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

As a side note, shiver me timbers, a young friend o' mine had built t' Mongoose on his own and had it at our last launch. Well, blow me down! I noticed that his aft tube be stickin' out some and when attached t' t' second stage, it was flush.

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

Flyin' t' Mongoose demonstrated strengths and weaknesses o' t' kit. Arrr! 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. Arrr! T' damage be a slightly crushed body tube. Avast, me proud beauty!

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

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

Estes calls t' Mongoose a "perfect first time two-stage rocket". Begad! I would question "first time" due t' t' instructions. Ahoy! Blimey! Also, ya bilge rat, me hearties, 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, matey, me bucko, however, me hearties, I don't think that outweighs t' other issues.