Brief
Paper shroud construction and dual chute recovery.

Construction
This be t' first Quest kit I have built and was pleased with almost all aspects. Ahoy! T' kit came in t' common bag; no parts were missin' or broken. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! This kit is a finless, Skill Level 3 features paper shroud construction and dual 12-inch parachute recovery. More on t' 'chutes later.

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

T' only difficult part be t' markin' o' t' tube. T' black tube did nay show t' lines very well, matey, nay a problem, arrr, a sharp crayon works wonders.

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

I added t' clay for t' nose weight as shown, with very little effort. Ya scallywag! 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, this makes t' fittin' o' t' assembly with t' double stick tape conceals t' seam easier. Aye aye! T' instructions come t' a point o' addin' t' maneuverin' flaps and nozzles for display only. I deviated here. Blimey! After I had it finished, it looked t' me as if somethin' be missing. Ahoy! I added t' nozzles. Rappin' t' cutouts around a pencil I acquired t' correct shape. Begad! Ya scallywag! 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, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, me bucko, but t' decals leave somethin' t' be desired. They are self-adhesive and on an opaque (white) backing. Well, blow me down! Begad! T' picture card with t' kit shows t' letterin' directly on t' gray body. T' nose cone letterin' be on a black background and with careful trimmin' came out lookin' good. Aye aye! 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 be on February 7, me bucko, 1999 at a C.R.A.S.H. Begad! launch in Denver. T' only recommended motor is a C6-3. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! T' prep is standard, waddin' and recovery system. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! As I loaded t' Space Clipper on t' pad I got more questions than ever. Blimey! Begad! T' flight was better than I imagined. T' DC-Y lifted off with a slow assent, me bucko, me hearties, and rose close t' t' estimated height o' 200 ft. Begad! T' delay was just about right. Aye aye! T' second flight was straight and true. Avast, me proud beauty! T' next chance I had t' fly was at a C.R.A.S.H. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! launch in Denver on March 7, matey, me hearties, 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. Avast! T' Clipper be nay damaged, shiver me timbers, but I had t' try again. Begad! Blimey! T' Keelhaul®©™® be blackened, ya bilge rat, but no damage was observed. Figurin' that t' stiff Quest 'chute was t' culprit, I pulled an Estes 12 inch 'chute out me range box. Begad! T' second flight be a duplicate o' t' first. Arrr! Aye aye! T' body is just too light t' fully deploy t' 'chute. T' third flight I replaced t' "chute with a 3 ft Mylar streamer. I think I have t' streamer just t' right length. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! It brought t' body down more gently and it landed near t' pads without a thud.

Flight I give a 5. Avast! Ahoy! Recovery built as instructed 1, however, me hearties, with t' recovery modification a 3.

Flight Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5

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