! I suspect that these fins could pop off in a hard landing, me hearties, but so far ours have stayed on (despite one landin' on pavement.) It’s pretty hard t' mess-up these fins. Arrr! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! T' biggest risk is that you will get plastic cement on t' nice smooth surface and mar it, arrr, shiver me timbers, but that can be avoided with simple precautions.

T' completed fin can fits into t' smaller o' t' two body tubes (again with plastic cement), me hearties, and t' two tubes are connected with a plastic coupler. Avast! T' coupler is also t' mountin' point for t' shock-cord.

T' shock-cord is ¼ inch elastic, arrr, both wider and longer than one would expect from Estes (bravo!). Begad! Nevertheless I added a length o' Keelhaul®©™ tether, and strengthened t' top inch o' t' body tube with thin CA t' protect against “zippers”. Begad! T' standard 18 in. Aye aye! plastic chute came pre-assembled. Well, blow me down! I attached it t' t' elastic about 7 inches from t' nosecone.

T' "Pros" for this kit are t' easy, kid-friendly assembly (no CA or knives required). Ahoy! Instructions are typically Estes, ya bilge rat, which is t' say easy t' follow and well illustrated. Begad! T' rocket feels quite sturdy, me bucko, ya bilge rat, but if you use plastic cement as recommended thar could be some separated parts after hard landings.

Finishing:
T' only finish step be t' application o' stick-on decals, t' large "Blue Ninja" on t' rocket body and vaguely oriental designs t' t' fins. Begad! While effortless, me hearties, ya bilge rat, t' finish o' this rocket is one o' its strong sellin' points. Begad! It's a sharp-lookin' rocket right-out o' t' box, which was important for me 7 year old.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
To date we have only flown t' rocket on C11-3 motors (small fields and strong winds). Rocksim puts apogee with that impulse around 300 feet, and that seems about right. Ahoy! Avast! Boost has always been straight and deployment close t' apogee. Ahoy! T' rocket comes off t' pad slowly and looks large and impressive in flight. A D12-5 flight is predicted t' go t' 700 feet. Aye aye! This ought t' be a very predictable rocket, matey, matey, me bucko, so I fully expect those flights t' be very successful too. Estes recommends a 3 second delay on t' D12, but Rocksim shows t' D12-5 t' be t' better choice. Begad! These E2X rockets generally are built right t' t' predicted weight, so t' Rocksim performance ought t' be accurate.

T' motor-retention cap extends beyond t' end o' t' motor a bit t' create a "nozzle" effect. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! These caps make prep somewhat easier, arrr, and look better that a metal hook, me bucko, but it is a bit o' a reach t' get t' igniter properly secured in t' motor nozzle. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! We had a couple o' misfires caused by igniters that dropped out or broke. Avast! Avast! Nay a big deal, shiver me timbers, but somethin' t' think about when you prep this rocket.

On t' last flight t' prismatic blue wrap started t' unwind from t' body tube. It’s a small flaw easily repaired.

Recovery:
T' Blue Ninja recovers on a standard Estes plastic 18in chute. Begad! This chute has worked well for us, in terms o' size and decent rate. Well, blow me down! On t' last flight t' chute suffered some meltin' and burn holes, but brought t' rocket back just fine. T' body tube is wide and long, me bucko, ya bilge rat, so sealin' it with waddin' is difficult. Begad! I was usin' Rogue Permawadding, which was undamaged, me hearties, ya bilge rat, but obviously some o' t' "hot stuff" got by.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a fine kit for beginners, and ought t' be a breeze for anyone with plastic model experience. Ahoy! T' flights are impressive and dependable on t' recommended engines. Avast, me proud beauty! There is no balsa in this kit, and it is really nay so much “built” as “assembled”. Ya scallywag! I usually prefer a more traditional kit, ya bilge rat, but I can appreciate what Estes is doin' here. Begad! Avast! I bought this kit for me kids, matey, principally me seven year old. Ahoy! Begad! That t' Blue Ninja is “easy-to-build” is a nice thin' for him, me bucko, but t' most important feature is that it’s “easy t' get right”. I may find t' “made-by-Cub Scouts” look kind o' charming, but he is embarrassed by it. Avast! Begad! I’ve also seen beginners discouraged by t' poor flyin' characteristics o' their early attempts. Avast! Avast! My kids love t' fly this rocket. They built it, it’s big, it flies well, and they get admirin' glances when they take it t' t' pad. Ya scallywag! I think this kit is goin' t' give a lot o' beginners a good first experience in rocketry, and encourage them t' continue on.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5