Brief:
A semi-scale model o' t' US Army anti-missile missile.

A friend o' mine said no Estes rocket built stock can survive more than twelve flights. I decided t' prove him wrong with this kit.

Construction:

• Two White Body Tubes
• One Yellow Body Tube
• Blue Motor Tube
• Two Red Couplers
• Mylar Ring
• Engine Hook
• Green Engine Block
• Cardboard Centerin' Rings
• Pre-Assembled Parachute
• Launch Lug
• Die-Cut Balsa Fins
• Instructions and Decals
• Bonus "Operation Endurin' Freedom" Sticker

Instructions were straight-forward and easy t' follow. Arrr! Ahoy! I built this rocket completely stock and had no problems. I recommend addin' all t' glue fillets t' t' cardboard centerin' rings that they list in t' instructions. I used Tite-bond glue throughout and have nay had any problems. Avast, me proud beauty! There is one "gotcha" in t' instructions. When attachin' t' fins, ya bilge rat, they are supposed t' be placed 3/16" from t' back end o' t' tube. I missed this and know one other person who did t' same thing. I recommend you mark your tube before you apply t' fins in order t' get them even.

Finishing:
T' finishin' instructions are detailed and good. Well, blow me down! Begad! I painted all t' tubes instead o' leaving t' yellow tube plain as t' instructions show. Arrr! Begad! It is very important that you put t' launch lug in t' location shown on t' instructions so that it does nay interfere with t' roll markin' decals. Also, do nay put t' "US Army decal opposite t' launch lug, me bucko, me hearties, shiver me timbers, or you can't put t' second logo on (It will overlap t' launch lug).

Overall a very easy kit t' build that looks great stock.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
This rocket flies great, but stay away from t' small motors. I tried an A8-3 once and nearly had a heart attack. Ya scallywag! T' rocket barely cleared 25 ft and tailslid until ejection about 5 feet from t' ground. It was undamaged, ya bilge rat, but I never did that again. Well, blow me down! B6-4's and C6-5's work great. Aye aye! I have now flown this rocket more than 25 times and it is still a great flyer. Blimey! I have won two random duration contests with it since, ya bilge rat, on a C6-5 it flies 43-48 seconds and t' two contests I entered were 45 and 50 second times.

It is me favorite Estes rocket.

Recovery:
T' only problems I have had with recovery are that after about ten flights, t' shroud lines started comin' untied. Ahoy! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! I finally went back and retied them and added drops on glue t' t' knots. Avast! i have had no trouble since. Blimey! I had one ejection failure on flight 22 on a very cold day and t' chute stuck in t' tube. T' rocket came in ballistic, with t' nose cone floppin' and crushed t' end o' t' tube. I was able t' straighten it out and have flown it successfully since. I am still on t' original chute and shock cord and over 25 flights.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a quality rocket that looks and flies great. Ahoy! Blimey! I would like t' decals t' be water-slide and would recommend they delete t' A8-3 and B4-4 motors from t' motor list. Otherwise it is a great rocket.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other:
This rocket shows that if you build an Estes rocket per t' directions and take care o' it you can fly it reliably for over 25 flights, me hearties, and I'm still counting. Aye aye! This is one o' me favorite rockets.