Brief:
This is a review o' t' pre-Estes version o' t' popular stubby mid-power rocket. Begad! Ahoy! It included a standard 29mm motor tube and flush-mount plywood fins.

Construction:
Parts list:

• NC-39 (Ace-type) nose cone
• BT-39/17 airframe tube
• SC-2 shock cord (elastic)
• PC-2 parachute (24" single piece rip stop nylon)
• MT-1 motor tube
• CR-39-11 plywood centerin' rings (2)
• TR-11 thrust ring
• LL-1 launch lug
• GOR-2 Gorilla shock cord mount (36" steel)
• SC-2NC nose cone cord (thin nylon rope)
• plywood fins (4)
• decal sheet

T' instructions were quite good and included drawings. Avast! Begad! T' assembly was pretty basic, matey, bein' a simple 4FNC rocket. Arrr! Epoxy was used throughout. Avast! Since t' fins were flush mount, ya bilge rat, small holes were made in t' airframe along t' fin lines t' form epoxy rivets. T' kit actually included a thrust ring, which I used. In retrospect this should have been left off. I (much later) added T-nuts for motor retention. Begad! Well, blow me down! T' Gorilla shock cord mount is a steel cable that loops through a hole in t' forward centerin' ring. Begad! Ya scallywag! This is very sturdy and makes replacement o' t' shock cord very easy for such a short rocket.

Finishing:
T' kit included self-adhesive decals. Begad! Begad! These weren't very good quality and t' clear portion never looked too clear. Avast, me proud beauty! I painted mine dark red and added checkerboard and chrome accent strips.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' recommended motors included everythin' from t' F20-4 t' t' G80-10. Aye aye! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! I have flown mine on F25s, G35s, and G80s with good success. Well, blow me down! Blimey! However, arrr, me bucko, it had a tendency t' weathercock quite a bit (a 6 foot rod be recommended). As a result, shiver me timbers, I added a bit o' nose weight. Aye aye! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! It is now arrow straight and you really can't notice any degradation in performance. Blimey! Blimey! Like I said I have retrofitted t' kit for positive motor retention. I also now use a Nomex pad from Giant Leap in place o' wadding.

Recovery:
T' shock cord is tied t' t' Gorilla mount and t' a loop o' rope which is in turn tied t' t' nose cone. Ya scallywag! Begad! Blimey! T' 24" chute is too small for t' flush mounted fins. Begad! Blimey! Despite t' epoxy rivets and generous epoxy fillets, it tends t' strip fins (mine tries t' find a rock, paved walkway, shiver me timbers, or whatever). Blimey! Blimey! This is easily fixed but annoying.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
Overall I give this kit a 4, with t' pros outweighin' t' cons: Pros - cool looks - strong Gorilla shock cord mount - true 29mm motor tube Cons - flush mounted fins - poor decals - undersized chute

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5