Brief
Paper shroud construction and dual chute recovery.

Construction
This was t' first Quest kit I have built and was pleased with almost all aspects. Avast! T' kit came in t' common bag; no parts were missin' or broken. Blimey! This kit is a finless, Skill Level 3 features paper shroud construction and dual 12-inch parachute recovery. Well, blow me down! Begad! More on t' 'chutes later.

T' instructions were easy t' follow and assembly, matey, matey, usin' white glue throughout, me hearties, went very smoothly, ya bilge rat, and t' build was surprisingly quick. Avast! T' framework out o' stiff cardboard went together well and t' dry fittin' showed a well-manufactured kit. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! T' first thin' be t' paper shroud comes rolled up. This needs t' be flattened out. I accomplished this with a couple o' phone books and about 1/2-hour time. Blimey! This left just enough curl t' help in t' assembly latter.

T' only difficult part be t' markin' o' t' tube. Begad! T' black tube did nay show t' lines very well, nay a problem, a sharp crayon works wonders.

I really liked t' shock cord attachment with t' Keelhaul®©™cord tied t' t' motor mount. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I test fitted this and made sure that t' Keelhaul®©™was even with t' end o' t' body tube. Arrr! Begad! Then I tied t' elastic as shown. Begad! Aye aye! I hoped that this would keep t' tube from zippering.

I added t' clay for t' nose weight as shown, shiver me timbers, with very little effort. Arrr! Avast! After addin' t' weight I decided against usin' only one 'chute and built t' recovery system as directed.

Take t' time t' carefully cut t' shroud out, this makes t' fittin' o' t' assembly with t' double stick tape conceals t' seam easier. Aye aye! T' instructions come t' a point o' addin' t' maneuverin' flaps and nozzles for display only. Avast, me proud beauty! I deviated here. After I had it finished, it looked t' me as if somethin' was missing. I added t' nozzles. Well, blow me down! Rappin' t' cutouts around a pencil I acquired t' correct shape. Avast, me proud beauty! After gluin' t' nozzles in place I could see that they were out o' line o' t' exhaust o' t' motor.

Finishing
There is no finishin' t' be done as t' shroud is preprint, but t' decals leave somethin' t' be desired. Avast! Blimey! They are self-adhesive and on an opaque (white) backing. T' picture card with t' kit shows t' letterin' directly on t' gray body. Well, blow me down! T' nose cone letterin' was on a black background and with careful trimmin' came out lookin' good. Aye aye! T' US flags I was able t' trim close enough t' make them work. Well, blow me down! As for t' USA, ya bilge rat, well… I had decals left over from a kit bash o' a 2 stage Estes Nike-Arrow so I made t' USA from that.

Construction Rating: 4 ½ out o' 5

Flight
T' first flight was on February 7, 1999 at a C.R.A.S.H. launch in Denver. Arrr! Blimey! T' only recommended motor is a C6-3. Aye aye! Blimey! T' prep is standard, shiver me timbers, waddin' and recovery system. Avast! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! As I loaded t' Space Clipper on t' pad I got more questions than ever. T' flight be better than I imagined. Ahoy! Blimey! T' DC-Y lifted off with a slow assent, me hearties, and rose close t' t' estimated height o' 200 ft. Avast! Blimey! T' delay was just about right. Blimey! Blimey! T' second flight was straight and true. Ahoy! Blimey! T' next chance I had t' fly be at a C.R.A.S.H. Begad! Blimey! launch in Denver on March 7, matey, me bucko, 1999 and again t' flight be great.

Recovery
Recovery be another story. On t' first flight t' nose cone came down on it 'chute openin' cleanly, me bucko, t' body on t' other hand returned on wad recovery. T' Clipper was nay damaged, shiver me timbers, but I had t' try again. Ya scallywag! Avast! T' Keelhaul®©™® was blackened, but no damage was observed. Begad! Arrr! Figurin' that t' stiff Quest 'chute be t' culprit, arrr, I pulled an Estes 12 inch 'chute out me range box. Well, blow me down! T' second flight was a duplicate o' t' first. Begad! T' body is just too light t' fully deploy t' 'chute. Avast! Begad! T' third flight I replaced t' "chute with a 3 ft Mylar streamer. Avast, me proud beauty! I think I have t' streamer just t' right length. Aye aye! It brought t' body down more gently and it landed near t' pads without a thud.

Flight I give a 5. Well, blow me down! Recovery built as instructed 1, arrr, however, arrr, with t' recovery modification a 3.

Flight Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5

Summary
Overall this is a great kit. Aye aye! Arrr! I really enjoy watchin' it fly and has become one o' me favorites. Arrr! For t' price, shiver me timbers, I paid $12.95 at a local hobby shop; it is a good value. Well, blow me down! I like that it is different. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! Replacin' t' body 'chute with a streamer makes me feel better about havin' t' DC-Y Space Clipper for a long time t' come.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5