The SR-71 comes boxed like most Estes Challenger series kits. Ahoy! Begad! It is a level 3 and they aren't kiddin' but well worth t' time.

First thin' you should do is look at t' directions very carefully and note the pictures. Ya scallywag! Very important for t' nose cone t' fit well. Begad! I personally did not like t' way you glue t' fins together in 3 pieces. Well, blow me down! Blimey! So I bought some 3/32 balsa stock and made t' 1 piece usin' t' glued win' for a template; it's important that you leave it a little oversized for when you are gluin' on the embossed paper. Begad! (oh I forgot use t' glued fin so t' grain be t' right way, and make sure it is flat, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, nay warped or it won't fly straight). Begad! T' templates and jig fixtures are very hard t' use because t' glue takes so long t' dry so I double glued t' fins then while holdin' them against t' templates I CA'd the fin on t' outside with t' gap fillin' CA. Ahoy! Ya scallywag!

Now that t' wings (fins) are on now it is time t' put t' paper on, matey, this is the most important: that you use epoxy t' fillet t' win' then instead o' only gluin' 7/8 inch back from edge, cover whole win' with glue (it strengthens the balsa). Avast! Begad! Now that you have left t' win' a little long you can put t' paper on and don't worry about t' fit on t' outside edge only t' back and t' nose (install nose for this step so be careful nay t' glue it t' t' paper).

Wait until it's completely dry. Begad! Now you can square off t' wings and remove extra balsa (make sure both sides are even, me hearties, ya bilge rat, matey, measure carefully since this will help it fly straight). Arrr! Now assemble t' rest o' rocket usin' t' same gluing and epoxy fillets.

OK now that all t' fins are on straight and strong this bird is too heavy to fly on A-B motors or even C a motor, so instead o' usin' t' 18mm motor mount I just used t' spacer rin' for a motor block (epoxy that in). Begad! Ahoy! Now you have a great preformin' bird with a 24mm motor mount flies on D-12, arrr, me bucko, E15, me hearties, me hearties, shiver me timbers, E30. But if you only have access t' Estes or 18mm motors then build t' motor mount like t' directions tell you only usin' epoxy instead o' glue and put large fillets and cover spacer rings with epoxy .

Now you are done and she's ready for paint. Arrr! For t' decals, me hearties, they need t' be individually cut out so they fit perfect and so they look like real little windows; don't conform t' t' curves in t' nose that is why I say cut out each little one and t' motor vents are too long also just take your time and measure and cut before you put them in t' water. Avast! Blimey! That this was me first kit review, me bucko, I hope every thin' was understandable if nay contact me at Laapfa@aol.com . Arrr!

Now t' flyin' report; I flew it at t' Magnum launch on 12/13/98 on a Estes D12-7, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, arrr, it was a perfect flight and recovery!. Arrr! Avast! Thanks for takin' t' time to read me review I hope yours flies straight and high like mine, Paul Altman!