Intro

T' Venom model rocket kit is a basic sport rocket with a unique nose cone and snake graphics t' set it apart from t' rest o' t' four-fins-and-a-nose-cone sport rockets. This be a Father-Son project with me 12 year old son doin' all o' t' work with t' exception o' paintin' t' model. Ahoy! T' style o' t' rocket appeals t' this age group, I like t' looks as well.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

This is your basic Estes rocket kit. Begad! Avast! It came in t' clear plastic bag, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, with all o' t' parts intact and none damaged. Blimey! T' kit consists o' a paper tube for t' body, me bucko, a sheet o' die cut balsa fins, ya bilge rat, motor mount, parachute, shock cord, ya bilge rat, a plastic nose cone, and a sheet o' self adhesive decals.

T' instructions are printed on one 11 by 17 and one 8.5 by 11 inch piece o' paper. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! They are t' typical Estes instructions, copiously illustrated, logically laid out and easy t' follow. Arrr! T' Venon is an easy t' build kit. Ahoy! Aye aye! It is in Estes' beta series rated as a skill level 1.

All o' t' parts fit together well, and t' kit is a straight-forward construction. Begad! T' only critical step be t' attachment o' t' through-the-wall fins. Step 6 shows that a "small gap" should be left, this be t' thickness o' t' body tube. Ahoy! No mention o' this is in t' instructions, me hearties, me bucko, as t' body tube could be used t' gauge t' gap. Well, blow me down! In any event, ya bilge rat, t' resultant fin-body tube-motor mount assembly is very sturdy. Arrr! Ahoy! It will survive many hard landings and still give you years o' service.

My son decided t' round t' edges o' t' fins, this gives t' rocket a better appearance than t' squared edges. Aye aye! Your basic rocket buildin' tools are needed, matey, hobby knife, shiver me timbers, scissors, sandpaper and glue, matey, no special tools are needed.

Finishin' t' rocket is as simple as paintin' t' body and fins red, arrr, and t' nose cone black. Avast, me proud beauty! T' decals take care o' t' rest. Aye aye! T' instructions even show t' shock cord attachment after t' two parts are painted separate colors, that is an example o' how logically t' instructions are laid out. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! I coated t' rocket with a clear gloss coat after t' decals were applied, matey, this keeps them from curling, matey, as well as givin' t' whole rocket that shiny appearance that is in t' Estes literature. Arrr! Blimey! T' unique nose cone and decals set this model apart from your standard 4F&NC rocket kit.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

T' Venom uses t' well known folded paper shock cord mount and a parachute for recovery. Arrr! Standard preparation instructions are included in t' kit, shiver me timbers, which calls for three squares o' ejection wadding.

T' recommended motors are the: A8-3, shiver me timbers, B4-4, B6-4, matey, shiver me timbers, B6-6, me bucko, C6-5, and C6-7.

T' motor is held in place with a metal clip, which allows quick release o' t' motor and easy prep for flight. Avast! We have used t' A8-3 and B6-4 motors t' date. Ya scallywag! Arrr! T' flights were great with parachute ejection close t' apogee, matey, t' parachute is sized correctly and gives a slow stable descent t' t' rocket. T' sturdy through t' wall fin construction makes certain that this rocket will fly another day, arrr, even if t' parachute doesn't work.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

Everythin' considered, this is an interestin' variation on t' basic rocket. Begad! Ya scallywag! T' younger generation will enjoy t' snake graphics and all will enjoy t' sturdy construction. Avast! This is an excellent starter rocket as it is easy t' build, me hearties, arrr, large enough t' see well, matey, but still small enough t' really move on a C6-7 (Estes claims 1100 feet), ya bilge rat, and has parachute recovery.