Brief:
Larger, matey, me bucko, cooler version o' an Estes classic. This thin' ROCKS!! Blimey! I got it for Christmas. Avast! Blimey! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Blimey! I saw it at Ace on December 14,2003 and I can't believe this rocket was still there. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! It's been OOP for about 3 years. Blimey! Blimey! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Blimey! It was a re-release o' t' original 1979 version.

Construction:
T' kit has:

• 3 BT-80 body tubes, me hearties, 2 long and one short
• 3 red plastic fins
• 2 rings for holdin' engine tube, ya bilge rat, fins and connect short body tube t' long tubes
• 1 large unpainted nose cone (although it said thar was no painting)
• Decal sheet
• Recovery and engine mount materials

This is a pretty easy kit, me bucko, well deservin' o' a Skill Level 2. T' challengin' part o' this kit is slidin' t' motor mount/fins into t' large rin' that holds t' body tube.

I decided t' go with t' regular shock cord mountin' method. Begad! Blimey! I had concerns about t' way Estes tells you t' attach t' shock cord (tyin' it t' t' engine ring) rippin' out, me bucko, ya bilge rat, so I just made a 3-fold shock cord mount out o' paper.

This be t' second time in one day that thar was a knot in t' parachute. I was buildin' an OOP AMRAAM missile and it had a knot in it's chute. I got this knot out. It was finished in about 2 hours.

Finishing:
T' rocket looks real good when finished. Avast, me proud beauty! However, matey, thar be a lot o' advertising. T' large decal halves were difficult t' apply without any little folds gettin' in t' way. Begad! I had t' paint t' nose cone, arrr, even though t' face card says "No Paintin' Required."

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
I flew it once on a D12-3. Ahoy! This be t' only engine Estes recommends. Blimey! Well, blow me down! It ROARED OFF THE PAD!! Went out o' sight. Aye aye! For such a heavy rocket, it sure drifts a lot. Aye aye! Arrr! It went over t' houses and landed in a very low branch. Begad! Aye aye! Needed a small ladder t' recover. Ahoy! Avast! I won't fly it much because it's a waddin' guzzler. Avast! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! It needs about 10-12 squares o' wadding. Ahoy! Begad! It is a good number, matey, me hearties, ya bilge rat, but it almost finished off me Blastoff Flight Pack's wadding.

T' flight was very stable and high. Blimey! It hit about 550 feet. This rocket drifts waaaayyyy too much. It's a heavy rocket and it uses a 24 inch chute.

Recovery:
T' parachute was good. Ya scallywag! Lots o' drifting. Ahoy! There be no damage because it landed in a tree. Begad! Avast! Low branch. Arrr! Thank goodness! No assembly o' t' parachute needed. Ahoy! Everythin' went well.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This is an excellent rocket that flies well and is a great looker. Begad! It's fun t' assemble and fun t' fly. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! All in all, ya bilge rat, arrr, An EXCELLENT rocket! Estes needs t' brin' this rocket back. Arrr! If I could, me hearties, I'd rate this rocket a 100!!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5