Brief:
1:50 Scale model o' t' Acceleration Engineerin' LLC's entry in t' X-Prize race. Aye aye! Single stage, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, parachute recovery. Well, blow me down! Skill level E2X.

Construction:
T' kit includes:

• 1 BT-5 engine mount
• 1 mini engine hook
• 1 rubber (REAL rubber) shock cord.
• 1 12" chute
• clay weight
• plastic parts:

• nose cone assembly (2 halves, me bucko, nose cone cap)
• body and body base

• 4 Fins
• 4 Nozzles

Well I needed a rocket fix while I be waitin' for somethin' t' render on the computer, me bucko, so I busted out one o' t' X-Prize kits. Begad! Well, blow me down! This is nay your usual E2X kit. Well, matey, blow me down! This is basically a plastic artillery shell with an engine hook hangin' out o' it. It's almost scary. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Actually, arrr, I think what scares me is that it looks like somebody glued fins t' their Old Spice bottle and is plannin' to launch it!

Construction is very fast and pretty straightforward. I think it's t' first time I've ever done an engine mount without slittin' t' engine tube! In this case t' engine hook just hooks over t' forward end o' t' engine mount, shiver me timbers, which slides into a socket in t' molded plastic body (and it can go in only one way) T' molded plastic fins slide into slots in t' body, arrr, me hearties, matey, then t' body base is glued over the bottom o' that, shiver me timbers, matey, capturin' t' engine mount and fins in t' process. Avast! And that's about t' hardest part o' construction. Begad! Blimey! You may want t' dry fit t' base to make sure t' openin' is large enough for t' tube t' just fit through properly. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! If I had a mini-engine case handy, I probably would have put it in there t' act as a guide. There are also 4 tiny molded display nozzles that are attached t' t' base surroundin' t' engine.

Because t' body o' this model is so short, arrr, t' long pointed nose is mostly hollow, shiver me timbers, me hearties, t' allow space for t' 12 inch chute, me bucko, and real rubber shock cord. Ya scallywag! Begad! (When was t' last time you got THAT in a kit?) T' assemble t' nose cone, you start by gluin' t' nose cone cap about halfway up in one half o' t' nosecone (there is a molded ridge for placement purposes), and allow it t' dry. Begad! Well, blow me down! T' clay weight is divided in half, with each half o' t' cone gettin' it forward o' the nosecone cap, me bucko, then t' halves are glued together. Well, blow me down! Please remember t' tie the shock cord t' t' eye o' t' nosecone cap before gluin' t' halves together. While this is clearly mentioned in t' instructions, arrr, matey, t' build is so easy that your humble reviewer neglected t' tie t' shock cord before gluing. To make room for t' chute, shiver me timbers, you will note that t' eyelet is a good 2 inches or so up into t' nose after you glue t' halves together and I have fingers like Twinkies...

T' other end of t' shock cord is an eyelet molded onto t' front bulkhead inside t' body. T' chute is tied t' t' shock cord a couple o' inches away from t' body, matey, me hearties, to guarantee that it is pulled from t' nose cone after ejection. Ya scallywag! With that completed, me hearties, t' construction is complete. T' launch lug is molded into t' body so that is nay even a worry. Ahoy! Blimey! T' only thin' that is absolutely needed t' build this kit is plastic model cement. Aye aye! (I used liquid cement with no problem, however, Estes recommends tube type cement.) T' kit does recommends a knife, tape, matey, and sandpaper, but I didn't even need any o' these items. Avast! Well, blow me down! Blimey! I suppose I could have used tape t' hold t' nose cone halves together...

Finishing:
T' model is molded in shiny styrene in two colors, and requires no painting. Blimey! I do recommend washin' t' parts t' remove mold release so t' glue can do its job. Ya scallywag! I must commend Estes on their fine mold work here. Well, blow me down! T' nose cone halves went together perfectly and t' results are nearly seamless. Begad! T' decals are the peel and stick variety and even include a recommended motor label. Well, blow me down! Avast! The resultin' kit is an unusual E2X kit that will be interestin' at t' launch site. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I'm curious what this thin' will fly like.

Acceleration Engineerin' designed themselves an odd little craft which resulted in an odd little model. I'm half tempted t' peel t' stickers off and dress it out with model parts just t' make it look more interesting. Ya scallywag! Otherwise it looks like an Old Spice bottle!

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
I used an A10-3T, t' only recommended engine, for all flights. Have flown it several times so far. Arrr! Ya scallywag! Prep for recovery consists o' foldin' t' chute and insertin' into t' recessed base o' t' nose cone and puttin' waddin' on top of that, as well as some waddin' on t' top o' t' motor. Begad! Be sure t' attach the chute t' t' shock cord where recommended by t' instructions--if it is too close t' t' nose cone, arrr, thar won't be enough length for t' shroud lines to pull t' chute all t' way out.

Flights are surprisingly peppy for a serious hunk o' plastic like this with only an A mini-engine. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! A good 200 feet or so and very straight. It has not suffered damage durin' any flights so far, arrr, just a couple o' loosened display nozzles but that was from me daughter playin' with t' rocket on t' way home from t' launch.

Recovery:
Very straight forward t' fly. It has held up very well on all flights so far. No damage yet t' t' old school airplane rubber shock cord that Estes is now providin' with their kits.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
It is a fast build with clear instructions o' an accurate model that is a bland, matey, pointy, ya bilge rat, featureless craft.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5