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

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

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

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

Flyin' t' Mongoose demonstrated strengths and weaknesses o' t' kit. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey!

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

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

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

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