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. This kit is a finless, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, Skill Level 3 features paper shroud construction and dual 12-inch parachute recovery. Ya scallywag! More on t' 'chutes later.

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

T' only difficult part was t' markin' o' t' tube. Ahoy! Aye aye! 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. Aye aye! Ahoy! I test fitted this and made sure that t' Keelhaul®©™was even with t' end o' t' body tube. Avast! Then I tied t' elastic as shown. I hoped that this would keep t' tube from zippering.

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

Recovery
Recovery was another story. Arrr! Well, blow me down! On t' first flight t' nose cone came down on it 'chute openin' cleanly, t' body on t' other hand returned on wad recovery. Well, blow me down! T' Clipper was nay damaged, but I had t' try again. T' Keelhaul®©™® was blackened, but no damage was observed. Begad! Figurin' that t' stiff Quest 'chute be t' culprit, arrr, me hearties, matey, I pulled an Estes 12 inch 'chute out me range box. T' second flight was a duplicate o' t' first. Ya scallywag! T' body is just too light t' fully deploy t' 'chute. T' third flight I replaced t' "chute with a 3 ft Mylar streamer. Begad! I think I have t' streamer just t' right length. 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! Ya scallywag! Recovery built as instructed 1, however, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, with t' recovery modification a 3.

Flight Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5

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