Brief:
T' Estes Cosmos Mariner is a 1:67 scale version o' t' Lone Star Space Access team rocket plane for t' X-Prize. Arrr! Avast! It is a single stage D12-3 power glider with pop-pod on 18" parachute recovery.

Construction:
1 main body tube with 24mm pop-pod insert. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' pop-pod have centerin' rings that fit t' body tube and 4 heavy washers for nose weight on boost. Flat wing glider is made from 6 laser cut win' panels. Ya scallywag! Blimey! There are also 4 fins (rudders). T' rest o' t' body is made from two large vacuumed form sheets o' plastic. There are three display engine nozzles that come off for flight.

T' instructions are easy t' follow and t' illustrations are good. Aye aye! Begad! You must have a good flat surface t' build t' wing. T' win' consists o' 6 large sections o' balsa, ya bilge rat, 3 for each half o' t' glider wing. Ahoy! It is very important to have all pieces glue together flat. T' hardest part was gluin' on t' two vacuum form body sections. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! T' body sections didn't fit t' assembly well. The instructions call for usin' a silicon adhesive. I used GE Silicone II. Begad! You have to wipe away any excess glue as you cannot sand it later. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! I be nay impressed with t' glue joint. Avast, me proud beauty! If I had t' do it again, me bucko, I would use a thick super glue for plastics.

Finishing:
No special requirements for finishing. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' balsa wings need a lot o' sanding sealer t' get smooth. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' paint scheme is easy. Begad! Blimey! There are a few stick on type decals.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' only recommended motor be t' D12-3. Begad! T' model boosts nicely with a slow roll durin' boost. Begad! It is important when flyin' t' make sure that t' elastic that pops up one elevator is attached well and when t' pop-pod is inserted, the movable elevator is facin' t' opposite direction o' t' glued on elevator. This is what rolls t' model durin' boost. Begad! Once t' pop-pod ejects, matey, t' movable elevator pops up t' get t' plane into glide configuration. Begad! This glider is hard to balance. Begad! Even with glider at t' specified balanced point, arrr, t' glider stills stalls in flight. Well, blow me down! It is hard t' test glide it since it a fairly heavy glider. It will take quite a few flights t' trim out t' glider. Begad! One person mentioned to me that even though it was stalling, it be one o' t' best glides he seen out o' this kit.

Recovery:
I flew this model as a entry in SF/FF event at NARAM 48. Avast, me proud beauty! On t' first flight, the parachute on t' pop-pod got tangled in t' wire hook on t' back o' the pop-pod and never really opened, so it came streamin' into t' ground. Ya scallywag! T' RSO DQed t' flight as unsafe. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! T' pop-pod with all those washer is very heavy, so it is important safety wise t' make sure t' chute will always open. On the second flight, ya bilge rat, I got rid o' t' Estes supplied chute and use a nylon chute of the same size. Begad! Well, blow me down! I also shortened t' shroud lines and taped them t' t' pop-pod way from t' wire hook in t' back so thar was no chance o' them snaggin' on the wire. Arrr! Ahoy! On t' first landing, both wings cracked down t' win' grain o' the balsa t' a point outside t' lower rudders. Ya scallywag! This be repaired with super glue and flown again. Aye aye! Admittedly t' ground at NARAM be hard packed and thar was no grass t' cushion t' landing. I am sure landin' on macadam or concrete would also be very bad for this glider, ya bilge rat, so avoid flyin' it near paved areas.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I like this glider even thought it is on t' heavy side. Most o' t' glider seems right on except for t' back where t' engine goes. Begad! Ya scallywag! On t' picture on the package, me bucko, it has t' engine sittin' inside t' three display nozzles, me hearties, however, when you build it, t' display nozzles come off and leave an ugly gap where the body wrap doesn't quite fit around t' body tube. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! I am guessin' t' original plan be t' have t' display nozzles and backin' on t' pop-pod for flight but was given up durin' t' kit release. Blimey! I think it is possible t' grind out the display backin' t' fit t' pop-pod with t' display nozzles but that is somethin' for another time.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5