I received a Estes AIM-9 sidewinder kit for Christmas. Ya scallywag! Arrr! T' kit came in a box and I am sure it was bought a WAL-MART for $10.00 (great price).

T' instructions were standard Estes with only 2 confusin' parts and I got them figured out with t' help from me local club buds . Blimey! T' fins are thru-the-wall mount, shiver me timbers, very strong but t' balsa was very soft (for a good reason), t' aft fins had t' be glued together. Begad! I just CA'ed them with t' gap fillin' kind. Avast! Arrr! All o' t' parts fit well but t' aft fin slot be very wide, ya bilge rat, t' diagram showed that you turn t' fin so that all t' fins turn in t' same direction. Well, blow me down! Contrary t' popular thinkin' they are t' be turned nay straight like most fins. Blimey! Arrr! This was one o' those confusin' parts in t' directions but everyone said they go on straight but t' illustration showed t' offset. So I went against what me friends told me t' do: offset t' aft fins, ya bilge rat, me thinkin' came from lookin' at t' picture on t' box with t' spinnin' smoke trail.

T' decals didn't fit well. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' color band didn't wrap all t' way around t' tube so I put all t' seams in line with each other on t' side o' t' launch lug (good move it hides all seams while on t' rod).

T' model is very sturdy but, shiver me timbers, heavy as I attempted t' launch it on a A8-3 (not a recommended motor) and it almost crashed, shiver me timbers, ejection was at 4 or 5 feet off t' ground but no damage! Sturdiness is rated at a 4, matey, assembly was a 3 because t' card stock tube wrappers are hard t' get tight t' t' tube. Well, blow me down! Nay t' mention t' fin offset was hard till I thought about it and I used yellow glue at t' root and CA'd t' aft o' t' fin t' one side and bent it over at t' front and CA'd it there, me hearties, it worked great. Begad! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! It comes down in two parts, so gettin' everythin' in thar neat and nay too tight was tricky.

Now every other kit review o' t' Sidewinder said it be very unstable (my thinkin' was they put t' fins on without t' offset because mine be t' straightest rocket I own, me hearties, shiver me timbers, nay t' mention t' way it spun just like t' photo on t' box and had a spinnin' smoke trail!

I rate flight as a 5 . T' only thin' I didn't like about t' recovery was t' fact that I launched (I used a Estes C6-5) it for me mom when it be done t' show her t' gift she bought and a tree ate t' rocket. Begad! T' nose cone escaped certain death as it recovered fine. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! But if t' tree was nay thar I would give recovery a 5, t' two parts would have been close together. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! Sorry no pictures I would need a super zoom lens it is hangin' over 100 feet up. Well, me hearties, blow me down! This is a truly fun kit t' fly it just takes a little time t' build it right, have fun with yours!