Brief:
This is a skill level 1 flyin' model o' t' Death Star from t' Star Wars movies. Avast! Arrr! It consists o' a booster and four foam quarters that make up t' Death Star. Ahoy! It flies on B and C engines and has a parachute for t' booster and a streamer for each Death Star quarter.

Construction:
T' kit includes instructions, two body tubes (one slotted), me bucko, coupler, engine tube, shiver me timbers, hook, centerin' rings, four fins, matey, plastic launch lugs, shiver me timbers, four Death Star quarters, ya bilge rat, inserts, 12 inch plastic parachute, matey, streamers, arrr, two bundles o' shroud line, ya bilge rat, shock cord, matey, tape rings, and a vinyl decal.

PROS: Easy assembly; CONS: None noted.

To build this kit you need t' usual hobby tools, plastic cement, shiver me timbers, white glue (I used Pica Gluit), ya bilge rat, sandpaper, shiver me timbers, flat black spray enamel, water based contact cement, Testors or other urethane based spray enamel for t' foam parts, and automotive primer.

T' instructions were t' typical Estes material complete with illustrations and text and were easy t' understand.

Body Assembly
T' construction starts with t' engine mount. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! I built this accordin' t' t' instructions. Avast! Next, t' tube coupler is glued into t' lower body tube. Begad! Once t' glue dries, arrr, t' two tubes are then joined. Well, arrr, blow me down! Once this was done, shiver me timbers, me bucko, I draw a line down t' body tube betwixt two fin slots. At this time I glued t' completed engine mount into t' lower tube, alignin' t' retainer hook betwixt fin slots.

Fin Assembly
T' fin assembly starts with sandin' t' fin sheets smooth with a piece o' #320 grit sandpaper. Begad! I then took me knife and carefully cut t' fins free o' t' sheets. Ya scallywag! When that be completed, I stack sanded t' fins on a sheet o' sandpaper on a flat surface. Now I sanded t' leadin' and trailin' edges round.

Fin Installation
It is best t' test fit t' fins first. Ya scallywag! Begad! When satisfied with t' fit, ya bilge rat, glue on one fin at a time until all four are in place. Arrr! Now align them before t' glue sets up.

Launch Lug Installation
T' top lug has an extension and has t' be applied at t' top. Ya scallywag! T' bottom lug is applied first. Aye aye! Apply a thin rin' o' tube-type plastic cement above t' fins and then push t' lug into place alignin' it betwixt two fins. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! T' install t' top lug, shiver me timbers, I put a mark about 4 3/8 from t' top o' t' body tube. This has t' be as precise as possible or t' assembled Death Star won't fit properly. Now apply a rin' o' plastic cement above this mark then lower t' lug into place and let dry.

Finishing:
PROS: Easy Preppin' for finishing. Ya scallywag! Finished product looks good. Avast! CONS: Instructions a tad out o' sequence (see text).

T' instructions intend for t' booster t' be primed and painted at this time. I used Krylon Gray Primer and Gloss Black for this. Arrr! Begad! I then applied t' supplied decal t' finish t' booster.

This is where t' instructions got out o' sequence. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! I now glued t' inserts into t' Death Star quarters. Arrr! Aye aye! T' instructions called for water base contact cement. Ya scallywag! I couldn't find any so I used Elmer's spray adhesive which worked very well.

For finishin' t' Death Star quarters, I used Testors Flat Light Aircraft Gray for this. Arrr! Aye aye! After that dried, I hand painted t' recessed center lines with Testors Flat Black bottle paint.

T' recovery systems are installed at this time. Begad! I assembled t' shock cord mount then attached it t' t' inside o' t' body tube. Aye aye! I then assembled t' parachute and attached it t' t' shock cord with a triple knot. With this completed, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, I assembled t' streamers and attached one at a time t' each Death Star Quarter.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
PROS: Unique recovery method. CONS: Rocket is time consumin' t' prep for flight and can have a rough fit on t' launch rod if it is bent.

Recommended motors are B6-2, arrr, C5-3 and C6-3(first flight). Avast! I would nay recommend t' B6-2 because I don't think it would have enough liftin' power for this rocket.

I have flown this rocket twice and used a C6-3 for each flight. Begad! I wanted t' use a C5-3 but didn't have any at t' time.

This rocket does require recovery waddin' and is time consumin' t' prep. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Blimey! I used six squares compared t' t' recommended three. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' retainer hook holds t' engine in place.

Recovery:
T' first flight on a C6-3 went off t' rod and climbed at a steep angle. Arrr! Avast! Blimey! T' ejection fired and t' Death Star quarters separated and came down their streamers while t' booster gently floated down on its parachute. All pieces were recovered and inspected. Begad! No scorch or burn marks. Begad! Blimey! Flawless flight.

T' second flight lifted off on a C6-3 and went straight up. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' charge fired and t' pieces separated properly. Begad! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! But upon recovery I found scorch marks on t' parachute and three o' t' streamers. Aye aye! One with a hole on t' bottom o' it. I may cut t' streamers off and let t' pieces free-fall t' t' ground on t' next flight.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
I feel t' rocket is adequate for someone with limited buildin' experience and a fan o' Star Wars (like me). Arrr! Blimey! I feel that t' main PROS are easy assembly, good performin' design, matey, and t' finished product looks sharp. Blimey! Blimey! T' main CONS are out o' sequence instructions, ya bilge rat, and time consumin' recovery system preparation.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5