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. Blimey! T' kit came in t' common bag; no parts were missin' or broken. Avast, me proud beauty! This kit is a finless, Skill Level 3 features paper shroud construction and dual 12-inch parachute recovery. Arrr! Well, matey, blow me down! More on t' 'chutes later.

T' instructions were easy t' follow and assembly, me bucko, usin' white glue throughout, went very smoothly, and t' build be surprisingly quick. Ya scallywag! T' framework out o' stiff cardboard went together well and t' dry fittin' showed a well-manufactured kit. T' first thin' be t' paper shroud comes rolled up. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! 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. Well, blow me down! T' black tube did nay show t' lines very well, me bucko, nay a problem, ya bilge rat, me hearties, a sharp crayon works wonders.

I really liked t' shock cord attachment with t' Keelhaul®©™cord tied t' t' motor mount. I test fitted this and made sure that t' Keelhaul®©™was even with t' end o' t' body tube. Then I tied t' elastic as shown. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I hoped that this would keep t' tube from zippering.

I added t' clay for t' nose weight as shown, with very little effort. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! 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, matey, this makes t' fittin' o' t' assembly with t' double stick tape conceals t' seam easier. T' instructions come t' a point o' addin' t' maneuverin' flaps and nozzles for display only. I deviated here. After I had it finished, it looked t' me as if somethin' was missing. Begad! Begad! I added t' nozzles. Rappin' t' cutouts around a pencil I acquired t' correct shape. 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, me hearties, but t' decals leave somethin' t' be desired. Blimey! Blimey! They are self-adhesive and on an opaque (white) backing. Begad! Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' picture card with t' kit shows t' letterin' directly on t' gray body. Avast, me proud beauty! T' nose cone letterin' was on a black background and with careful trimmin' came out lookin' good. Avast! Avast! Blimey! T' US flags I be able t' trim close enough t' make them work. Ya scallywag! As for t' USA, 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. Arrr! launch in Denver. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! T' only recommended motor is a C6-3. Blimey! T' prep is standard, arrr, waddin' and recovery system. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! As I loaded t' Space Clipper on t' pad I got more questions than ever. Well, blow me down! T' flight was better than I imagined. Well, blow me down! Begad! T' DC-Y lifted off with a slow assent, shiver me timbers, matey, and rose close t' t' estimated height o' 200 ft. Ya scallywag! Begad! T' delay was just about right. Well, blow me down! T' second flight be straight and true. Avast, me proud beauty! T' next chance I had t' fly be at a C.R.A.S.H. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! launch in Denver on March 7, me bucko, 1999 and again t' flight was great.

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

Flight I give a 5. Begad! Recovery built as instructed 1, however, shiver me timbers, with t' recovery modification a 3.

Flight Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5

Summary
Overall this is a great kit. Ahoy! I really enjoy watchin' it fly and has become one o' me favorites. Begad! For t' price, me bucko, I paid $12.95 at a local hobby shop; it is a good value. I like that it is different. Avast! 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