Then thar's THE Fat Boy. Arrr! Maybe nay t' original, arrr, but Estes be t' one that trademarked t' name. Well, blow me down! Blimey! This be t' third 2.6" sport kit that I have reviewed for comparison sake. T' Fat Boy be t' shortest o' t' kits reviewed, ya bilge rat, bein' only 12.9" tall and weighin' 3 ounces. Aye aye! See me 2.6" Stubby Rocket Comparison Page

T' kit comes with an 8" single body tube and 3.875" plastic nose cone (the remainin' inch in height is from t' fin sweep). Its 18mm motor mount comes with 1/32" die-cut cardboard centerin' rings and a motor retention clip. Aye aye! Avast! It uses 3/32" die-cut balsa fins with through-the-wall mounting. Well, blow me down! It comes with an Estes' standard 18" plastic parachute, a 24" elastic shock cord (1/4" flat) which attaches via t' Estes' standard three-fold paper mount. Ahoy! It also includes a single launch lug and a decal sheet.

CONSTRUCTION:

There are six pages o' instructions which are heavily illustrated and very clearly defines t' steps o' construction, me hearties, finishin' and preparation for flying. Blimey! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! T' instructions are in a logical order and could get a new modeler through t' kit assembly. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! This bein' t' case, ya bilge rat, merits it's Beta Series (level 1) rating. Blimey!

There is nay a lot t' say about assembly because it be so straight forward, me bucko, matey, however, just a few comments about a couple o' steps and observations. Well, blow me down!

T' first be t' assembly o' t' through-the-wall fins. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Here t' fins are t' fit into t' pre-cut slots in t' body tube. These did nay fit and required extendin' each slot about 1/8" toward t' aft o' t' rocket. Begad! Blimey! On t' positive side, t' fins were arranged so that t' grain was parallel t' t' leadin' edge which improves strength. Avast! Blimey!

T' instructions were also clear in describin' t' use o' balsa filler on t' fins and in t' paint scheme. Avast, me proud beauty! There was one illustration that be nay accurate describin' t' application o' t' decals. Well, blow me down! Blimey! In t' illustration, me bucko, it shows t' decal which spells out "FAT BOY" bein' applied on t' body tube and crossin' over onto t' nose cone. Arrr! This decal is nay large enough t' do this. Aye aye! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' package and catalog pictures t' decal accurately. Begad! Blimey! Blimey!

Two changes where made t' t' recovery system. Aye aye! First, instead o' t' three-fold paper mount, shiver me timbers, a short piece o' Keelhaul®©™ be attached t' t' thrust rin' and t' elastic shock cord was tied t' it at about t' same position t' paper mount would have gone. Avast! Avast! Secondly, an 18" purple rip-stop nylon parachute was used. Estes' parachutes work fine, however, nylon chutes are better t' prevent stickin' and are more durable all around.

For finishin' I tried a couple o' different tactics than previous kits. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! I saw a note on t' RMR newsgroup suggestin' usin' plain ol' Elmer's Glue as a balsa fin filler. I did this and it worked out quite well.

On top o' that, I used Walmart's primer this time. Begad! Blimey! This stuff does nay sand nearly as well as Plasti-Kote's primer. Avast, me proud beauty! I will revert back t' usin' Plasti-Kote primer for fillin' and Walmart's primer as t' final coat (when usin' Walmart's paint). Begad!

Once I finished smoothin' and priming, an application o' $0. Ahoy! Avast! 98 Walmart enamel was added. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! This time a baby blue. After dryin' a day, matey, t' decals were applied. Blimey! Ahoy! T' decals are self-adhesive and are very shiny. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! T' ensure consistency o' finish and protect t' decals a bit (not as necessary on self-adhesive decals), shiver me timbers, matey, apply a coat o' clear finish. I followed up with Walmart's Clear enamel. Aye aye! (additional comments about Walmart paint)

Overall, arrr, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 4 1/2 points. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! It would be nice t' see Estes go t' a different shock cord mount instead o' t' three-fold paper method. Begad! Begad! Other than t' misfit o' t' through-the-wall fins, me hearties, construction was straight forward. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty!

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

T' Estes Fat Boy™ isn't as "heavy" as t' Vaughn Brothers Blobbo™ and can get off o' t' pad a bit faster. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! This fact made me miss two launch shots! However, in similar wind conditions both rockets display a lot o' weather-cocking. Begad! Both flights usin' C6-3's were parallel t' t' ground before apogee. Ya scallywag!

T' first flight was t' higher o' t' two test flights and t' wind carried t' rocket about 100 yards from t' launch pad after flyin' about 100 yards in t' opposite direction due t' weather-cocking. Ya scallywag!

T' second flight, matey, shiver me timbers, went much further out due t' weather-cocking. After about 200 yards, ya bilge rat, t' parachute ejected and t' rocket dropped nearly straight t' t' ground. Begad! Begad! I had "reefed" t' parachute by tapin' t' shroud lines about 5" down from t' chute.

T' parachute, arrr, me hearties, arrr, shroud lines and shock cord system all demonstrated performance and showed no sign o' wear or damage. Begad! There was a small black spot at t' top o' t' body tube which wiped away easily. Aye aye! Begad!

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, shiver me timbers, I would rate this kit 4 1/2 points. I think an 18" parachute is too large for this kit. It needs a smaller chute or recommendation for a spill hole or reefing. Avast! Blimey! I have seen others at t' range cut out t' center o' t' chute that says Estes on their Fat Boy kits so I assume they feel t' same way about t' descent rate bein' too slow. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty!

Overall, shiver me timbers, this kit is very easy t' build and fun too fly. Well, blow me down! I give t' kit an OVERALL ratin' o' 4 1/2 points. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad!