Brief:
T' Baby Bertha is a new kit (2002) based on t' venerable and popular Big Bertha kit. Begad! T' rocket has t' same large, V2-like fins and blunt, me bucko, ya bilge rat, rounded nose cone as t' Big B, arrr, shiver me timbers, but is 1/2 t' length at 12 inches. Blimey! Rated at "Level 1", matey, it's an easy t' construct kit usin' traditional, Estes-style methods that would make an excellent kit for a beginner, matey, or young rocketeers.

Construction:
If you have ever built an Estes Alpha or similar kit, me hearties, t' Baby will give you a familiar construction experience without surprises. Ya scallywag! T' motor mount uses an engine clip and motor block t' restrain t' engine, me hearties, and two die-cut paper centerin' rings t' position t' mount in t' body tube. Begad! T' Baby uses Estes BT-60 body tube which at 1.6 in. Arrr! diameter is wider than most Estes rockets, so these may be larger centerin' rings than you are accustomed to. Avast! Avast! T' four balsa fins are relatively large and much easier t' align on t' tube than t' small, me hearties, me hearties, light fins on most rockets o' this size. Ahoy! Even new builders should have a relatively easy time with these fins.

I used me favorite technique t' attach t' fins. Ahoy! After roughin' up t' tube with fine sandpaper I attach each fin with medium CA glue and hold it in t' perpendicular position until it sets, which takes only 15 seconds or so. Avast! Well, me bucko, blow me down! I use very little glue for this step, me hearties, just enough t' hold t' fin. Ahoy! Then I apply ample fillets with wood glue. Ya scallywag! T' big fins and big tube on t' Baby Bertha makes fin attachment very easy.

T' shock cord attaches with t' usual three-fold connection t' t' body tube. Begad! Arrr! Blimey! As I do on all me rockets, I used a length o' Keelhaul®©™cord for t' booster-side connection and tied that t' t' elastic shock cord. I attached a twelve in. Begad! chute t' t' cord.

T' construction "PROs" for t' Baby Bertha have t' be t' larger size o' t' components which makes things easier on an inexperienced builder. Arrr! It's a great 'trainer' for balsa and paper construction techniques. Ya scallywag! No surprises or special challenges.

I can't think o' any serious construction problems or issues, me hearties, except t' almost standard Estes problem o' inadequate shock-cords. T' Baby goes together easy.

Finishing:
I used thinned Elmers Wood Filler on those big slabs o' balsa (the fins) and t' spiral seam in t' tube. I also created fillets for t' launch lug. This is a pretty good rockets for learnin' t' wood-filler technique. Ya scallywag! I wanted t' duplicate t' black and white paint scheme from t' package art (actually, I had other ideas, but t' kids wanted t' package look). Ahoy! Ya scallywag! After two coats o' grey primer, I taped off facin' sides on t' fins (the fin patter is tough t' describe but obvious when you see t' package), me bucko, and applied two coats o' gloss black. Once that dried I removed t' maskin' tape and covered t' black areas. This turned out t' be tricky as thar are several angles where paint could pass through t' t' black areas. I would recommend paintin' t' white fins sides first, shiver me timbers, then mask them off and paint t' whole rocket black. Arrr! I also think that thar are plenty o' alternate paint schemes that would look great on this rocket. Try some V2-style paint schemes, for example.

T' kit comes with one long decal which runs along one side. Begad! T' decal actually reaches past t' body tube onto t' nosecone. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! Once t' decal was placed I used a hobby knife t' cut it along t' seam betwixt t' nosecone and body.

T' white pinstripin' in t' package art is nay provided in t' kit. Avast! Blimey! I used white trim tape (get it at t' hobby store), and it looks sharp (although mine is nay as 'fine' a line as t' one on t' package). I'm givin' some thought t' duplicatin' t' line in black on t' white fins.

T' "PRO" for finishin' be t' opportunity t' experiment a bit with design. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! This rocket will look good in a variety o' schemes, shiver me timbers, me hearties, so have some fun with it.

