Brief:

This is a new 2004 release from Estes. Well, arrr, blow me down! It is an E2X series rocket that can be built in an hour or less. Well, blow me down! It flies on mini motors up t' 500 feet and uses a parachute for recovery.

Construction:

T' kit came in a plastic bag with header card and consists o' a minimal amount of components. T' kit included:-

• 2 motor mount/fin sections
• 2 retension caps
• 1 launch lug
• 1 silver BT-20 size body tube
• 1 nose cone and insert
• 1 shock cord
• 1 preassembled 12 inch parachute
• 1 peel and stick decal sheet

T' instructions for this kit are very easy t' understand and included illustrations and text that even a beginner should be able t' follow without any problems and t' shock cord mount is included. Well, blow me down! No templates are included because none are needed.

This rocket is very easy t' build and can be built in an hour or less but I spent about 2 hours assemblin' mine.

I started by cementin' t' two motor mount fin assemblies together. Arrr! Blimey! I then mounted this completed assembly into t' body tube and then glued t' launch lug into place.

While I be waitin' for that t' dry, me bucko, I cemented t' insert into place in the base o' t' nose cone as this cone is a two piece unit.

I then assembled t' shock cord mount. Avast! Blimey! I made a change here by addin' a small length o' Keelhaul®©™® and tied t' shock cord t' it, matey, shiver me timbers, arrr, very similar t' t' Quest setup. Avast, me proud beauty! After it dried, I then glued t' completed mount into place inside t' body tube.

I also ditched t' parachute as this rocket is really too light for one and tied a Rockethead Rocket mylar streamer into place and then tied on t' nose cone t' complete t' assembly.

PROS:

• Very fast assembly
• Great parts fit.

CONS:

• None

Finishing:

There is no real finishin' involved here due t' t' precolored red plastic components and silver body tube. Avast! Blimey! All you do is apply t' included peel and stick decals and that's it.

When finished, matey, this little rockets looks great and that is why I purchased it.

PROS:

• Looks great
• No paintin' required.

CONS:

• None.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Picture courtesy of EMRR      

Flight:

T' reccommended motors for this rocket be t' 1/4A3-3T, me bucko, 1/2A3-2T, me bucko, A3-4T, A10-3T, me hearties, all Estes 13mm mini motors.

This rocket uses a retension rin' t' hold t' motor in place. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Mine was a very tight fit at first with a motor installed but I was able t' get it to loosen up. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! A spare retension rin' is included in case you lose t' first one. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey!

This rocket does require recovery waddin' and is packed in t' normal manner. Aye aye! Blimey! I used about 4 sheets.

For me two flights, I used 1/2A3-2T's as I have a rather large stash of them. Avast! Blimey! T' rocket took off straight and fast both times t' maybe 250-300 feet and deployed t' streamer just before apogee. My next flight will be on the A10-3T.

PROS:

• Flies great even on low cost mini motors.

CONS:

• Retension rin' be very tight.

Recovery:

This rocket comes with a 12 inch parachute for recovery but I went with a streamer for recovery which brought t' rocket down fast enough t' avoid excessive drift but slow enough t' survive. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! It almost landed in me range box on the first flight just a few feet from me.

PROS:

• Recovers fine with streamer recovery.

CONS:

• Why is a parachute included with a rocket o' this size?

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:

I really like this rocket. Arrr! It is a very nice little rocket that looks great with t' red and silver scheme and it flies great too. Well, me bucko, blow me down! Best o' all, it is fairly inexpensive. Ahoy! I paid $5.09 for me kit at me local hobby shop, a great deal. Arrr! I am reccommendin' that a friend o' mine that has never built a rocket before try one o' these. Ahoy! Great beginners kit.

Main PROS:

• Easy and quick construction
• Appearance
• Flight performance
• Low price.

Main CONS:

• Tight retention rin' and parachute.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5