I originally purchased an Estes' Mongoose Kit because I wanted t' use it for an experiment, shiver me timbers, however, arrr, when me 8 year old nephew came t' visit it seemed like a good kit t' build together. Begad! Ahoy! So we built it.

T' instructions have lots o' illustrations, ya bilge rat, however, that didn't help us fully understand how t' assemble t' lower stage's motor mount. I think t' problem starts in t' first step when slidin' t' green booster adapter onto t' motor mount tube. Begad! It tells you t' slide it up t' t' 14mm mark, arrr, me hearties, however, me bucko, it is a bit confusin' as t' whether t' front o' t' rin' or t' aft o' t' rin' should be at 14mm. Aye aye! In t' second step, shiver me timbers, you are told t' apply glue and slide t' motor mount "all t' way in" t' booster fin unit. Ya scallywag! T' pictures show it partially out. Aye aye! Well, shiver me timbers, we got ours "all t' way in" and flush with a bit o' sanding. Well, blow me down! O' coarse, matey, arrr, when finished t' booster did nay attach t' t' second stage flush. T' remainin' instructions and pictures posed no issues. Arrr! Ya scallywag!

As a side note, ya bilge rat, a young friend o' mine had built t' Mongoose on his own and had it at our last launch. Aye aye! I noticed that his aft tube was stickin' out some and when attached t' t' second stage, it be flush. Ya scallywag!

At assembly t' quality o' t' kit seemed fair. Arrr! Plastic fin units. Begad! Ahoy! Plastic fin units. Ya scallywag! Standard motor mounts assembles. Ya scallywag! Begad! Two-piece plastic nose cone. Streamer recovery system. Arrr! Begad! Streamer recovery system. T' kit doesn't require any paintin' with yellow body tubes and pinkish nose cone and fin units. Blimey! Blimey! It also came with color scheme matchin' self-adhesive decals. Arrr!

Flyin' t' Mongoose demonstrated strengths and weaknesses o' t' kit. Begad!

T' weakness o' t' kit be seen in t' sturdiness o' t' body tubes and t' booster motor mount's susceptibility t' burnin' away. With both me young friend's and our rocket, shiver me timbers, t' booster be damaged on first flight. Arrr! T' damage be a slightly crushed body tube. Avast, me proud beauty!

After 2 flights, me bucko, t' booster motor mount was completely burned away on our model. Avast! Begad! I think this is due t' t' method o' motor retention that t' Mongoose uses. On t' booster, matey, t' engine block is mounted at t' aft o' t' motor mount. Blimey! Avast! On t' second stage t' engine block is mounted at t' top o' t' motor mount like most kits. Blimey! Arrr! T' two motors are taped together and slid into t' second stage until they rest on t' engine block. Begad! Avast! T' booster is then slid onto t' motor until is rests against it's engine block. Blimey! Arrr! This leaves t' booster motor recessed approximately 3/8" inch. This causes two problems. First, it is a bit difficult t' load t' igniter and second, t' aft engine block burns. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad!

As mentioned though, ya bilge rat, flyin' t' Mongoose also demonstrated a strength. This kit has nice flights. Avast! This kit has nice flights. Ya scallywag! With a B6-0 booster you get t' see separation and watch flawless in-air ignition o' t' second stage. Arrr! Ahoy! Two successful flights where impressive. My young friend's single flight faired differently but nonetheless impressive. Ya scallywag! With aC6 booster we barely saw t' separation and with a C6 in t' second stage we strained t' see ejection. After ejection, we watched t' wind carry t' Mongoose a long distance and it was lost in trees beyond t' edge o' t' field.

Estes calls t' Mongoose a "perfect first time two-stage rocket". Well, blow me down! I would question "first time" due t' t' instructions. Also, I don't think anyone could keep this rocket flyin' for very long due t' t' weak body tubes and aft engine mount. T' only redeemin' factor is that we enjoyed several impressive flights, however, me bucko, I don't think that outweighs t' other issues. Begad!