Brief:
Mini Engine Starter Set. Aye aye! Aye aye! Blimey! Comes with a "Space Bus" bullet style rocket, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, and a "Space Hauler" Jayhawk style rocket. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Blimey! Also included is a mini launch pad, Electron Beam launch controller, shiver me timbers, two A10-3T motors with igniters, plugs, and wadding.

Construction:
T' rocket kits each feature two body halves, a nose cone, me bucko, nose cone base, plastic launch lug, matey, motor tube, motor hook, overlap tube, shock cord, half width streamer, and clay. Blimey! Blimey! T' launch pad has three plastic legs that snaps into t' base. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! Blimey! T' launch rod is a shorter version o' their two piece rod. It twist-locks onto t' base, ya bilge rat, which is unique. Avast, me proud beauty! T' pad also features an adjustable stand off t' adjust t' height o' t' rockets on t' pad. Well, blow me down! T' launch controller be t' standard launch controller that Estes includes in all o' their starter sets.

Since both rockets are similar, I wrote this like I be writin' about one rocket. Aye aye! Avast! Construction starts with t' motor mount, shiver me timbers, which goes together like any other motor mount in other Estes kits. Ahoy! T' only difference be t' motor tube is shorter than normal. Ya scallywag! Avast! Clay is added t' t' nose cones before t' base is glued on. T' shock cord is attached by tyin' a double knot in one end, and feedin' t' other through a tab on one o' t' body halves. Then t' motor tubes are glued t' one o' t' halves, and t' halves are glued together. Aye aye! T' Space Bus was t' easiest t' build. Ya scallywag! T' Space Hauler parts did nay fit perfectly, and maskin' tape had t' be used t' align t' parts together. Ahoy! Final assembly is accomplished by attachin' t' molded launch lug piece t' t' rocket and attachin' t' streamer. Well, blow me down! Blimey! There is one gotcha though... Avast! Plastic cement does nay stick very well t' t' plastic. Ahoy! Arrr! Try t' find a glue that does stick. Well, blow me down! I used regular plastic cement, me bucko, and that proved t' be a problem later. Arrr! This is why I gave it a ratin' o' two.

Finishing:
T' parts o' t' rockets are pre-colored, me hearties, so no paintin' is required. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! T' details on t' Space Hauler is screened on, matey, ya bilge rat, me hearties, but t' Space Bus use stock on decals. Avast, me proud beauty! Alignment o' t' decals is nay a problem because you can use t' mold lines as guides. When all is done, me bucko, these rockets look like McDonald Toys (Cool Idea ... Rockets in every Big Kids Happy Meal! :-)). Ahoy! They are so cute!

Construction Rating: 2 out o' 5

Flight:
Loadin' t' Space Bus and Space Hauler be t' same as any other Estes rockets. T' Space Hauler uses one piece o' wadding, but t' Space Bus works best with two pieces. Ahoy! Both rockets fly with 1/4A through A motors. Arrr! T' motor hook gets in t' way o' t' exhaust path. Begad! This caused both rockets nay t' have a straight flight.

Recovery:
This is where all t' cons add up. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! Blimey! With t' Space Hauler, t' glue's inability t' bond t' plastic caused t' rocket t' blast into its basic pieces durin' t' ejection o' t' 1/4A3-3T motor used. T' Space Bus held together, me hearties, but I figured that t' better fittin' parts and t' decals held it together. Ahoy! Blimey! My Space Bus was lost after a flight with a A10-3T because o' t' motor hook. T' rocket veered into t' woods next t' me house.

Flight Rating: 2 out o' 5

Summary:
These rockets are cute, arrr, and worth t' effort and price if you do two things ... Use a glue that sticks t' t' plastic used, and trim t' motor hook so it does nay get in t' way o' t' motor exhaust.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5