Intro:
T' Super Big Bertha is a re-release o' t' Classic Super Big bertha that Estes produced in 1989. This is an upscale o' t' venerable Big Bertha, arrr, matey, 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. Blimey! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! None o' t' parts were missing, matey, me bucko, and all were in good condition. T' materials are t' typical good quality Estes components. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' kit includes two large body tubes, body tube coupler, shiver me timbers, nose cone, long motor mount tube, Engine hook, ya bilge rat, 4 centerin' rings, two balsa wood sheets for fins, arrr, assembled parachute, arrr, a ridiculously short shock cord, arrr, ya bilge rat, and a decal sheet.

T' instructions are a reprint o' t' original 1989 instructions. Begad! Blimey! 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. Begad! Avast! T' instructions follow a logical order and are illustrated heavily in t' typical Estes fashion. Well, blow me down! Begad! A wrap around fin markin' guide is also included.

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

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

T' rocket is finished in t' normal manner. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Sandin' sealer on t' fins, me hearties, me bucko, primer, then an overall coat o' white paint. Avast! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Once this is dry t' lower part o' t' rocket is painted red with t' exception o' one fin. 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 was previously painted red. Begad! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' second decal be t' "Super Big Bertha" Logo, matey, which is slightly redundant at this point. Ahoy! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! If you finish your rocket in this manner it will be unmistakable at any launch, matey, 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. Arrr! Ya scallywag! It is held in with t' standard Estes engine hook. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Then t' 12 t' 14 sheets o' waddin' are added along with t' parachute on top. Ya scallywag! Arrr! I used 2 sheets with t' modification.

Both flights so far have been on a D12-5. Aye aye! Blimey! T' delay for this motor seems a tad long for this size o' rocket. Begad! Blimey! T' first flight was near perfect with t' ejection comin' shortly after apogee. Avast! Blimey! T' parachute is sized almost perfectly for this model, I wouldn't even add a spill hole. Blimey! T' rocket was then smartly re-prepped for a second flight. Avast! Blimey! This time t' rocket weathercocked more and t' ejection charge fired long after apogee, shiver me timbers, almost halfway back t' t' ground. 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. Aye aye! T' resultin' swan dive crimped t' body tube slightly in front o' t' last centerin' ring. Blimey! Blimey! T' body tube also cut a crescent shaped hole in t' parachute on impact. Begad! Blimey! Considerin' this, arrr, I would like t' try this on a D12-3 and see if t' delay is more appropriate for this model. 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. Blimey! T' construction is easy, but t' requirement for 12-14 sheets o' waddin' seems excessive. Well, blow me down! I would like t' see baffle construction, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, since they can use t' Centuri baffle, but I guess they have a vested interest in sellin' waddin' as well as motors. Aye aye! Overall this model is easily seen and gives great slow flights on t' "D" motors.