I originally purchased an Estes' Mongoose Kit because I wanted t' use it for an experiment, me hearties, however, when me 8 year old nephew came t' visit it seemed like a good kit t' build together. Arrr! Blimey! 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. Blimey! Aye aye! I think t' problem starts in t' first step when slidin' t' green booster adapter onto t' motor mount tube. Ya scallywag! Begad! It tells you t' slide it up t' t' 14mm mark, me hearties, however, it is a bit confusin' as t' whether t' front o' t' rin' or t' aft o' t' rin' should be at 14mm. Ya scallywag! In t' second step, you are told t' apply glue and slide t' motor mount "all t' way in" t' booster fin unit. Blimey! Ahoy! T' pictures show it partially out. Begad! Well, we got ours "all t' way in" and flush with a bit o' sanding. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! O' coarse, ya bilge rat, when finished t' booster did nay attach t' t' second stage flush. Blimey! Blimey! T' remainin' instructions and pictures posed no issues. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Begad! Blimey!

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. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! I noticed that his aft tube be stickin' out some and when attached t' t' second stage, it was flush. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey!

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

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

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

After 2 flights, matey, me hearties, t' booster motor mount be completely burned away on our model. Blimey! I think this is due t' t' method o' motor retention that t' Mongoose uses. Arrr! On t' booster, t' engine block is mounted at t' aft o' t' motor mount. Begad! On t' second stage t' engine block is mounted at t' top o' t' motor mount like most kits. Well, blow me down! T' two motors are taped together and slid into t' second stage until they rest on t' engine block. Arrr! Begad! T' booster is then slid onto t' motor until is rests against it's engine block. Ahoy! 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, me bucko, t' aft engine block burns.

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

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