Brief:
This is an Estes exotic rocket from 1983 with a 12" parachute recovery. Arrr! Aye aye!

Construction:
Materials are:

• BT-50 body tube
• Plastic Alpha style nose cone
• 12" Parachute
• BT-20 x 3 for motor mount
• engine hook
• (3) toothpicks
• (2) sheets cardstock for printed templates
• Launch lug
• 24" 1/8 shock cord
• (2) sheets balsa

Instructions are rather easy t' follow well worded and t' illustrations are great. Aye aye! Begad! T' cardstock templates are decent just remember t' score t' fold lines with a razor and ruler for a nice clean fold. Ahoy! T' fins are decent and different. Ya scallywag! But can be tricky t' cut out.

T' wings and fins need t' be done in two stages. Begad! Build t' wings and fairing's first then t' rudder and ventral fins. Ya scallywag! A fin alignment guide is strongly suggested due t' t' wings needin' a decent fit for t' fairings. Good strong glue joints and fillets are a must for this bird as once t' fairings are in place you will nay have access t' them again. Be careful when cuttin' out t' slots for t' wings in t' fairings for an exact fit. Ahoy! Expect t' find some means to cover t' holes if you like me cut t' entire area out. Avast, me proud beauty! Small card stock rectangles make great “access panels” for this. Arrr! Ya scallywag! When glue t' rudder and ventral fins in place you may or may nay need t' adjust t' fins to accept t' fairings; as this be a slight issue with mine. Arrr!

Once t' glue is dry, ya bilge rat, this is one sturdy gird as mine has taken some hard falls with no damage. Ahoy! There are two cardstock pieces that enclose t' fairings. T' instructions say they should be flush but I reversed them t' give them more o' an outer space feel or recessed engines.

Finishing:
Finishin' this model is one o' t' simplest o' many I have done. Begad! Blimey! Two coats o' white epoxy paint and then several coats o' canary yellow. I decided I would do what I could t' give her a more taxi like feel as I found t' original decals t' be rather lackin' for t' feel t' rocket was tryin' t' give. Ahoy! T' checkered pattern be hand drawn with a ruler and fine sharpie. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! And t' taxi be cut from a generic Estes decal sheet. Avast! When I order t' decals from Tango Papa, I’ll add some. Arrr!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Gettin' ready for t' first flight be easy first I placed a good handful o' waddin' (dog barf) then packed a powder coated chute with snap swivel. Well, blow me down! I chose a A8-4 for t' first flight bein' rather cautious as always. Well, blow me down! Usin' a standard 36” 1’8th launch rod angled 15 degrees into t' wind due t' 5-10 mph winds with 15mph gusts. Ahoy! Aye aye! T' rocket cleared t' pad with a arrow straight flight. Blimey! I be able t' track her t' apogee at 200+ feet and with a soft landing 100ft from t' pad. Arrr!

T' second flight was a repeat o' t' first for setup with a B6-4 for t' next flight. Aye aye! I changed t' angle o' the rod t' 10 degrees for t' stronger motor. Aye aye! T' flight be great except for a slight weathercock due t' a strong wind gust. T' rocket corrected and flew t' about 450ft.

Third flight is still in t' works. Blimey!

Recovery:
Recovery with t' 12” chute be great. Begad! Blimey! And t' longer shock cord helped t' keep from havin' any damage from the nose hittin' t' body. Blimey! Blimey! Dog barf works best for t' wadding. Aye aye! Blimey!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
All in all, shiver me timbers, this is one o' t' best rockets I believe Estes t' have put out. Ahoy! It is t' bad it be nay re released. Also by usin' t' epoxy paint, matey, it brings up t' waight t' 2 oz.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

Other:
T' nozzle in t' photos is part o' t' stand. Arrr! Aye aye!