Brief:
This kit is part o' Estes "E2X" series o' kits which are easy t' assemble 'almost ready t' fly' types. Avast! T' Mach 12 comes with pre-colored body parts, shiver me timbers, and needs only plastic cement t' build. Arrr! Begad! It comes with an 18" parachute.

Construction:
This kit is BT-55 based, and come w/ a body tube in two sections which are joined via a plastic coupler which has an integrated launch lug. T' nose cone is plastic, ya bilge rat, and was t' best I'd ever seen from Estes. Well, blow me down! Nay one imperfection or any bit o' flashing.

Two interestin' things about this kit -- t' motor mount & t' fins. Avast! T' mount is simply a plastic tube glued together, which also serves as t' fin can. Motor retention is done via a screw on plastic tail piece. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! T' kit comes with 3 sets o' 4 fins which allow for up t' 12 different fin configurations, me hearties, so says t' box. T' fins can be easily changed, arrr, and fit nicely into slots on t' fin can. T' parachute was 18", and I have opted t' use a 12" in its place. Avast! Ahoy! This is a light kit, me bucko, arrr, and any wind would blow it away in no time. t' shock cord was too small.

This kit be t' easiest Estes kit I've ever assembled. T' instruction are clear, arrr, me bucko, matey, and leave no room for questions. Ahoy! It doesn't take much t' finish this off. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! I did use a length o' Keelhaul®©™thread as a shock cord anchor, matey, but otherwise I build it stock. T' decals are self adhesive, matey, and look good. Avast! As stated above, shiver me timbers, I swapped out t' 18" chute for a 12".

T' only thin' I didn't like about this be t' plastic-to-paper joints. Arrr! Blimey! They don't inspire much confidence, although they did hold together for t' 2 flights it has had.

Finishing:
PROS: no finishin' required, since all parts are pre-colored. Well, blow me down! Begad! Can't say t' black/yellow/orange scheme be t' best I could think of, but it will be hard t' lose in green grass :). Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! Decals go on easily

CONS: none, really. There was nothin' t' go wrong with it.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I've flown it twice, arrr, me bucko, both times on B6-4's since that was all I had kickin' around. Nice straight flights each time, w/ nice recovery. Avast! T' 12" chute works fine. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! I used t' same fins on each flight, arrr, but may experiment in t' future. Avast! On a C6, this kit would go nicely. Well, blow me down! No damage on either flight.

Recovery:
T' 12" chute is sufficient for this kit. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Blimey! I'd keep t' 18" for some other kit that needs it.

T' Keelhaul®©™thread used as an anchor is now standard procedure for all me kits, and I've nay had a burn through failure yet.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
If you are lookin' for a real easy t' assemble, fun kit and want t' fly it soon, ya bilge rat, this is your baby. Aye aye! I bought it since it on sale for $4, matey, and me visitin' nephew would probably like t' see it fly. Its a great kit t' have for when you want t' fly a small, ya bilge rat, matey, but interestin' rocket.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5