T' Estes Firebird is your basic four-fins-and-a-nose-cone sport rocket. Ya scallywag! Blimey! It stands almost two feet tall and uses a BT-55 (about 1.3") diameter body tube.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5(Simple and straightforward)

T' Firebird came in t' usual plastic bag with t' colorful graphics on the front. Blimey! Blimey! (Note t' Estes: Why do you print on t' back o' t' bag so we can't see inside t' see if t' parts are in good condition?) Inside were t' 11 by 17 instructions and all o' t' pieces in good condition. Aye aye! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! T' kit be t' basic 4F&NC rocket, me bucko, so thar be a plastic nose cone, me bucko, body tube, Balsa Fins and the required motor mount, and 18" parachute.

T' instructions are printed on one large 11x17 sheet. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! They follow t' usual Estes highly detailed copious level o' illustrations that we all know and love. T' shock cord mount is printed on t' launch instructions page so the instructions remain in one piece, a nice touch.

T' Kit is rated as a "Beta Series" but I would call it a beginner level. Blimey! There were no fit or alignment issues that I had with this kit, all of the parts fit together nicely. T' body tube is slotted t' allow t' fins to attach t' t' motor mount as well as t' body tube. Ya scallywag! This makes an exceptionally strong mount and strong fins that will stand up t' lots o' abuse. Ahoy!

There are no special tools or methods needed t' build this kit, you will want t' test fit t' fins and t' motor mount before assembly. Ahoy! Aye aye! T' gap that is shown in figure 5 o' t' instructions be t' thickness o' t' body tube, somethin' that was neglected in t' instructions. Begad!

I finished t' rocket in a basic high-visibility orange paint scheme, as I thought t' recommended pattern was rather hokey. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! One regret that I have is that I did nay fill t' body tube spiral seams before I painted t' 'bird, matey, as the spirals show up rather well in t' orange paint. Avast! Blimey! Well, arrr, blow me down! Blimey! T' decals are nay the nicer water transfer type, shiver me timbers, but t' self-adhesive variety. Ahoy! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! I do nay particularly like t' thickness o' these decals. One tip in usin' these decals, ya bilge rat, Get a good straight edge and a sharp knife blade and cut as close t' t' color as possible, ya bilge rat, that way thar be as little o' t' clear carrier showin' when you apply t' decals. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' results are a rocket that is sturdy and, me bucko, well, looks like four fins and a nose cone, me bucko, your basic rocket.

Flight Recovery Rating: 4 out o' 5

T' shock cord mount is standard folded paper Estes, me hearties, with an elastic cord (much better than t' old rubber bands...) that ties off on t' nose cone. Included in t' kit is an 18" parachute, matey, ya bilge rat, I found this too big for the 'bird, but more on that later. Ya scallywag! T' parachute packs easily into t' large body tube with plenty o' room for wadding, me hearties, and t' shock cord. Well, blow me down!

T' recommended motors are the: A8-3, me hearties, B4-4, me bucko, me bucko, B6-4, ya bilge rat, C6-5, and C6-7. Blimey!

T' motor is held in place by t' bent metal engine retainer, me bucko, along with a motor block for good measure. (If you bend t' engine hook slightly t' rocket will stand on all four fins for display.) I have used t' A8-3, B6-4 and C6-5 engines in this model. All o' t' engines work well, and t' C6 takes it pretty high but nay out o' sight. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! On t' first flight I used t' parachute as supplied. T' rocket is too light for that parachute, shiver me timbers, and it floated for what seemed t' be an eternity. Ahoy! So t' next flight I cut out t' Estes logo in the chute. That flight took what seemed t' be a longer time t' reach t' ground, at one point it seemed t' be suspended in mid-air, matey, nay movin' down at all. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Well after that, I fixed t' problem. Avast, me proud beauty! T' 18" parachute now has a 16" hole in t' middle. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! Basically it is a 2" rin' o' plastic. Begad! Ya scallywag! Now t' rocket will return in a reasonable length o' time, ya bilge rat, and it still floats down slow enough for a safe recovery. Avast, me proud beauty! I have launched t' Firebird in calm and 15-20 Mph winds, me bucko, and it remained stable and predictable in all launches.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Everythin' considered, this an inexpensive (approx $11) basic sturdy model. Not flashy, matey, and nay exotic, but a solid stable reliable performer. Begad! Arrr! This is the rocket I would use t' start a demonstration, or t' recommend t' a newcomer as a first rocket. Avast!

It is very similar t' t' "Big Bertha" but t' through-the-wall fin attachment makes it a much more sturdy design. But do yourself a favor and either swap out t' a 12" parachute or cut a big hole in t' one that comes with t' kit, ya bilge rat, or you might loose t' 'bird on t' wind. Ahoy! Avast!