Brief:
This is a medium sized rocket from Estes which I bought because I thought it looked really cool. It is me first multi-staged rocket and I'm happy that it had a payload section t' go alone with that. Aye aye! T' Echostar uses an 18mm motor mount and an 18in parachute.

Construction:
T' rocket uses typical Estes components although thar be no motor hook. Begad! Its main body tube and booster tube are BT-55s. Its upper body tube is a BT-50J and has a clear payload section with t' same width. Arrr! T' fins are made from balsa wood cutouts. Begad! Ya scallywag! Only t' fins along on t' sustainer section are able t' be punched through t' tube. Avast! Begad! All t' other parts are in typical Estes condition which is neither a good thin' nor a bad thin' in me opinion.

PROs: T' directions are easy t' follow and t' rocket is probably better o' as for Skill Level 2 construction. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' parts were all in decent condition and no tools out o' t' ordinary were needed. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' only tools really needed were wood glue, plastic cement, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, me bucko, a hobby knife, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, sandpaper, and maybe wax paper. Begad! Blimey! Other than that, matey, construction was a pain.

Cons: Estes has once again provided me with t' fun o' their paper 3-fold shock cord mount. Arrr! Ahoy! Because o' that stupid mount on most o' their rockets, ya bilge rat, I have developed a phobia o' shock cords. Arrr! Well, me bucko, arrr, arrr, sort of. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! There were these little tabs on t' sustainer fins meant t' go into t' body tube. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! I managed t' break every tab while cuttin' out these fins from their balsa sheet. Arrr! Fortunately it only required a little bit o' glue t' get them back on. I'm nay too crazy about havin' t' glue balsa sections t' each other t' complete t' sustainer fins. Aye aye! I'm sure thar be an easier solution. Arrr! I get nervous t' think that thar be no motor hook and only a small thrust ring. Begad! I have a feelin' that within a few launches, an engine will go flyin' through t' tube due t' a weakened ring. Avast! T' directions constantly had me smearin' rings o' glue around t' inside o' t' tubes. I found this t' be potentially inaccurate but I managed. I think that t' parachute may be too big for t' rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! It really won't matter in single stage flights but when t' rocket soars t' its highest altitude, I don't think it'll be comin' back too close. Since t' rocket has 3 sets o' fins, it is hard t' get them all perfectly aligned. Just some patience and effort can fix that problem.

Finishing:
I believe that t' only good paint scheme t' this rocket be t' one shown in t' catalog. I think that it be easier t' paint t' individual parts before construction. Begad! Since I chose t' conventional paint scheme instead o' t' "wild" one, me hearties, thar be only one decal needed. Estes supplied more decals for t' "wild" scheme but I decided nay t' use those. Begad! Once t' decals were on, ya bilge rat, t' rocket looked great.

Construction Rating: 2 out o' 5

Flight:
I have flown it only once on a single-stage B6-4. Well, blow me down! I was still kind o' nervous about t' possibility o' a weak thrust rin' but thar was nothin' I could've done at that point. Begad! T' rocket did make it off t' pad and flew straight up for about 400ft or so.

Recovery:
At apogee, arrr, t' payload section fell off and one o' t' upper fins was snapped off. Begad! T' payload section landed a few feet from t' rest o' t' rocket but I never found t' fin. It's easy t' repair. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! I think that t' payload section just needed a little more tape around it t' hold better. Begad! Aye aye! Blimey! Next launch will probably be better.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
Once this rocket be finished, me bucko, shiver me timbers, it was me best lookin' rocket (until I discovered Aerotech). Blimey! T' problem was just gettin' it t' be finished. Keepin' this rocket from havin' problems durin' flight just requires it t' be strong and durable. Blimey! I would suggest this rocket t' anyone who enjoys challengin' but nay complicated construction. Blimey! I think that it's a great first multi-stage rocket.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5