Brief:
Single stage, me hearties, matey, low powered rocket, me bucko, recovery via 18 inch parachute.

Construction:
Parts list:

• 1 BNC-55AO balsa nose cone
• 2 BT-55 body tubes - 18"
• 1 BT-20 Engine Holder Tube
• 2 CR-2055 centerin' rings
• 1 3/16" screw eye
• 1 engine hook
• 1 1/4" x 24' shock cord (elastic)
• 1 18" plastic parachute kit
• 1 3/16" launch lug
• 1 engine block
• 6 laser cut balsa fins
• 1 tube coupler
• 60" Keelhaul®©™® shock cord
• 1 pattern sheet
• 1 decal sheet

Comes with very nice assembly instructions with good illustrations. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! T' build is logical and easy. Arrr! Ya scallywag! InFlight calls it Skill Level 2. I would guess this is only because o' t' number o' fins and their alignment. Decals are better than t' original Estes. Ya scallywag! T' page explainin' t' paint scheme and decal placement is in color!! I built t' entire rocket with Titebond II. Fins are all surface mounted. Ahoy! Be careful when couplin' t' two body tubes. Well, blow me down! If glue is spread t' thin, t' coupler may stick before you have it positioned. Blimey! Also, matey, make certain both tubes are inline. T' only big difference betwixt this kit and t' original Bluebird be t' balsa nose cone and t' use o' t' Keelhaul®©™® shock cord attached at motor mount. Aye aye! Blimey!

Finishing:
Instead o' sealin' t' balsa, I papered t' fins before attachin' them. Begad! I use double fillets. I first use t' Titebond II allowin' t' dry before rotating. Avast, me proud beauty! When all fillets are dry, I use Elmer's Carpenter gel on all fillets at once. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! This stuff is great - it doesn't run! After 24 hours, arrr, I sprayed with Rustoleum Sandable Primer, sanded thoroughly and repaired minor spots. Then I primed and sanded again before paintin' t' entire rocket white. Begad! Ya scallywag! Did about 3 coats o' white and waited a day. T' top o' t' rocket is blue. I made a clean line with Frog Tape and then wrapped everythin' below that with a plastic bag. T' decals look great on this rocket and presented no problems because they are large. Well, blow me down! Avast! I usually only have difficulties with real small stuff. Well, arrr, blow me down! I usually wait until overnight before applyin' Future t' t' entire rocket. Ya scallywag! This seals t' decals and gives t' rocket a great shine.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
Inflight recommends: B4-2, shiver me timbers, B4-4, ya bilge rat, arrr, me bucko, B6-2, B6-4, me bucko, B8-5, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, B14-5, C6-5 or C6-7

I used "dog barf" for wadding. Avast, me proud beauty! Engine retention is via clip. Begad!

My first flight be a B6-4. Well, me hearties, blow me down! This was fine. Chute ejected after apogee. Avast! Altitude just over 100'

Second and third flight be C6-5. Well, blow me down! Rocksim shows both delays o' 3 and 7 as causin' stress on t' recovery system. These flights made it t' about 500'. Arrr! Aye aye! T' rocket flew nice and straight on all three flights.

Recovery:
T' shock cord works well. Begad! It is Keelhaul®©™® at t' motor mount with some elastic at t' top. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! I had no zipperin' or damage on t' top o' t' rocket. Ya scallywag! My motor selections were made usin' Rocksim and recoveries were about as close as I could get t' perfect with black powder motors.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
PROS: A classic rocket that I first built in t' 80's. Aye aye! Begad! Thanks so much InFlight for bringin' it back!

• Easy t' build
• Quality parts
• Nice water-slide decals

CONS: I would have preferred a plastic nose cone (not a big deal)

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5