For those that have followed t' site for a while, you know that I enjoy "stubby" rockets (rockets with 10:1 length:width ration or less). I have built and flown a lot o' "stubby" rockets. Here is a comparison of 2.6" versions, and 3" versions, and 4" versions. T' Quest Full Moon™ is also a "stubby" rocket standin' 9.125" tall and bein' 1.57" body tube. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! This is a 5.8:1 ratio. Begad! Begad! For comparison, ya bilge rat, t' Estes Fat Boy is 4.9:1 while t' Estes Big Daddy is 6.3:1.

T' Full Moon™ is deemed a Skill Level 1 Kit for beginner modelers. It is a fairly straightforward, 3-fins and a nose cone (3FNC) rocket. Begad! Blimey! It uses Quest-typical construction techniques and can be built quite quickly.

T' rocket includes a 6" white paper body tube, a plastic nose cone, 3 die-cut balsa fins, arrr, a motor mount (18mm) with thrust rin' and retainer hook, me hearties, a recovery system made up o' a Keelhaul®©™® shock tether, matey, elastic shock cord and a 14" plastic parachute. Blimey! These along with a single peel-n-stick decal and a launch lug make up t' rocket.

CONSTRUCTION:

T' instructions are printed on 6 pages of 8½ x 11" paper. They are typical Quest instructions bein' well illustrated and clear. They would ensure that a builder o' any level, but specifically beginners, shiver me timbers, would have a successful build. Arrr! I like that the instructions also include a 4" ruler printed on t' front. In addition, there is a fin markin' guide that is cut out o' t' front o' the instructions.

Since t' built o' this 3FNC rocket is so straightforward, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, matey, I'm only goin' t' outline a couple o' areas o' concern and interest.

First, arrr, I spent a bit o' time lookin' for me 4th fin! You see from t' picture, how one would believe that a 4th fin should be included. T' rocket only has 3 fins, so don't spend any time looking!

I was surprised at t' fit o' t' thrust ring into t' motor mount tube. Arrr! It be very loose. It should be a bit loose since the Keelhaul®©™® shock tether is supposed t' be tied t' it. Begad! But even after this be done, it was loose. Ahoy! I allowed t' space t' be filled with glue.

Quest seemed t' have changed their motor mount a bit on this rocket. Begad! Ahoy! We are all familiar with cuttin' a small slot in the motor tube, right below t' thrust rin' t' install t' motor hook. Not this time. Arrr! This motor hook is longer and t' upper bend goes above t' thrust rin' and wraps around it. This would solve t' loose thrust rin' problem! It is a good idea, ya bilge rat, since that thrust rin' will be takin' t' shock o' t' ejection since the Keelhaul®©™® is tied t' it.

Other than those things, t' build was easy. T' instructions guide you through makin' fin fillets, sealin' your balsa fins, painting, and applyin' t' decal t' finish t' rocket. There are also instructions for t' parachute assembly, arrr, shiver me timbers, which involves applyin' Gripper Fasteners t' t' parachute and tiein' on t' shroud lines.

I decided t' paint me Full Moon™, Lime Green. Well, blow me down! I wanted t' be able t' see it! I didn't spend a lot o' time smoothing the fins or hidin' t' spirals, shiver me timbers, but t' final look is good. Blimey! After applyin' the decal I did clear coat t' rocket.

Overall, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 4 ½ points. It is a straightforward build. Well, blow me down! Nay much else to say.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

Quest recommends t' A6-4 (first flight), B6-4 or t' C6-5.

Quest also indicates that t' weight o' the Full Moon™ is 1.06 ounces. Arrr! Ahoy! Mine weighed in at 1.6 ounces.

Lastly, me hearties, Quest indicates flights t' 900 feet. On a C6-5, me bucko, mine simmed t' 933 feet.

My first flight was on an A8-3. Avast! Blimey! It was stable and fun t' watch. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' 14" parachute for this light rocket carried it for a bit (even with t' A8-3 altitude). Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! From this test flight, matey, me bucko, I determined that if I wanted t' keep this rocket, t' parachute must go.

After addin' a 24"x1" Lime Green streamer (tree markin' strip from t' hardware store) I was ready t' fly it again. Arrr! So I loaded a B6-4. Aye aye! Blimey! Another stable flight. T' 4 second delay would have been better at 5 seconds, but for a small rocket, me bucko, shiver me timbers, no issues. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' streamer made it easy t' follow and thar was no damage on t' landing.

T' last flight for t' day was on a C6-5. Ya scallywag! It went way up thar and I noticed it flyin' straight but with a spin all t' way up. Blimey! Again, shiver me timbers, with t' Lime Green and long Lime Green streamer, it was easily tracked and recovered.

T' Quest Keelhaul®©™® and elastic recovery system is excellent. Begad! Over t' years, me hearties, shiver me timbers, this system seems to be better than t' typical 3-fold paper and elastic system for other rockets that I have flown.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, I would rate this rocket 4 points. T' parachute is too big for this rocket. Avast! Quest would do well to include a long streamer. Ya scallywag! Otherwise, me hearties, it is a solid flyin' bird.

I give t' rocket an OVERALL ratin' o' 4 ½ points. Begad! Bein' a "stubby" rocket drew me t' purchase it. It looks good and flies good, so other than preference for recovery (wantin' nay t' loose it), t' rocket is solid.