Brief:
From t' year 1971 until 1980 Estes produced t' original version o' t' Interceptor. Avast, me proud beauty! It is considered by many t' be t' quintessential kit o' model rocketry's "Golden Age". Avast! Many online auctions for t' original sealed kits can go up t' hundreds o' dollars! Fortunately for those o' us who are fans o' t' futuristic design but without a huge bankroll Estes finally re-released a new version o' t' kit in late 2007! There have been many improvements on t' original incorporated into this version.

Construction:

• PNC-55EJ Nose cone
• Injection Molded Plastic Tail cone
• 2 Injection Molded Plastic Win' Pods
• 18" long BT-55 Body Tube
• 2.75" BT-20 Motor Tube
• Engine Clip
• 1/8" Launch Lug
• Shock Cord o' ~24 inches o' rubber
• 18" Parachute
• Laser Cut 1/8" Balsa Fin Stock
• Laser Cut 3/32" Balsa Fin Stock
• 2 Injection Molded Plastic Antennas
• 2 Cardboard 20-55 Centerin' Rings
• 2 Large Water Slide Decal Sheets

All o' t' required parts were present and in good condition. Well, blow me down! Estes has included slip sheets with t' decals t' prevent damage t' them. Avast, me proud beauty! T' original kit had wooden dowels that have now been replaced with plastic for t' antennas and t' win' pods now are two pieces joined lengthwise instead o' a nosecone, body tube and tail cone.

T' instructions are what you would expect from Estes. Well illustrated and reasonably easy t' follow with even a minimum o' modelin' experience. Blimey! Blimey! As usual, ya bilge rat, you build t' motor mount first and glue it into t' airframe. Begad! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Next t' fins go on and then t' plastic bits. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! I left t' ribbed tail cone off o' t' aft o' t' model until after it was painted t' make it easier t' paint without masking.

Two things t' note about t' construction. Aye aye! T' first is that t' "antennas" for t' top o' t' fins have slots for t' balsa t' fit into. On me kit, and others o' which I have heard discussed online, shiver me timbers, t' slot is overly long lengthwise, leavin' a gap that has t' be filled.

T' other potential "gotcha" is nay a big deal either, but should be noted. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! T' two fins that go on t' bottom aft o' t' model are adhered t' t' model with t' large part towards t' front. Aye aye! On nearly half t' finished models o' this kit that I have seen (includin' mine...oops!) they are glued on backwards! I didn't notice that I had done this until after I had t' finished paint and 3/4 o' t' decals on. Begad! It doesn't affect t' stability o' t' kit, ya bilge rat, me bucko, it just gives it a slightly different look.

Finishing:
T' finishin' for t' Interceptor is easy and difficult. Ya scallywag! T' stock paint job is white with red orange win' pods and a black tail cone. A quick coat o' Kilz® primer and sandin' was all t' prep required and t' whole model got a coat o' white. Arrr! Arrr! I then masked t' wings and painted t' pods orange. Begad! Begad! I painted t' tail cone black separately and glued it in place afterward.

After I had built and painted t' model, I be terribly disappointed. Begad! I looked at it sittin' on t' table without t' decals and be struck by t' thought "Wow, that looks really, matey, ya bilge rat, really boring!" It be t' decals that make this model spectacular. After t' decals, it went from "ho-hum" t' "WOW!"

I have read several discussions online about how modelers think that t' decals are thin and hard t' work with. My experience be t' opposite. While I have had a good deal o' experience with water slide decals, I wouldn't consider myself an "expert". Aye aye! While thar are a TON o' decals for t' Interceptor, I didn't have many problems with them. I took me time carefully cuttin' out t' decals and applyin' them. It took nearly two and a half hours without a break t' do this. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! That's a whole lot o' decals.

T' one potential "gotcha" here be t' two long thin decals with wordin' o' "U.S. Begad! Air Force FC-803" and t' decal o' t' yellow stripe around t' airframe must either be overlapped or carefully trimmed. Arrr! I'm nay sure how t' design o' these three decals could be improved, but they must be applied very carefully t' avoid nudgin' t' others out o' place.

To finish off t' Interceptor and seal t' decals in place, I gave it a couple o' coats o' Future floor polish.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
As much time and effort that went into t' Interceptor, ya bilge rat, I was just a little leery about actually launchin' it. Aye aye! For t' first flight o' me new show piece, I loaded up a C6-3 and a handful o' dog barf waddin' and waited for a lull in t' breeze. Ya scallywag! I didn't want t' take any chances o' t' rocket driftin' into t' water all around our launch site.

After t' countdown, t' Interceptor shot off t' pad and into t' sky. Avast, me proud beauty! It was a nice smooth arc slightly into t' winds aloft. Begad! Right at apogee t' large parachute popped and it gently rifted back t' within 50 feet o' t' pad.

For t' first flight, me bucko, I be cautious about usin' t' longer delay as t' Interceptor is a fairly heavy, matey, draggy rocket. In t' followin' flights I tried goin' t' t' recommended C6-5 and t' flight profile has been about t' same, matey, with t' ejection just past apogee instead o' at it.

Recovery:
I was somewhat concerned about t' shock cord in t' kit. Well, blow me down! It had been many years since I had seen one o' t' "rubber band" style cords in an Estes kit. It also seemed a bit short. Well, blow me down! For t' amount o' work that had gone into t' rocket, I didn't want it t' snap after only a couple o' flights so I swapped it out for 1/4" elastic that I felt more comfortable with.

T' parachute for t' Interceptor is sized perfectly. It gives t' rocket a nice, gentle recovery without driftin' a mile down range.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
T' return o' t' Estes Interceptor is somethin' that I never thought that I would see. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! My modelin' skills were nay up t' buildin' it at t' time t' original kit was in production, so thankfully I now have t' opportunity t' build this classic design now.

T' construction o' t' rocket was very straight forward, matey, without any major "gotchas". Aye aye! Avast! T' finishin' is both t' main pro and con t' t' kit. Avast! There are a LOT o' decals. Avast! Take your time with them and you will be rewarded with an amazin' lookin' rocket. Blimey! Arrr! Rush it and it will show.

Luckily, t' Interceptor is as good a flier as it is a display piece. While I have nay had t' guts t' try launchin' it on t' smaller recommended motors, I am happy t' report that even on a medium size field thar should be no problems with recovery.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other:
Here be t' technique that I use for applyin' t' decals that might be o' use t' a novice with water slide decals. Aye aye! Soakin' t' decal thoroughly, ya bilge rat, just t' t' point where is will slide on t' backin' paper, but nay so long that it floats off t' backin' in t' water. Blimey! Begad! Put a small amount o' water onto t' model where you are goin' t' position t' decal. Arrr! Position t' decal, shiver me timbers, still on t' paper in t' location where you want it. Arrr! Now, me bucko, press lightly on one edge o' t' decal and hold it still. Blimey! With your other hand, gently pull t' paper out from under t' decal. Do NOT attempt t' slide t' decal off t' paper. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Once t' decal is on t' model, arrr, as long as thar be a bit o' water under it, it can be nudged around a bit. Avast! Well, blow me down! Do NOT attempt t' make any major shifts or t' decal can tear. Arrr! If you HAVE to, shiver me timbers, slide t' decal back onto t' backin' paper and reposition it. After t' decal is in it's final position, arrr, arrr, gently wipe away t' excess water, matey, ya bilge rat, workin' from t' center o' t' decal outwards. Blimey! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Be very careful. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! If you are too aggressive, me hearties, you might nudge it out o' position.