Brief:
T' Estes Gemini DC is dual parachute, lawn dart ready single stage rocket with two side pods housin' t' chutes. Arrr! Arrr! It uses a 1/8 inch launch lug and has a single 18mm motor mount. Aye aye! T' Gemini DC has four swept back balsa fins. Ahoy! Blimey!

Construction:
T' components used in this rocket are top quality. Avast! Ya scallywag! T' parts list is:

• 1 BT-50 main body tube, matey, slotted with vent holes
• 1 two-piece NC-50 nose cone
• 2 BT-20 side pods with vent holes
• 2 NC-20 nose cones
• 2 50-20 centerin' rings
• 1 18mm motor mount tube
• 1 mylar ring
• 1 engine hook
• 1 1/8 inch launch lug
• 1 1/4 inch vent tube
• 2 rubber shock cords
• 2 12 inch parachutes
• 4 balsa fins

T' instructions were very easy t' follow and all t' parts fit together easily. Arrr! T' main body tube had four slots with two holes perpendicular t' each other in betwixt two o' t' fin slots. Arrr! T' first step be t' make t' standard Estes motor mount, which is slittin' t' motor mount tube, puttin' on t' hook, slidin' on t' mylar ring, and then attachin' t' centerin' rings. This assembly slides into t' back o' t' rocket so t' end o' t' motor tube is even with t' aft end o' t' body tube. Ahoy! Next, all four fins were glued in and fillets were added. Then, a template was used t' find launch lug position and to make t' lines t' glue on t' side pods. Well, blow me down! T' only fit problem be with the vent tubes. Avast! This required t' cuttin' o' an Estes 1/4 inch launch lug for ventin' t' gasses o' t' motor's ejection charge t' t' side pods. T' vent tube is a little too wide t' fit through t' hole, me bucko, so they required some sanding. Aye aye! Once I thought t' glue dried, I put some glue on t' side and slid the vent into t' hole in t' side pod. T' glue wasn't dry, so t' vent was pushed slightly into t' main body. Begad! This happened on both sides. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! Then, I glued in all o' t' nose cones and attached t' shock cords t' t' inside o' t' side pods. T' parachutes were then tied t' t' end o' t' shock cords. Avast, me proud beauty!

Finishing:
I didn't use any special finishin' techniques, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, just prime and paint. Arrr! I painted mine blue and sprayed orange over it so t' blue is visible through t' orange.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
I have nay had one successful flight with this rocket. Arrr! I have flown it on twice on B4-4s and once on a C6-5. Begad! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! All three flights went straight and fast with a sudden jump off t' pad.

Recovery:
T' boost and coast phases were great, me bucko, but t' recovery is horrible. Sometimes the ejection gasses bypassed both chutes and sometimes only one chute comes out but doesn't open because it was wrapped up so tightly t' fit inside t' tube. Both situations caused t' rocket t' lawn dart. Well, me hearties, blow me down! My favorite flight be when the ejection charge blew t' main nose cone off and what a surprise! It lawn darted and core sampled. Ya scallywag!

Flight Rating: 1 out o' 5

Summary:
This is nay a good rocket. Arrr! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! T' parts are good quality but make sure t' chutes are nice and loose and that t' nose cones are glued in securely. Begad! There is a very small chance o' a successful recovery. Blimey!

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5