Brief:
New E2X series rocket from Estes that looks like a standard yellow wooden No.2 pencil. Begad! It flies on A-C motors and uses a 12 inch parachute for recovery.

Construction:
T' kit came in a plastic bag with a header card. Begad! I was impressed with t' packin' o' this kit. Ya scallywag! T' main body tube with t' eraser decal and nose cone came in their own individual wrappers.

T' kit came with t' motor mount tube, hook, and coupler, me bucko, plastic fin unit, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, lower and upper body tubes, me hearties, tube coupler, ya bilge rat, launch lug, shock cord, 12 inch assembled plastic parachute, shiver me timbers, pre-colored nose cone, arrr, and a single name decal.

Bein' an E2X kit, this rocket is in me own words "a piece o' cake" t' build. Begad! T' instructions were definitely well written and had illustrations for every step. T' shock cord was included also.

Construction starts with t' motor mount. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I then inserted t' completed mount into t' fin unit and then glued on t' coupler. Begad! Blimey! This assembly gets glued into t' lower tube with t' eraser decal. Arrr! Blimey! Be careful nay t' get any glue on it.

T' launch lug goes on next. Arrr! After that, arrr, I joined t' two body tubes together. Begad! I then assembled t' shock cord mount and glued it into place.

PROS: Super fast construction.

CONS: None

Finishing:
There is really no finishin' due t' t' pre-colored parts. Arrr! Ahoy! T' nose cone is very impressive with its three color finish although t' yellow on t' bottom o' it didn't match t' yellow body tubes that well but it didn't matter t' me.

I applied t' name decal. Aye aye! I then cut out a spill hole on t' parachute and tied it into place.

PROS: No paintin' required (Gotta love that).

CONS: None

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
T' recommended motors for this rocket are t' A8-3, shiver me timbers, B4-4, B6-4, C6-5. Begad! Begad! This rocket does require recovery wadding. Ahoy! Arrr! I recommend at least four sheets. Aye aye! Begad! T' hook holds t' motor in place durin' flight.

For t' first flight, I used a B6-4. Ahoy! T' rocket boosted straight up with absolutely no windcockin' at all t' about 500 feet. Arrr! Also, t' yellow on this rocket can be very easily seen. I never lost sight o' t' rocket durin' flight.

T' second flight was on another B6-4. Begad! Aye aye! Blimey! This motor is perfect for this rocket. A repeat o' t' first flight.

PROS: Flies great, very easy t' see in flight.

CONS: None

Recovery:
With t' small spill hole that I cut in t' 'chute t' rocket came down very nice. On t' second flight, me hearties, I noticed an Estes type dent in t' top o' t' body tube so I guess that t' shock cord is just a tad too short.

PROS: Comes down nice on provided chute with a small spill-hole.

CONS: Shock cord just a tad too short.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I like this rocket. Ahoy! Priced at about $6.29, it's a real deal. Avast! Also because it looks like a pencil, it will impress youngsters and school teachers everywhere. Also, arrr, I feel that Estes should offer it in their educator bulk packs.

Main PROS: Fast construction, ya bilge rat, good quality components, shiver me timbers, finished appearance, excellent flight characteristics.

Main CONS: Shock cord too short. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! That's why I must deduct 1/2 point.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5