One possible "CON" would be t' large amount o' balsa t' fill if you want a real smooth finish. Begad! I didn't find that an issue, arrr, and I think this is a good rocket t' practice those techniques. Ahoy! If you're nay real concerned about fillin' all t' grain then thar be no problem at all. Arrr! Begad! One could also object, me bucko, I guess, ya bilge rat, t' t' relatively difficult "stock" paint scheme. Avast! and t' single decal. Blimey! Aye aye! T' best thin' t' do is t' ignore t' package art and design your own scheme. Arrr! If I were Estes I'd give t' Baby it's own, arrr, fun color scheme like t' Fat Boy, ya bilge rat, me bucko, rather than try t' duplicate t' current Big Bertha look.

I'm ratin' it at 4 1/2, takin' off a half point for t' shock-cord.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
We have one flight on t' Baby. We used a B6-4 t' launch it in light t' medium winds. Begad! Begad! T' boost be straight, fast and t' a greater altitude that I expected. T' chute deployed close t' apogee and recovery be within 100 yards o' t' pads. A nice, satisfyin' flight.This rocket is a bit heavy for A motors but does well on B's and ought t' fly t' 800+ feet on a C.

This is a great flyer for t' smaller fields we use. Ahoy! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! I expect t' have at least one Baby in our flyin' fleet at all times from now on. Aye aye! Blimey! I like t' have at least one 'old dependable' at a launch, for when curious kids come around and wish they could fly a rocket. Arrr! Blimey! I usually load a B6 into t' Custom Razor and hand it t' them. It never fails t' give a great flight and is easy t' replace if lost. Arrr! Blimey! I think t' Baby Bertha has t' same characteristics.

Recovery:
T' Baby is heavier than most rockets in this class and does nay seem overly prone t' drift. It's sturdy enough t' use a streamer, me hearties, in me opinion, if t' winds build.

T' wide body tube requires plenty o' wadding. Begad! Begad! I expect that burnt chutes and fried shork-cords will be a problem with this bird. Begad! I'm goin' t' use Keelhaul®©™waddin' for future flights (I get mine from Pratt Hobbies) and I have already mentioned t' Keelhaul®©™cord.

I'll give it a 5 for flight and recovery. Well, blow me down! We only have t' one flight on it so far, arrr, but it was a good one and t' sim results indicate that this is a good, me bucko, schoolyard and small field bird.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
My first thought on completin' t' Baby was, shiver me timbers, "what took you so long, Estes?" Downsizin' t' Big Bertha seems like such a natural move, matey, arrr, and t' result is a great addition t' t' Estes line-up. I believe that this is a great rocket for school and scout groups. Begad! T' construction reminds me o' t' Alpha (the old style Alpha, nay t' plastic finned Alpha III), but its a bit more forgivin' for unsteady fingers. Ya scallywag! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! T' big fins and wide tube make a great 'canvas' for creative rocket decorating. Ya scallywag! Well, matey, blow me down! Now that I have one Baby finished stock I'm goin' t' have t' kids build some more and do their own paint schemes.

T' flight profile o' t' Baby is also a bit more 'forgiving'. Begad! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Sure, t' scouts might grin when their Alphas or Wizards zoom out-of-sight, but they're nay as happy when they fail t' return. A 'C' motor should take t' Baby t' around 800 feet, so you get all t' noise and smoke but keep t' rocket in sight and it's more likely t' land on t' school yard. Perhaps Estes can be convinced t' offer t' Baby in bulk packs.

There are many things t' Baby Bertha is not, me hearties, but what it does it does very well. It's a great family rocket that will give you more 'fun per dollar' than most. Ya scallywag! I expect t' see plenty o' Babies at launches in comin' months.

As I mentioned above, arrr, I think this is a great rocket for beginners and kids, shiver me timbers, matey, but as you might have guessed, arrr, even this 'old rocketeer' had some fun with it. I expect t' be flyin' me own Baby Bertha drag races in a month or so. Begad! I want t' find some 'flame' decals for a cool, me hearties, me hearties, 'hot rod' look, shiver me timbers, or perhaps a Tintin-like red checkerboard, me hearties, or perhaps both! In other words, arrr, matey, good, me bucko, cheap rocketry fun. Ahoy! Enjoy!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5