Brief:
T' Maxi Alpha 3 is one o' Estes year 2000 re-released limited edition rockets. Begad! It is rated Skill Level 2 with a 24mm motor mount. Aye aye! I have seen t' price on this kit vary from $15 t' $35. Arrr! It is large version o' t' Estes classic Alpha kit. Ya scallywag! Like junior, me hearties, me hearties, it is a rather simple build. Aye aye! Stock build utilizes, ya bilge rat, BT-80 tubes, a 24 inch parachute, me bucko, little paint (nose only), and pressure-sensitive decals. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! Intended D12-3 motors give a slow lift-off and relatively low flight. Well, blow me down! Begad! Although this is a very solid, arrr, stable flyer it does have t' typical Estes shortcomings and easily lends itself t' bashin' for higher power motors.

Construction:
T' kit includes:

• (1) Dummy engine casing
• (2) Centerin' rings - heavy duty 50/55
• (1) Motor hook retainer tube
• (1) Motor retainer hook
• (1) Motor thrust rin' - heavy duty 20/50
• (1) BT-50 motor tube/stuffer tube - 12 ¾"
• (2) Plastic fin rings
• (3) Plastic fins
• (1) Short BT-80 tube - 3 3/8"
• (2) Long BT-80 tubes - 9"
• (1) BT-80 tube coupler
• (1) Die cut cardboard rin' - 50/80
• (2) Launch lug - 3/16" x 1"
• (1) Elastic shock cord - ¼" x 24"
• (2) Plastic parachute kit - 24"
• (1) Nose cone - BT-80K - 8 ¼" long x 2.6" diameter
• (1) Decal set

All parts were present and supplied in a plastic bag. Avast, me proud beauty! Overall design is basic. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Larger 2.6" diameter body tube with BT-50 stuffer tube. Begad! Avast! This kit utilizes (3) BT-80 tubes - 9", arrr, 9", and 3 3/8" lengths. Begad! It uses a plastic assembly o' rings and 3 fins around t' shorter tube too create a fin unit module. Ahoy! Arrr! Initially, me bucko, I built this rocket stock, accordin' t' t' directions (almost), me hearties, with t' exception o' usin' epoxy for all tube couplers, me bucko, die cut rings, matey, and all stuffer tube/plastic rin' joints.

Overall construction was straight forward and fast, with one exception. Aye aye! Pre-assembly without glue is highly recommended for this kit. If built per instructions t' motor hook retainer tube is glued on prior t' installin' in t' already assembled fin unit assembly. Well, blow me down! T' hole in t' plastic fin assembly centerin' rin' is exactly BT-50 tube diameter. Begad! Thus, me bucko, ya bilge rat, it won't fit! Fortunately, I have built many kits and always pre-assemble without glue. Begad! What you have t' do is insert t' assembled stuffer tube into t' fin unit assembly PRIOR t' gluin' on t' forward plastic centerin' ring. Avast! If this is overlooked, arrr, usin' sandpaper and a file, arrr, t' stuffer tube hole in t' aft plastic centerin' rin' could be enlarged enough. Avast, me proud beauty! However, a serious reduction in strength o' t' overall motor mount construction would result (epoxy city).

There was no mention o' fillets for t' fin t' body joint. Begad! Obviously this is a must for any 24mm rocket. Aye aye! Avast! Don't forget it! I used epoxy versus t' usual plastic cement recommended by Estes for plastic/paper joints. Ahoy! Secondly, ya bilge rat, me hearties, I added an additional 50/55 heavy duty rin' on t' fore end o' t' stuffer tube where it joins t' forward cardboard centerin' rin' at t' forward end o' t' middle BT-80 tube. Well, blow me down! This gave t' stuffer tube a 3 point anchoring. Avast! Aye aye! This will serve t' greatly increase t' strength o' t' rocket body.

There are a few other upgrades that should be made on this kit. These would make this kit last longer than 5 flights on Estes D motors and others that would make it a staunch, crowd pleasin' mid power flyer on other 24mm options like Aerotech E15, E30, shiver me timbers, F24, ya bilge rat, F40.

Finishing:
Stock finishin' would have been a piece o' cake. T' intent be t' have red plastic fin units (as is), a white (as is) body tube, ya bilge rat, and a nose cone painted a red t' match t' fins. There are those o' us who can only build stock so far and then they just can't stand it any more. Aye aye! Avast! I thought t' decals were cheesy and contained way too much advertising. Begad! So, I decided t' paint it much more like junior.

