Brief:
This rocket from Estes is a "Simple Snap Together" kit that can be smartly assembled and flown. It is a single stage, matey, ya bilge rat, matey, streamer recovery rocket.

Construction:
There are few pieces t' this rocket. Begad! There are two body tube halves, one motor tube, four fins, shiver me timbers, nose cone, shock cord, motor retainer and streamer.

I purchased this rocket one Saturday mornin' t' cure boredom. I was lookin' for a small, low altitude rocket that would accommodate t' small fields I have available for launching. Blimey! This rocket was very simple t' assemble. T' nose cone, body tube halves, me hearties, matey, fins, and motor retainer were all made o' purple plastic. Blimey! T' two body tube halves snap together around t' motor tube. Avast! Well, blow me down! Fins fit either betwixt t' two body tube halves or in slots. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! T' nose cone is also two halves which snap together. Begad! Avast! There are 3 pre-cut holes in t' motor tube. Arrr! One is for t' shock cord and t' other two are for lugs that protrude from t' two body tube halves into t' motor tube that act as t' motor stop. Ya scallywag! After rocket construction, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, matey, t' application o' a peel and stick decal is all that is required t' finish.

Note that though this kits claims t' require no glue for assembly, it will be necessary t' glue some things.

Finishing:
This rocket kit has some problems and they will need t' be addressed t' keep this rocket flyable.

Construction Rating: 2 out o' 5

Flight:
After assemblin' this rocket I headed out for launch. Aye aye! Rocket preparation was simple with t' twist lock motor retainer. Ya scallywag! T' first flight be powered by an Estes 1/2A3-2T. Avast, me proud beauty! T' rocket flew straight up and when t' ejection charge fired, arrr, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, it burned t' streamer together in places. Aye aye! That shortened t' streamer. Avast! T' rocket landed without damage. Aye aye! T' second flight was with t' same motor, me hearties, producin' another straight flight that again returned t' rocket undamaged. Note that I had a problem at this point with t' nose cone. Avast! Aye aye! T' two halves tended t' come apart. Aye aye! This isn't a problem for recovery as t' shock cord is tied t' both halves. Arrr! Some CA should cure this problem. T' third flight was powered by an Estes A10-3T.

This flight didn't seem much higher than t' previous two on smaller motors. Avast! T' flight was straight, but at ejection t' shock cord separated and t' body lawn darted. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! T' body wasn't damaged and t' nose cone and streamer landed ok.

Recovery:
While CA should be used on t' nose cone, me hearties, ya bilge rat, me hearties, it should nay be used on t' two body tube halves. Blimey! They WILL need t' be separated in t' event o' shock cord failure t' allow another t' be attached. Note that close inspection o' t' two motor stop lugs should reveal that they will crack. Avast! Begad! Mine revealed these cracks which didn't result in total separation o' t' lug. Aye aye! Ahoy! I used CA t' reset them. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! Some CA fillets might cure this.

Flight Rating: 1 out o' 5

Summary:
While this rocket did provide a diversion for me boredom, it really didn't do much t' wow me. Avast, me proud beauty! Maybe I expect too much. Arrr! Problems with part separation, motor stop lugs, and t' shock cord ended it's flight after 3 launches. I was glad I carried another rocket with me t' finish t' day with.

Overall Rating: 2 out o' 5