Intro:
T' Super Big Bertha is a re-release o' t' Classic Super Big bertha that Estes produced in 1989. Aye aye! This is an upscale o' t' venerable Big Bertha, one o' t' most popular Estes rockets.

Construction: Rating: 4 ½

T' Super Big Bertha comes in a cardboard box that helps t' protect t' components very well. Avast! None o' t' parts were missing, and all were in good condition. Aye aye! T' materials are t' typical good quality Estes components. Begad! T' kit includes two large body tubes, arrr, body tube coupler, shiver me timbers, nose cone, long motor mount tube, Engine hook, 4 centerin' rings, ya bilge rat, two balsa wood sheets for fins, assembled parachute, matey, ya bilge rat, me hearties, a ridiculously short shock cord, me bucko, and a decal sheet.

T' instructions are a reprint o' t' original 1989 instructions. Included in t' kit is another sheet o' instructions that points out t' new shape o' t' engine hook as well as t' pre-assembled parachute. Blimey! Blimey! T' instructions follow a logical order and are illustrated heavily in t' typical Estes fashion. Ya scallywag! Blimey! A wrap around fin markin' guide is also included.

T' kit assembles easily. Begad! There is nothin' out o' t' ordinary with this kit. Avast! T' only thin' that you will notice is that this kit is big. T' length o' t' rocket can be a challenge t' handle durin' t' assembly process.

I did do two minor modifications t' t' kit. Begad! T' first was t' poke a row o' holes down t' attachment lines for t' fins. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! This allows t' glue t' flow through t' holes t' form a stronger joint.

T' second modification was t' add a baffle for t' ejection gasses. Avast! Blimey! This be in response t' t' instructions callin' for 12 t' 14 sheets o' recovery wadding, which I felt was a little excessive. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! T' baffle causes t' ejection gasses t' make two 90 degree turns before it enters t' parachute compartment. Aye aye! Blimey! This will stop any o' t' hot particles and allow t' hot gasses t' continue. Ahoy! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' add t' baffle I followed these steps. Begad! Blimey! Betwixt step 7a and 7b, ya bilge rat, me hearties, I took t' one remainin' centerin' rin' and punched 8 holes around t' ring. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Then I took a hole punch and added 8 holes near t' upper end o' t' engine mount tube. Ahoy! Blimey! Next I took t' disks that were punched out o' t' center o' t' centerin' rings, glued t' stack o' four together, ya bilge rat, and allowed them t' dry. Avast! Blimey! Then I sanded this stack until it fit in t' top o' t' engine tube, me hearties, and glued them there. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! Now finish step 7b as illustrated. In step 8 do nay put glue in t' remainin' body tube, use a long stick and apply t' glue from t' top once t' two body tubes are joined together. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' rest o' t' kit is assembled in t' normal manner. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Blimey!

T' rocket is finished in t' normal manner. Avast! Sandin' sealer on t' fins, me hearties, primer, arrr, then an overall coat o' white paint. Blimey! Once this is dry t' lower part o' t' rocket is painted red with t' exception o' one fin. Ahoy! There are two peel and stick decals that are t' be applied, One is a set o' red rings that are applied just above t' section that be previously painted red. Aye aye! This decal can be used as a template if you would like t' paint t' rings when t' rest o' t' red is painted in order t' match t' colors more closely. T' second decal be t' "Super Big Bertha" Logo, which is slightly redundant at this point. If you finish your rocket in this manner it will be unmistakable at any launch, shiver me timbers, nay t' mention it is almost three feet tall as well.

Flight/Recovery: Rating: 4

T' only motor recommended for this bird be t' D12-5. Begad! It is held in with t' standard Estes engine hook. Avast! Aye aye! Then t' 12 t' 14 sheets o' waddin' are added along with t' parachute on top. Blimey! I used 2 sheets with t' modification.

Both flights so far have been on a D12-5. Blimey! Ahoy! T' delay for this motor seems a tad long for this size o' rocket. Ya scallywag! T' first flight was near perfect with t' ejection comin' shortly after apogee. Begad! T' parachute is sized almost perfectly for this model, matey, I wouldn't even add a spill hole. Avast, me proud beauty! T' rocket be then smartly re-prepped for a second flight. Arrr! This time t' rocket weathercocked more and t' ejection charge fired long after apogee, ya bilge rat, me bucko, ya bilge rat, almost halfway back t' t' ground. Begad! At t' speed o' t' rocket t' nose cone was barely pushed away from t' body and t' parachute was blown back over t' body o' t' rocket. Ahoy! T' resultin' swan dive crimped t' body tube slightly in front o' t' last centerin' ring. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! T' body tube also cut a crescent shaped hole in t' parachute on impact. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! Considerin' this, ya bilge rat, me hearties, I would like t' try this on a D12-3 and see if t' delay is more appropriate for this model. Ahoy! t' old Estes catalogs list t' D12-3 as t' motor for t' "first Flight".

Summary: Rating: 4

This is an interestin' upscale o' t' venerable Big Bertha. Avast! T' construction is easy, arrr, but t' requirement for 12-14 sheets o' waddin' seems excessive. Blimey! I would like t' see baffle construction, ya bilge rat, since they can use t' Centuri baffle, me bucko, but I guess they have a vested interest in sellin' waddin' as well as motors. Ahoy! Begad! Overall this model is easily seen and gives great slow flights on t' "D" motors.