Brief:
This is a skill level 1 flyin' model o' t' Death Star from t' Star Wars movies. It consists o' a booster and four foam quarters that make up t' Death Star. 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 hearties, coupler, engine tube, arrr, hook, me bucko, centerin' rings, me bucko, four fins, plastic launch lugs, ya bilge rat, four Death Star quarters, inserts, me hearties, arrr, 12 inch plastic parachute, streamers, matey, two bundles o' shroud line, matey, shock cord, 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, arrr, white glue (I used Pica Gluit), matey, arrr, sandpaper, me hearties, flat black spray enamel, ya bilge rat, water based contact cement, arrr, Testors or other urethane based spray enamel for t' foam parts, ya bilge rat, matey, 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. Avast! I built this accordin' t' t' instructions. Ya scallywag! Next, matey, t' tube coupler is glued into t' lower body tube. Once t' glue dries, me hearties, shiver me timbers, t' two tubes are then joined. Once this was done, me bucko, I draw a line down t' body tube betwixt two fin slots. Arrr! 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. Well, blow me down! I then took me knife and carefully cut t' fins free o' t' sheets. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! When that be completed, shiver me timbers, I stack sanded t' fins on a sheet o' sandpaper on a flat surface. Arrr! Ya scallywag! Now I sanded t' leadin' and trailin' edges round.

Fin Installation
It is best t' test fit t' fins first. Ahoy! Blimey! When satisfied with t' fit, me hearties, matey, me hearties, glue on one fin at a time until all four are in place. Begad! Blimey! 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. Begad! Arrr! T' bottom lug is applied first. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Apply a thin rin' o' tube-type plastic cement above t' fins and then push t' lug into place alignin' it betwixt two fins. Aye aye! T' install t' top lug, matey, I put a mark about 4 3/8 from t' top o' t' body tube. Aye aye! Begad! This has t' be as precise as possible or t' assembled Death Star won't fit properly. Well, blow me down! 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. Avast! Finished product looks good. CONS: Instructions a tad out o' sequence (see text).

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

This is where t' instructions got out o' sequence. Begad! I now glued t' inserts into t' Death Star quarters. Ya scallywag! T' instructions called for water base contact cement. Aye aye! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! After that dried, me hearties, me hearties, I hand painted t' recessed center lines with Testors Flat Black bottle paint.

T' recovery systems are installed at this time. I assembled t' shock cord mount then attached it t' t' inside o' t' body tube. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! I then assembled t' parachute and attached it t' t' shock cord with a triple knot. Ahoy! Avast! With this completed, 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, C5-3 and C6-3(first flight). 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. Blimey! 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. I used six squares compared t' t' recommended three. Well, blow me down! 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. 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. Well, blow me down! Begad! All pieces were recovered and inspected. Ya scallywag! No scorch or burn marks. Avast! Aye aye! Flawless flight.

T' second flight lifted off on a C6-3 and went straight up. T' charge fired and t' pieces separated properly. Avast! Blimey! But upon recovery I found scorch marks on t' parachute and three o' t' streamers. One with a hole on t' bottom o' it. Blimey! 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). Well, blow me down! Arrr! I feel that t' main PROS are easy assembly, good performin' design, me hearties, and t' finished product looks sharp. T' main CONS are out o' sequence instructions, and time consumin' recovery system preparation.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5