Background:

This sprin' I ran a build session for faculty kids at t' school where I teach. I ended up usin' t' Quest Bright Hawk for t' 7-9 year olds and the Quest Big Betty for t' 10-12 year olds. Ahoy! Blimey! After t' build session, I began thinkin' about t' types o' rockets that would make great first builds for a buddin' rocketeer. I wanted t' select rockets t' compare that had t' following in common:

• BT-60 body tube
• Parachute recovery
• Balsa fins
• Engine hook motor retention
• Reasonable Price
• Stable flight performance
• A rocket that can fly on small athletic fields and can be viewed in all aspects o' flight. In other words, no Alphas, Wizards, arrr, or Vikings.

I ended up selectin' 3 rockets that fit these criteria. T' Estes Big Bertha, t' Quest Big Betty, and t' Fliskits Rhino.

Click Here for the Comparison Article.

Construction:

T' Big Betty is a pretty simple build. Arrr! Blimey! T' only trick t' t' Big Betty is also a positive: construction o' t' motor mount with t' Keelhaul®©™ recovery system attached. There is also an engine hook, although nay as beefy as the Estes type. Avast! T' motor mount is nay as long as t' Big Bertha motor mount, me bucko, matey, but it fits nicely into t' Quest BT-60 body tube. Aye aye! T' Big Betty only has 3 fins, shaped very similar t' t' Big Bertha design. Ahoy! I simply shaped t' fins and then rounded t' edges. Begad! Avast! Usin' t' double glue method, they are easy t' attach. I added fillets t' t' fins, then worked on t' parachute (attached shroud lines), arrr, and then attached t' nose cone. Begad! Arrr! Now I be ready for finishing.

Finishing:

Finishin' be done with primer and Fill-N-Finish. After all was said and done, ya bilge rat, I gave it a couple coats o' orange, and then put on t' self-stick decals. Begad! T' body wrap "Big Betty" actually went on easily. Begad! The self-stick decals for t' fins are difficult, because after sandin' t' fins may be slightly shorter than t' actual decal. Begad! Aye aye! T' decals may require a little trimming. Arrr! Avast! On me rocket, shiver me timbers, t' decals are startin' t' peel off t' fins. Ya scallywag! This is usually me experience with self-stick decals.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:

I think t' Big Betty puts in a higher performance than t' Big Bertha. Well, blow me down! It, too, shiver me timbers, is a very stable design and is easy t' see in all aspects o' flight. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! Since the body tube is nice and wide, young racketeers have less conflicts in preppin' t' bird for flight. Avast! Begad! Due t' its lighter weight (nose cone is light, centerin' rings are thin, motor mount is nay as long as t' Big Bertha), me bucko, matey, it is a higher flyer than t' Big Bertha.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5