Brief
Older skill level 3 Estes kit introduced in 1978 and discontinued in 1982. Avast! Avast! Had one back in 1979 that I lost t' a tree on its first flight. Avast! When I became a BAR this is one o' t' first kits I wanted t' clone, ya bilge rat, but it was difficult because o' t' unique nose cone/tail cone combination. However, me hearties, in 1997 Estes introduced t' Wildfire kit (#2154, shiver me timbers, see picture), which re-introduced this plastic piece. So I went out and bought a Wildfire kit, me bucko, me bucko, used t' nose cone/tail cone, matey, engine mount, and parachute and I be on me way. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! By t' way, matey, this unique nose/tail cone be also used on t' followin' kits if you're interested in kit-bashin' any o' them (all Estes): #1106 Shark Coldpower Convertible (suspected), #1293 Black Brant III (confirmed), #1323 Stiletto (confirmed), #1320 Starship Vega (suspected, minus tail cone), #1350 Black Hole Space Probe (confirmed), and #1904 Maverick (confirmed, minus tail cone).

Construction
Instructions were typical Estes, me hearties, easy t' follow and no unexpected gotchas. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! As stated, me hearties, t' nose/tail cone, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, arrr, parachute, me hearties, and engine mount were from t' Wildfire kit. T' 16.5" BT-50, 2 ea. Avast! Avast! 2 5/16" BT-5, me bucko, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, and Balsa (plans state 3/32", me bucko, I messed up and used 1/8") were from me supply, arrr, primarily a Designer Special. Avast, me proud beauty! T' dowels were bought from a hobby store. Construction was per t' Estes instructions, shiver me timbers, with t' use o' carpenter's wood glue throughout. T' only change made be that t' BT was punched along each "fin" t' allow for glue rivets. Alignment was fairly easy. Avast! While t' design does nay look particularly sturdy, once complete and finished it is surprisingly so. Arrr! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! White glue was used for fillets.

Finishing
I used Elmer's Fill'n'Finish for fillin' t' BT seams and t' first coat o' balsa sealer. Ya scallywag! After sandin' a second coat on t' balsa parts be made with sandin' sealer and then sanded, arrr, ya bilge rat, and then t' rocket was primed with 2-3 coats sanded between. Ahoy! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Finally, me bucko, me hearties, t' rocket was painted with gloss white paint (I used t' Wal-Mart brand, me hearties, which works pretty well). Begad! T' tail cone be painted with gloss red and is a display only part (i.e., nay used for flight). T' decals were from Tom Prestia and were great! I highly recommend him for your repro decal needs (I have also been happy with Jimz decals). Aye aye! T' insides o' t' wingtip tubes were painted flat black with regular model paint and a brush. Ahoy! T' final touch was a nice clear coat (again t' Wal-Mart brand). Avast, me proud beauty! While finishin' t' rocket is more difficult and time-consumin' than doin' your typical 3FNC rocket, me bucko, it be nay unduly so. Ahoy! Begad! T' final rocket looks great -- nay your typical rocket. Arrr! I have gotten many positive comments on it when I flew at t' GAMMA section launches.

Construction Rating: 4 ½ out o' 5

Flight
Engine retention is typical Estes motor clip, although I modified it by usin' a Dremel cut-off wheel t' cut off t' extra on t' hook because I like t' old-style hooks better. Arrr! Avast! I then put t' cut-off end on t' top o' t' MMT so that t' end showin' is nice and clean.

Original Estes recommended motors were A8-3, shiver me timbers, B4-4 (1st), matey, B6-4, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, and C6-5. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! My first flight be 22 Nov 98 at t' GAMMA monthly launch, me hearties, on a C6-5 since we have a large field. Ahoy! Well, matey, blow me down! Blimey! After preppin' with 4-5 sheets o' wadding, me bucko, I set it up on t' pad and let her rip. Ahoy! Ahoy! Blimey! Flight be great -- straight and pretty high for a rocket with so much "stuff" hangin' out in t' breeze. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Blimey! T' date t' rocket has flown four times, arrr, all on C6-5 engines. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! All flights were excellent.

Recovery
Shock cord is typical Estes paper mount, shiver me timbers, matey, although I replaced t' short Wildfire SC with a piece o' sewin' elastic about 2 feet long t' try and avoid t' dreaded Estes dent. Shock cord is attached t' t' NC with a snap swivel. T' 12" Estes parachute was built per instructions and attached t' t' NC with another snap swivel. Avast, me proud beauty! No more difficult than any other Estes kit.

Recovery has been excellent every time. Rocket has sustained no damage through t' first four flights.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary
I love this rocket and have really enjoyed buildin' and flyin' it. Aye aye! Blimey! Main PRO is stylin' -- it's much more "cool" lookin' than your typical Estes-type rockets available these days. Other PROs: craftsmanship needed is more than normal 3FNC kit, me bucko, ya bilge rat, and it's a great conversation piece at t' launches. Well, blow me down! Blimey! CONs: maybe that Estes doesn't kit it any more.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5