Brief:
T' Goony Ghost is one o' Excelsior Rocketry's line o' Goony-themed rockets inspired by t' original Estes Goony Birds o' t' mid '70s. While many o' Excelsior's offerings are Goony versions o' Estes kits, shiver me timbers, t' Ghost is an original design with no specific role model. Avast! Arrr! T' Excelsior "kits" are marketed simply as a set o' plans and a sheet o' very nice decals. Well, blow me down! T' builder supplies t' parts necessary t' build t' rocket, typically in t' form o' an Estes Baby Bertha kit or similar individual components. Arrr! Well, blow me down! For most o' t' kits, shiver me timbers, t' builder is typically required t' substitute t' Baby Bertha fin stock for a sheet o' uncut balsa. Blimey! This is because t' new fins are usually nay t' same as t' Bertha and cannot be cut from t' same balsa sheet as t' Bertha die-cut fins.

Construction:
As stated above, you pay for t' instructions and decals and must provide all components for construction:

• 1 PNC60L nose cone
• 1 BT60 - 7.5 inches long
• 1 BT20J motor mount tube - 2.75 inches long
• 2 AR2060 centerin' rings
• 1 CR520 motor block
• 1 EH-1 motor clip
• 1 Launch Lug
• 1 Balsa stock 3/32" x 4" x 36"
• 1 Shock Cord (your choice so long as you replace t' wimpy Estes cord)
• 1 Paper shock cord mount (or mount o' your choice)
• 1 Parachute (12" or your discretion for a rocket o' this size/weight)

T' Goony Ghost fins are pretty big so I had t' provide me own piece o' 3-inch wide 3/32-inch thick balsa. Well, blow me down! Unlike many fin patterns, t' only straight edge be t' root edge. Well, blow me down! T' leadin' and trailin' edge o' t' large, basically swept delta-shaped fins are wavy and require a sharp blade in t' hobby knife t' make nice clean cuts. Ahoy! Aye aye! Sandin' t' edges t' a rounded profile requires patience and a light touch so you don't take too much material off and spoil t' graceful wavy effect. Blimey! Attach t' fins after markin' t' tube with t' included wraparound fin markin' guide. Ya scallywag! This is a simple 3FNC assembly but t' finished result is quite pleasin' given t' unique profile o' t' fins.

I went with a standard tri-fold mount for t' shock cord, me hearties, although I substituted a 1/4-inch wide piece o' black sewin' elastic for t' stock Estes shock cord. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! T' 18mm motor mount is standard BT-20 (2.75 inch long), matey, two card stock centerin' rings, shiver me timbers, 18mm engine block, shiver me timbers, and a sprin' steel motor clip. Aye aye! Avast! T' launch lug is glued next t' one o' t' fins. Avast, me proud beauty! T' Excelsior instructions are logical and easy t' follow.

Finishing:
My Goony Ghost is unpainted at t' moment though it will be easy enough t' paint--the whole rocket is white, me bucko, however, t' instructions advise t' paint t' rocket any suitably "spooky" color. Blimey! T' Excelsior graphics for this kit are all black and o' a playfully spooky nature. They should contrast with t' white paint very nicely. Excelsior recommends you hit their decals with a decal sealin' solution before cuttin' and applyin' them. Aye aye! I'll follow this advice when I get t' it.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Excelsior recommends model rocketry's "Holy Trinity" o' motors: A8-3, B6-4, C6-5. Begad! I flew me rocket three times on January 10th, 2009, at our Rainbow Valley launch site. I went with t' trinity, but in reverse sequence. Avast, me proud beauty! We were experiencin' a 5-10MPH breeze so I went with t' "powerhouse" first. Ahoy! Avast! I put an inch or so o' "dog barf" waddin' in t' tube then packed t' shock cord and talcum-dusted 12-inch Estes chute in t' airframe. Ahoy! My nose cone required a bit o' maskin' tape on t' shoulder t' get a properly snug fit. Ahoy! I loaded t' Ghost up on me pad, shiver me timbers, took t' obligatory static photo and asked for a volunteer t' press t' button so I could get me launch photo. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! At liftoff, matey, t' spunky little Ghost zipped off t' pad and climbed straight up t' apogee. Begad! I think ejection be just about right, at t' top, and t' 12inch chute popped open. I had cut a spill hole t' minimize drift from t' breeze but I still had a walk o' a couple hundred feet behind me t' recover t' Ghost. Begad! Spooky was undamaged so I be able t' successfully fly t' rocket two more times that day on t' B6-4 and A8-3. Ahoy! Both flights were near carbon copies o' t' inaugural, arrr, ya bilge rat, with nice straight boosts and ejection right at t' top. Recovery be successful for these flights as well with no broken fins.

Recovery:
PROs: Works like a charm.

CONs: None that I can think of.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' Goony Ghost is a nice addition t' me fleet. Begad! Ahoy! I have also built and flown t' Apogoon two-stager, matey, but it also needs t' be painted and have t' decals applied. Avast! I also have t' Goony Max plan set in t' build queue. Arrr! Begad! I highly recommend Excelsior products t' anyone wishin' t' expand their fleet with some unusual designs. Well, blow me down! As t' Excelsior motto goes: "Get Goony!"

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5