Brief
This be t' second Custom Kit I have built and this is one long rocket. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! T' size really intrigued me when I saw it on t' rack at a local hobby shop. Well, blow me down! T' statistics on t' Equinox are Length: 78"; Diameter: 1.637"; Wt.: 5.8oz. Begad! Skill Level 2.

Construction
T' Quality was very good. Avast! It came packaged in a plastic bag. Avast, me proud beauty! All t' parts were thar and in good shape. It has four body tubes, arrr, me hearties, ya bilge rat, three couplers, four Die-cut balsa fins, two 18 inch mylar 'chutes, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, plastic nose cone, all t' typical motor mount items and one large decal. Arrr! Begad! T' instructions left very little t' chance with lots o' illustrations in a very logical order. T' only template is for t' fin-markin' guide and is standard issue. Begad! Arrr! CONSTRUCTION: (Ratin' 4.5)

If thar be a gotcha, it be t' length. Were I t' build this kit again I would have it separate in t' middle instead o' at t' nose. More for easy o' transport. (I have t' thank me wife for insistin' on gettin' a mini-van.) Also I would replace t' motor hook with a thicker one. Ya scallywag! Well, me bucko, blow me down! T' instructions call for assemblin' t' lower tube separate from t' rest. Begad! This is a great help when attachin' t' fins. Begad! (See t' Flight). Avast! I used 15-minute epoxy throughout. Blimey! A nice touch on t' fins was a mark on t' root edge. T' fins could be turned t' wrong way if you don't look at t' grain carefully or don't know about this.

T' shock cord typical elastic and tri-fold paper mount. Begad! Ya scallywag! T' shock cord is o' a good length, arrr, but I doubled it out o' habit. Blimey! (I use it for me Estes Prowler). Avast! I also for t' first time tried two Centuri Baffles in this kit. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! I built one usin' t' coupler near t' motor mount and one betwixt t' top two sections I put cardboard with holes punched in it in t' top & bottom and glued them t' t' coupler.

T' recovery is by two 18 inch 'chutes that are silver mylar with tape dots for shroud line retention. Ahoy! Blimey! I have modified this, matey, as I have since 1969, when I was introduced t' t' hobby. Ya scallywag! Blimey! An old timer who's name I can't recall showed me t' put t' tape dot on, matey, put t' hole reinforcement rin' on t' back, arrr, and usin' an Xacto drill a 1/8 inch hole in t' middle. Begad! Blimey! T' finished rocket over all is impressive in size. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Blimey! EASE OF BUILD: (Ratin' 5)

Finishing
There are no special requirements or techniques for finishing. I followed t' paint scheme on t' supplied card. Aye aye! T' one decal is o' t' peel and stick. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Usin' t' soapy water technique it went on easily. Aye aye! Begad! Blimey! T' one thin' is I needed t' do is t' cut it around t' launch lug. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' finished kit got many "Who makes that kit, and where did you find it?" and "It looks classier than t' Mean Machine!" at t' first launch I brought it to. Begad! FINISHING: (Ratin' 5)

Construction Rating: 4 ½ out o' 5

Flight/Recovery
T' recommended motors for this are D12-5 & E15-7. Ya scallywag! I have flown this four times on t' D12-5. T' one gripe I have with Custom be t' motor hooks. Arrr! Arrr! They are thinner than t' Estes counterparts and I have only recovered t' Equinox with t' motor one time. Begad! Begad! With t' baffles preparation is: put t' 'chutes in and away t' t' RSO.

T' first flight was on a cold gray day in December. Ahoy! I was impressed by t' slow lift-off climbin' straight up with no wobble or wind cocking. Arrr! T' delay was just right both 'chute blossomed and it softly landed about 500 feet from t' pads after reachin' an estimated altitude o' 600 feet. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! (wRASP) Upon recovery I found t' motor had kicked out. Aye aye! Arrr! On t' second flight t' same result and durin' recovery only one 'chute fully opened. Begad! Ahoy! I guess it sat on t' pad too long for t' 33-degree temperature. No damage upon landing, matey, t' motor kicked out again, only this time t' motor hook was slightly burnt.

T' next flights came in February. Ahoy! It is a typical winter in Denver, ya bilge rat, Colorado, about 55 and a slight breeze. Arrr! T' flights were great, ya bilge rat, with t' slow rise and gentle turn at apogee. Avast! T' 'chutes opened and they brought t' rocket down gently. Begad! Avast! On t' first flight I taped t' motor in, matey, but it kicked. On t' second flight I also wire tied t' motor with t' tape and it held. Well, blow me down! I like t' way t' multiple 'chutes look, but for ease o' preparation, matey, a single 18 inch or 24 inch would work. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! I can't wait t' send this up on an E15-7, with an estimated altitude o' 1775 feet. Avast, me proud beauty! (wRASP).

Flight Rating: 4 ½ out o' 5

Summary
Everythin' considered if it were nay for t' motor kickin' t' ratin' would be a 5. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! I just love t' way this kit looks and flies. T' kit retails for $ 19.95 and I believe it is work every penny. T' biggest obstacle with t' kit as far as its durability is gettin' out t' door and t' t' launch sites. Blimey! I really like t' Custom kits as they have t' flavor o' t' kits available in t' early '70s.

Overall Rating: 4 ½ out o' 5