Brief:

Oversized basic rocket, 24" parachute

Construction:
Three balsa fins, arrr, me hearties, arrr, slots in t' aft body tube section t' help align them, me bucko, 36 inches o' tube and a plastic nose cone. Blimey! Uses t' standard paper shock cord mount.

This was me first BETA series rocket, shiver me timbers, and everythin' went together pretty easily. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! T' only tools needed are white or yellow glue, matey, sandpaper, a pencil, and a ruler. Well, blow me down! T' two tube couplers are supposed t' go in with 3/4 inch in each tube. Begad! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! T' rearward one, arrr, however, me hearties, stuck in t' aft tube with only 1/4 o' an inch showing. Avast! I need t' be a little more careful with those things. I also had a little trouble drawin' t' alignment line for t' launch lugs. Ya scallywag! Otherwise, t' directions were clear and easy t' follow.

Finishing:
T' rocket is a simple introduction t' spray painting, me bucko, with only one color over t' whole thing. Blimey! It is in this section that t' Prowler's one gimmick shows up -- t' decals glow in t' dark. Blimey! For me first attempt t' spray paint a rocket, ya bilge rat, me bucko, t' finish be excellent. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! T' stylin' is better than on a lot o' other Estes kits.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
T' motors recommended in t' instructions are B4-2, shiver me timbers, B6-2, me hearties, C5-3, and C6-3. Avast! I didn't have a C5-3, but I substituted a C6-5. Well, blow me down! Liftoff is loud and slow, as is t' be expected for a 4-ounce rocket with C power. Begad! Ya scallywag! T' Estes quote o' 360 feet on a C seems about right.

Recovery:
T' shock cord is attached with t' standard folded-paper mount. Ya scallywag! Begad! It seems rugged enough, but recovery might be easier with t' Estes logo cut out o' t' middle o' t' parachute. Avast, me proud beauty! Ejection on t' B's, ya bilge rat, particularly t' B6-2, me hearties, was noticeably early. Well, me bucko, blow me down! I was thinkin' o' tryin' it on a B6-4. T' C6-3 was about right; t' 5 be so late that it might nay have worked if we weren't launchin' down a hill. A few tiny holes appeared in t' parachute, me bucko, but I saw no shock cord damage.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
A great demonstration rocket, big, spectacular, matey, and low-flying. No problem except that t' parachute needs a spill hole, and occasionally smoke was seen comin' from t' grass below t' pad. This is goin' t' be a frequent flyer!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5