Brief:
A Estes E2X single stage 18mm rocket with a 12'' parachute, arrr, pre-colored parts, decals, short shock cord, and external shock cord mount. Avast! Durin' a half-off sale, me bucko, I got this kit for $2.50.

Construction:
This kit was packaged in a box, a rare thin' for Estes. Aye aye! Avast! Includes a black, pre-slotted body tube, a black nosecone, three black fins, shiver me timbers, matey, me bucko, and black motor mount parts, a blue motor tube, decals, shock cord, and other parts. Begad! T' body tube be thicker than you would expect from estes, but t' shock cord be too short. Avast!

This rocket be very easy t' build, even for a twelve year old. Blimey! Ya scallywag! Instructions were excellent, well illustrated and written. T' three black motor mount parts act as centerin' rings and t' motor block. Avast! Begad! One cements t' motor mount in, makin' sure t' launch lug holes are aligned. Avast, me proud beauty! Then you cement t' fins and launch lugs in. Begad! Aye aye! T' shock cord and its mount are attached t' t' rocket, followed by t' nose cone and parachute. Blimey! Everythin' fits very well and sturdy for an Estes rocket. T' shock cord be too short though, matey, matey, although I didn't think so that time. Ahoy! Begad! I added a two foot length o' nylon cord.

Finishing:
One just has t' remove t' flash from t' nose cone and apply t' orange decals. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! T' fin decals were very large and covered almost t' whole fin. I wondered why Estes didn't just use orange fins and t' name decal.(the fin decals are orange and include t' rocket's name).

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:

Installin' t' motor be somewhat difficult. Well, blow me down! T' motor be a tight fit and difficult t' remove before t' rocket was launched. Avast! There was motor retention, but it wasn't needed. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! This rocket requires three sheets o' wadding. I used an aluminum foil ball and two sheets o' wadding.

This rocket has gone through two flights. Ahoy! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' first flight be on a B6-4, me bucko, matey, my first B motor flight. Arrr! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' motor boosted t' rocket straight, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, t' a moderate altitude. Blimey! Blimey! T' second flight be on a C6-5. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Because t' Banshee was launched at an angle, t' rocket didn't go as high as I expected, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, but still very high. I replaced t' parachute with a long streamer on this flight.

Recovery:
T' shock cord was too short, me bucko, arrr, so I added some nylon cord. Avast! T' external plastic shock cord mount be much better than t' tri-fold. Begad! It doesn't look that bad because it is streamlined.

On t' first flight on a B6-4, arrr, shiver me timbers, I used t' parachute, arrr, with no spill hole. Aye aye! It drifted for about 200 feet and came down very slowly. Aye aye! Begad! On t' second flight, the rocket used a streamer, me hearties, and landed in a puddle. Ahoy! I went t' t' rocket very quickly, matey, fearin' that t' motor might get stuck, but it didn't.

This rocket flies straight and true and can withstand many flights. Arrr! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Blimey! Try a D21-7. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! This rocket probably won't shred, but it will burn due t' t' ejection charge against a plastic motor block. He he he...

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a great 18 mm rocket. It is easy t' build and flies well. Blimey! Aye aye! Just use a longer shock cord and replace t' parachute with a streamer when usin' C6-5 and D21-7 engines. Also, shiver me timbers, don't insert t' motor until you are at t' launch pad so you won't change your mind. Avast! T' motor is a pain t' remove.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5