Brief:
T' latest incarnation o' t' Estes Renegade kit has changed t' rocket from a 2-stage t' a single-stage, me bucko, probably because o' t' booster stage's tendency t' semi-glide recover at a rather high rate o' speed. Well, blow me down! Arrr! My daughter chose t' kit at t' local hobby shop, because "lots o' fins are cool, matey, me hearties, matey, daddy!"

Construction:
I have been impressed with t' quality I have been seein' from t' newer Skill 2 or higher kits from Estes, with one main gripe, me bucko, that bein' t' shock cord length and mounting.

T' instructions are straightforward, with line drawings, me hearties, matey, a fin alignment template, and t' standard wraparound tube markin' guides t' be cut out o' t' instruction booklet.

I built t' motor mount first, me hearties, me bucko, and added an 18" length o' Keelhaul®©™ cord I had in me parts kit, me hearties, which I tied around t' motor mount tube betwixt t' centerin' rings and pressed into t' glue fillet on t' underside o' t' forward ring. Aye aye! While that dried, I constructed t' add-on pods from t' tubes and nose cones accordin' t' t' instructions.

Fin assembly went rather quickly, once I realized that white glue is best suited for fillets after t' medium CA has made t' initial bond. Begad! Once t' fin fillets were dry, me bucko, ya bilge rat, I added t' fin pods, again startin' with medium CA and filletin' with white glue.

T' motor mount tube was then installed into t' aft body tube, arrr, a holdover from when t' Renegade was a 2-stage, me hearties, as t' aft tube was just long enough t' contain t' motor mount and half o' a tube connector.

As t' aft tube assembly was drying, ya bilge rat, I mounted t' fins t' t' main BT, again with CA then white glue fillets. Once everythin' was dry, shiver me timbers, I connected t' two body tubes together. Arrr! I noticed that the engine hook extended beyond t' rearmost extension o' t' lower fins, so I trimmed t' large easy-pull tab down t' a short nub t' allow t' model t' stand on t' three large aft fins. Arrr! Last, arrr, me bucko, I stuffed t' included clay nose weight into t' nosecone usin' a long dowel section. I worried that it wouldn't stick under power, but it hasn't yet moved.

Finishing:
I sprayed t' rocket with white double-thick primer, then sanded and sprayed with el-cheapo Wal-Mart red, arrr, since that was what color me daughter chose. Ahoy! 2 more coats o' red, with light sandin' between, and t' model be ready for t' decals. I have t' give Estes a plus here for t' quality o' t' water-slide decals included. Begad! After me (bad) experience with stickers on me last Estes kit, I be pleasantly surprised t' see t' water-slides here. Aye aye! Begad! After t' decals went on, ya bilge rat, matey, I shot a quick clear coat, and we were ready t' fly.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I brought t' red Renegade-D t' t' monthly NOVAAR launch in Great Meadow, and sent it up first on t' recommended D12-5, t' only motor listed for this kit. Aye aye! Perfect boost, arrr, nearly straight up with a little weather cocking, and t' ejection kicked just at apogee. Begad! T' chute didn't want t' completely unfurl, but t' rocket landed with no damage in t' grass. Well, blow me down! T' second flight, on an E20-7, me bucko, took off like a scalded goose, coasted over, and blew t' engine out o' t' mount when t' ejection charge blew. Ya scallywag! Begad! Luckily t' chute also popped, but it got hung up on t' fins and didn't open until about 25 feet from t' ground. Again, zero damage recovery, shiver me timbers, but it was a bit hair-raisin' watchin' it flat-spin out o' t' sky. Aye aye! I repacked t' rocket with some dog barf, me hearties, installed t' chute, and put in another D12-5. Begad! T' wind had picked up a bit by now, so t' rod was slightly angled into t' wind. Aye aye! T' rocket launched and soared up with no corkscrewin' at all, and recovery popped just barely past apogee. Avast! T' chute opened up, and it landed about 40 feet from t' launch pad. Ahoy! I must agree with t' manufacturer that t' D12-5 be t' perfect engine for this kit. I am now a dog barf fan also, matey, much easier t' fill t' big tubes than standard recovery wadding.

Recovery:
As stated, arrr, I ignored t' stock Estes tri-fold mount and instead wrapped Keelhaul®©™ cord around t' MMT, and tied t' rubber-band shock cord t' that.

With t' recommended motor, ejection is perfectly timed, me bucko, me hearties, and t' chute (when it opens) is a good size that t' rocket comes down without too much drift and without any damage if you are fortunate enough t' have a grass landin' field.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Now that nobody is likely t' get hurt with a ballistic trajectory booster stage, me hearties, I think Estes has a winnin' kit with t' repackaged Renegade-D. Avast! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! All t' cub scouts were starin' and chatterin' about t' red rocket with all t' fins, me hearties, me bucko, shiver me timbers, and many o' t' adults were interested t' see how this model would fly. Arrr! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I intend t' find out how many times this bird will fly.

If Estes changed 3 things, ya bilge rat, this would be "T' Perfect Kit":

1) Keelhaul®©™ cord mounted t' t' MMT

2) Longer shock cord that does nay make me think 'rubber band'

3) Rip-Stop Nylon parachute

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5