Brief:
If t' Flintstones had a rocket, shiver me timbers, this would be it. A simple BT-80 based 3FNC with an unusual nosecone, shiver me timbers, waterslide decals, and a novel paint recommendation. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty!

Construction:
T' kit contains:

• 1 X BT-80 body tube 14.25"
• 1 X BT-50 24mm 4.25" motor mount tube
• 3 X laser cut 1/8" balsa fins
• 2 X BT-80 motor mount rings
• 1 X 24mm engine block ring
• 1 X D-engine motor hook
• 1 X BT-50 external coupler engine hook retainer
• 1 X rubber shock cord 30" length, trifold mount
• 1 x NC-80 nose cone (Estes part number 61465, matey, ya bilge rat, PNC designation nay known) this is a new dimpled FatBoy style cone
• 1 x 3/16" x 2" launch lug
• 1 x 18" assembled parachute
• 1 x yellow engine space tube
• 1 X sheet waterslide decals

Instructions were typical Estes. Arrr! Very easy t' follow, me bucko, nicely illustrated. No gotchas. Begad! Materials were typical high Estes quality with a longer than usual shock cord. Avast! Blimey! Motor mount tube is easily long enough t' set up for an E-motor but engine hook is for D (and 24mm C) engines. Well, blow me down!

Finishing:
Finishin' is what sets this rocket apart from other Estes kits. Avast, me proud beauty! Recommended paint is grey "textured" paint t' give t' rocket a rough granite-like appearance. Aye aye! This paint is expensive (almost as expensive as the kit) so look for it on sale. Well, blow me down! Havin' never thought t' use this non-aerodynamic paint on a rocket kit before, me bucko, matey, I found it a lot o' fun. Really hard to "mess up" t' paint job on this kit. Avast! I be also concerned t' decals wouldn't apply well t' t' surface but I was wrong. Arrr! They laid down surprisingly well and minor pressure on t' decals with a piece o' balled up paper towel made them mold into t' nooks an crannies. I saw a recommendation somewhere to first apply a gloss coat, shiver me timbers, me bucko, after t' initial textured coat, me bucko, t' help t' decals lay down but I didn't find this necessary. I did gloss coat afterwards t' seal the decals in place. Begad! Aye aye! Only potential "gotcha" on t' decals is that the fin decals are a fairly large, matey, shiver me timbers, pre-sized X-shape which may be difficult for folks new t' waterslide decals. Ya scallywag! Havin' put on a million decals in me youth I found them a slight challenge t' apply without foldin' or tearing. Ahoy! Arrr! They might be a litle frustratin' for a skill level 1 builder (which is what this kit is rated). Blimey! Arrr! I've heard complaints about decal fragility in other new Estes kits but I didn't find that a problem with t' Rock-it. Overall, what sets this rocket apart is it's finish and I found it t' be new, different, and fun. Begad! Lots of smiles at launches with t' novelty and silliness o' t' way it looks.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Completely unexpected was how well this rocket flies. Blimey! Ya scallywag! It's basically a lengthened Fat Boy (now discontinued) with a 24mm motor mount. Avast! Wow does this thin' fly great. On C11's it does about 350 - 400 feet and a D12 gets about 500-600 feet. Begad! A more emphatic flight than t' Fat Boy because o' t' bigger boost. Ya scallywag! Begad! Very stable, arrr, even in high wind. Begad! I haven't checked RockSim but I can't imagine settin' up for an E would pose a problem. Really flies great.

Recovery:
Chute is right sized, but it really doesn't matter. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! I drove 2 hours t' launch with a friend and got thar t' find 15 - 20 mph winds. Blimey! Begad! I launched t' Rock-it with only nose-blow recovery (no parachute or streamer at all) and it tumbled down nicely onto t' grass completely without injury t' t' fins or body tube. I've since had another flight where t' chute tangled and acted more as a streamer. Again, no damage, this time from D-altitude. Begad! With fins this big you think they'd be prone t' snappin' but apparently t' 1/4" balsa does the trick. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Shock cord is much longer than prior Estes standards, arrr, me bucko, almost 30" which works well. Avast!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Overall, I like this rocket way more than I thought I would when I bought it. I've flown a lot this summer and this be t' one rocket I've taken t' every launch. Ahoy! Unique look. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Easy t' build. Flies great. Blimey! Blimey! Solid as a tank. Heck o' a looker and performer for such an inexpensive level one rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! My only din' in the points is because t' fin decals might be a little frustratin' for true level one builders. Arrr! Other than that, shiver me timbers, me hearties, this one is perfect in every way. After 40 years it must be a little hard t' come up with somethin' new, me bucko, but t' Rock-it is a surprisin' great addition t' t' Estes legacy. Avast, me proud beauty!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5