I painted t' whole rocket with Krylon. First white primer all over. Begad! I painted t' fin unit a blue t' match t' main body tube decal, me hearties, t' body tube white, and t' nose red. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! Then I only used one decal. I cut t' red portion o' t' body tube decal off, matey, me bucko, usin' only t' portion with t' rocket name. T' 3 decals for t' interstitial positions on t' fin unit are down right garish. Begad! Aye aye! They made t' rocket look way t' busy, so I left them off. Aye aye! Finally, a coat o' gloss clear acrylic. Ahoy! T' net result be a more professional, arrr, "American" paint job that sits side by side with junior lookin' much more like "Dad".

Construction/Finishin' ratin' is a 3½. This is largely due t' t' potentially high price o' this rocket versus t' instruction error and t' cheesy stock finish option. Aye aye! Additional mods are also required for a sturdy, versatile rocket.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
I am nay sure where Estes gets t' weights they quote on some o' thar packages. I am buildin' a Broadsword now that quotes 6 oz and t' weight o' unassembled parts without glue or paint is 8 oz. Regardless, me bucko, me finished Maxi Alpha 3 weight was 10 oz versus t' 7.5 oz quoted on t' package. Avast! I find it hard t' believe that t' epoxy glue, epoxy fillets, and added paint I used, accounts for all that difference. Blimey! However, arrr, this means that D12-3 be t' only Estes motor option. A D12-5 and you would have a lawn dart! Motor install with t' hook is a breeze. T' flight profile on t' D12-3 is flat out awesome. Begad! Aye aye! It has a slow majestic lift off. Arrr! Begad! T' very straight, stable flight deploys a chute at apogee. Ya scallywag! All this in plain sight.

So far t' flight log on this rocket goes like this.

• Flight 1 on D12-3 Perfect
• Flight 2 on D12-3 Perfect. Blimey! Arrr! Landed on hard surface broke fin
• Flights 3&4 on D12-3 Perfect with 30" chute
• Flight 5 on D12-3 Ejection broke ¼" shock cord, arrr, all pieces recovered
• Flights 6&7 on D12-3 Perfect with Keelhaul®©™ & 3/8" shock cord
• Flight 8&9 on E15-4 SU Truly awesome on AT motor, added nose weight prior t' flight
• Flight 10 Still perfect on D12-3!
• Flight 11 E18-4 RMS success!
• Flight 12 on D12-3 Chute tangled broke fin

Recovery:
This rocket does use a rather large amount o' wadding, arrr, but if you push a couple squares into t' end o' t' stuffer tube it's nay too bad. Begad! Aye aye! I did learn after t' second flight (due t' broken fins upon landin' on a hard surface) that with t' additional weight mine carries, me hearties, me bucko, a bigger chute is required. So, me bucko, I now fly in on a nylon 30" chute with a small spill hole. Ahoy! Ahoy! Now comes t' bad news. Begad! T' Estes standard ¼" elastic cord attached t' t' centerin' rin' lasted t' typical quota o' 5 flights prior t' breaking. Aye aye! This has been replaced with 24" o' 150# Keelhaul®©™ and 36" o' 3/8" elastic with snap swivels. Avast! T' Keelhaul®©™ is glued t' t' body tube wall. Ahoy! If you haven't built this kit yet, attach t' Keelhaul®©™ t' t' upper centerin' rin' for a cleaner body wall.

Flight/Recovery ratin' is a 4½. T' only thin' that keeps this from bein' a 5 be t' shock cord problem.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Overall, I am extremely satisfied with this kit. Avast, me proud beauty! T' flight profile is great. Begad! I have added ¾ oz clay t' t' nose and filed down t' forward motor retainer tab t' fly t' rocket on E15 SU and E18 RMS as well. T' extra weight also did nay effect it's flight on t' D12-3. Yes, now t' hoss weighs 11 oz! It would be perfect rocket had Estes nay made some compromises on t' design. Arrr! T' weight could be less if balsa fins were used with a through t' wall attachment. Begad! A Keelhaul®©™ and 3/8" elastic shock cord with a combined length o' about 5 feet is a must. Avast! Also, arrr, better decoration/paintin' is in order for such a fine flyer.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5