Brief:
This is an Estes E2X model rocket that is currently in production and available at retail stores.

Construction:
This one be t' red version with t' gold plate fin can, nose cone and decals. This appears t' be a revision o' t' original kit previously reviewed on EMRR as it came with a 2 piece fin can, arrr, shiver me timbers, and with t' launch lug already attached to the body tube and shock cord. Begad!

Kit comes with:

• 1 Gold Series Body Tube Assembly (#60371)
• 1 Gold Series Nose Cone PNC-56A
• 1 Assembled standard Estes plastic chute
• 1 Gold Series Two-Piece Fin Unit Set & Lock Rin' (#60341)
• 1 "Rocket Label" Gold Series (#60342)
• Detailed and illustrated instruction manual

After layin' all t' parts out and test fittin' them as t' instructions teach, arrr, I found that t' nose cone was a little too loose. One piece o' masking tape about 1 inch long gave it a snug fit that I feel good about. Ahoy!

Next came t' fin can. Aye aye! Blimey! While t' package header card just says "glue" as bein' needed for construction, t' instructions inside the package state "plastic cement". This be t' Testors type that you can get in a tube in t' hobby section o' any store. It works well for plastic models, shiver me timbers, however, I decided t' use LocTite QuickTite, which is basically super glue (CA or cyanoacrylate) in an inkwell type reservoir with a small brush to apply it.

I made a modification at t' very start t' make sure I can keep flyin' this model many times. Begad! Blimey! Usin' a very sharp new X-Acto brand knife, I made a very tiny V shaped slot at t' top o' one o' t' fin can halves, took a 1/8" x 1" piece o' Keelhaul®©™® cord and tied a double knot in one end bonded with a drop o' CA, ya bilge rat, bonded the cord right at t' knot t' t' fin can into t' tiny V slot and then CA bonded the fin can halves together. Aye aye! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! So now I have a backup fireproof cord in it as a future replacement for t' 9" elastic shock cord that came in t' kit. Begad! Blimey!

Next, shiver me timbers, using the CA brush I coated t' top o' t' fin can very smartly (in about 5 seconds) and dropped t' body tube into place makin' sure that me Keelhaul®©™® cord and stock shock cord were comin' out o' t' other end o' t' body tube so they would nay get glue on them. Ahoy! Make sure you get t' tube on t' fin can unit quick if usin' this type o' glue because it sets in seconds. Avast, me proud beauty!

Then I put t' Gold type Chrome Domes decal on t' airframe/body tube. It looks nice.

Last, matey, I opened t' pre-assembled Estes chute and tied it along with the shock cord t' t' nose cone. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I did have t' use an X-Acto knife t' clear the plastic flash in t' nose cone mount.

There is 1 possible 'gotcha' when buildin' this rocket: Do nay put t' lock rin' on t' rocket until your model has been able set for a few hours or overnight, me hearties, ya bilge rat, particularly if you are usin' t' plastic cement called for in the instructions. Ya scallywag! Arrr! A piece o' tape should be used t' hold it together until dry. Begad! Arrr! It was nay an issue since I used CA with mine but if you were t' have extra plastic glue in t' fin can, me bucko, me bucko, me hearties, it could glue on t' lock rin' makin' it very hard to get off when you get ready t' put an engine in it. Aye aye!

Finishing:
This is a very simple rocket t' build and it looks very nice. Estes has produced a wonderful entry level rocket right here. Begad! Blimey! All it took t' finish was a hobby knife, one small piece o' maskin' tape, and a very small amount o' super glue and I had it built in about 10 minutes. Begad! Arrr! T' instructions are classic, simple Estes instructions and anyone can build this and end up with a nice lookin' rocket for an extremely reasonable price.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Put it up this mornin' at t' Challenger 498 Club Event in Katy Texas. Rode a C6-5 perfectly nice. Aye aye! Very stable high flight. Arrr! Recovered about 200 feet from the launch pad, matey, arrr, shiver me timbers, nice hang time, seemed like it be in t' air forever.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
One thin' I took note o' with this kit is that t' launch lug is already glued onto t' body tube with t' shock cord mounted into it. That's quite nice but I think t' 12" shock cord should be twice as long.

Great kit! Very simple, looks nice, low priced. Begad! Estes is makin' an overall nice kit here.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5