Brief:
T' Estes V-2 "E" Engine Powered kit aka Maxi V-2 be t' latest version o' t' original Model No. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! 1267 Maxi V-2 which was produced from 1974-1981. Ahoy! Begad! I had that original kit way back in t' day and it was by far me favorite rocket then just as it is now. Aye aye! This newest version (now also OOP) is setup with a 24mm motor mount capable o' holdin' a D or E engine. It utilizes two 24" parachutes, one for t' main body and one for t' large nose cone.

Construction: T' kit includes::

• Body tube BT-101
• Body tube - BT-50 (serves as engine mount & Stuffer tube)
• Body tube - BT-52 (slips over engine hook and BT-50)
• Nose Cone - PNC-101F
• Tail cone
• 4 Fin sheets (two fins halves on each sheet
• Yellow spacer tool
• Engine hook
• Orange Spacer (for E t' D engine usage)
• Green engine block
• Launch Lug
• Wood dowel 1/2" x 6"
• Shock cord 1/4" x 18"
• Shock cord 1/4" x 36"
• Die cut rin' set
• Decal sheet

T' build be very straight forward and t' instructions were laid out well. Well, blow me down! Avast! This model requires plastic modeling cement for t' plastic components and wood glue for t' other components. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down!

T' fin construction was challengin' but I followed t' instructions and things went smoothly. Ya scallywag! Once I had all fins glued together I just took me time sanding, fillin' and each one came out great. Gluin' t' four completed fins t' t' boat tail be a snap.

Finishing:
PROs: T' paint scheme I chose be basically similar t' t' box cover picture so paintin' was very easy t' do. Aye aye! I used green, shiver me timbers, arrr, almond and brown paint t' give t' rocket t' desired look.
CONs: None that I can think of.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
This rocket requires t' Estes E-Launch Pad since it's big and heavy. Aye aye! It also takes a good deal o' waddin' if you don't want your parachutes burned durin' ejection.

For t' first flight I used an E9-4 engine that a friend o' mine had layin' around. Arrr! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! That engine choice proved to be very costly. Arrr! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I put t' V-2 on t' pad, arrr, hooked up t' clips and stood back with camera in hand t' capture t' launch. There were more than a few folks on hand t' see t' launch; t' countdown reached zero t' button was depressed. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! The engine roared t' life. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! However as it did it blew t' nozzle out and a great stream o' fire poured down onto t' blast deflector and up around t' rocket.

For a moment, I was surprised and didn't move towards t' rocket right away. By t' time time I grabbed it up and away from t' blast deflector t' lower fins were burned and twisted. Avast, me proud beauty! T' bottom o' t' boat tail was also burned through in one place but nay otherwise melted. Ya scallywag! I guess that engine had been sittin' around too long and perhaps the conditions it sat in weren't optimal. I called Estes and they were kind enough t' ship me a new set o' fins. Ya scallywag! I cut the old ones off o' t' rocket and applied t' new ones. Avast! It was a repeat o' t' first fin build and after some touch up paint t' V-2 was ready t' go again.

On t' next flight I used a D12-3. Arrr! This time t' V-2 lifted off slowly and gained altitude. Avast! It didn't go straight up. It traveled at an angle. Begad! Begad! I think it only got t' 150 feet or so and ejection was far too close t' t' ground for my liking. Well, blow me down! It was still a very cool launch and recovery via t' two huge chutes was done without damage.

I then sent it up on an E9-4 and this time t' rocket healed over at about 80-90 feet or so and travelled cruise missle style until it ejected only about 25 feet or so from t' ground. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! T' very tip o' t' nose cone chipped off when it hit a concrete road but other than that no damage resulted. Aye aye! T' Estes E9-4 is NOT t' engine for this rocket. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! For that matter neither be t' Estes D12-3.

Additional D12-3 flights were similar t' t' first D12-3 flight so I put t' V-2 on t' shelf. Arrr! T' V-2 looks great on display! It will fly again, arrr, but only on Aerotech E and maybe F engines.

Recovery:
PROs: It's a great lookin' rocket on display, me bucko, on t' pad and as it lifts off. It's slow and majestic and definitely commands attention.

CONs: T' two recommended engines fall far short o' bein' able t' deliver t' power or speed needed t' give this wonderful rocket a decent flight.

If you are lucky enough t' find one o' these I suggest goin' with a larger engine than either o' those recommended by Estes. Aye aye! I also recommend a long launch rod since it will keep t' rocket on track longer while it is buildin' up speed.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Out o' all o' t' rockets that I have built over t' years this is me absolute favorite. Rebuildin' this rocket after the fire be almost as much fun as buildin' it t' first time. Well, blow me down! Begad! I look forward t' flyin' it on larger more powerful engines in t' future.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5