Brief:
Classic exotic kit with unusual ejection gas porting.

Construction:

• 1 BT-50 propulsion tube
• 1 BT-50 passenger tube
• 3 BT-5 ejection gas tubes
• 6 BNC-5
• 3 BNC-50
• 3/32 balsa fin stock
• 18 mm motor mount
• several CR-20/50 centerin' rings

T' instructions were typical for Estes at t' time o' t' rocket's production. Begad! Good illustrations for t' major steps and good descriptions o' t' construction tasks. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! You will need t' find a way t' convert t' Estes part numbers for t' various body tubes into t' correct measurements. I ordered all 9 o' me balsa nose cones from Balsa Machinin' Service, shiver me timbers, they are all standard sizes and t' transaction was smooth.

T' main feature o' t' kit be t' unique way that t' ejection gasses are passed from t' motor through 3 outside tubes (hence t' name Trident) t' t' parachute compartment. Avast! This is accomplished by cuttin' a series o' slots in all 5 o' t' body tubes: 3 each for t' motor section and parachute section, matey, 2 a piece for t' 3 out-riggers. These ports need t' be aligned fairly accurately, matey, then sealed completely airtight with thick glue fillets. This is by far t' most exacting, as well as time consumin' part o' t' construction. Begad! It could be sped up by usin' epoxy for t' joints, but that may make t' model too heavy. Well, me hearties, blow me down! Other than that, me bucko, me bucko, t' construction was fairly standard.

T' fin planform is interesting, and they glue t' t' out-riggers instead o' t' main motor tube. Arrr! Begad! T' fins conform t' t' shape o' t' tail cones, so be careful when sizin' t' pattern. I thought about takin' advantage o' Balsa Machinin' Service in laser cuttin' t' fins (you provide a RockSim file that includes t' fin shape) but didn't feel like wrestlin' with t' data points t' make t' curves smooth.

Finishing:
Wow, thar's a lot o' balsa nose cones t' fill on this bird! I used 2 coats o' sealer, sandin' lightly betwixt them and re-acquainted myself with t' reason they call this stuff "dope". Ahoy! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Please remember t' use adequate ventilation when usin' this stuff.

T' paint scheme is overall gloss white with nice red decals. I used t' image file from JimZ t' print out t' stripes and logos, ya bilge rat, me bucko, then cut them out and used white glue t' attach them. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I then gave t' model a couple o' coats o' clear gloss t' seal them in place.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I have flown this model several times on B6-4's and B6-2's with t' 4 second delay bein' better suited t' t' model. I have a nice mylar chute (about 18 inches) that has always returned t' rocket safely, even once where it dropped right on top o' a chain link fence, shiver me timbers, just chipped t' paint a little.

Motor retention is a standard "new-style" Estes motor hook, with that annoyin' little tab cut off.

Recovery:
Recovery has been fine so far. No damage from fallin' too fast, and no excessive drifting.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
T' design and complexity o' this rocket is one that we will probably never see again from Estes. Blimey! It is a challengin' build, but t' reward be t' looks o' envy on other flyer's face when you walk this beauty out t' t' pad.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5