Brief:
An OOP rocket o' t' space shuttle. Estes have released a few other space shuttles that have been gliders. Ahoy! This older one is just t' shuttle itself and recovers by a parachute. Avast! I got two o' these older rockets from a rocketeer that be givin' up t' hobby. Ahoy! Both kits had been opened and had bits missing, matey, ya bilge rat, arrr, however these were easily replaced. Arrr! This review is for Estes kit number 1424, which seems t' be identical t' kit 1385. Avast! Arrr! T' difference betwixt t' kits is what came with t' rocket.

Construction:
T' kit consists of:

• Body tube, BT 60 K - 7 inch
• 2 balsa fin sheets
• Plastic launch lug
• nose cone and pods
• engine Mount tube
• Engine hook
• Die cut rings
• Die cut Card
• Shock cord
• Clay Weight
• Decal sheet
• Pattern sheet
• Shroud lines
• Tape disks
• 18-inch parachute

To build t' kit I used:

• CA gel glue
• White wood glue
• Sand paper
• Primer
• White spray paint
• Black paint

T' first thin' I had t' do was cut out a section o' balsa win' that be missing. Havin' done this, ya bilge rat, I then checked t' make sure all o' t' parts were there. Aye aye! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Next was t' swap parts for newer or better parts. Ahoy! Blimey! T' die cut rings were upgraded, t' parachute swapped for a handmade rip stop nylon one, t' shock cord changed for a length o' Keelhaul®©™ thread and a longer length o' elastic cord, ya bilge rat, t' clay weight had gone hard and brittle so that was swapped.

T' instructions are o' t' typical Estes style, arrr, and t' build is relatively straightforward. Well, blow me down! Arrr! T' win' is made up o' 8 pieces o' balsa that need t' be glued together. In me kit t' previous owner had already started this – badly. Begad! There be a lot o' fillin' and sandin' t' be done. One gotcha here is t' cut out t' flaps that are done in step 17 after step 4 – it makes t' job easier.

There are a few sheets o' card that are used in t' build which go on easily this is nay true o' t' plastic OMS pods that have t' be cut out and then glued into place. Ahoy! Heavy fillets o' white glue were needed t' give a good finish.

T' flaps that are added are thar t' give a straight boost.

Finishing:
T' balsa in t' kit was a varyin' quality and required three coats o' sandin' sealer and several layers o' primer, ya bilge rat, with sandin' betwixt coats, shiver me timbers, t' body tube had deep spirals in it. T' rocket was coated with white spray paint and then had t' black paint applied by brush. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! I'm nay good at paintin' and I took some liberties with t' design. Despite t' decals bein' old and o' t' water slide variety, some went on okay, but unfortunately some disintegrated when they came off t' backin' paper. Well, blow me down! In hindsight I should have clear coated them before tryin' t' apply them.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
Recommended motors are: A8-3, B4-4, B6-4, B8-5, shiver me timbers, C6-5.

T' first, ya bilge rat, and last flight be on a B6-4, after a climb o' about 10 foot it arched and flow horizontal until crashin' into t' ground under full thrust. Ahoy! T' motor mount be badly damaged. Avast! I was able t' reset t' mount, but in doin' so damaged t' body tube.

T' motor had failed t' set off its ejection charge, shiver me timbers, and when I looked at t' launch photo, ya bilge rat, t' thrust jet seems t' be angled a few degrees off. T' motor be probably t' cause o' t' arching.

After repairin' t' shuttle, matey, she had a few more flights.

Stickin' with C6-3s she performed better, ya bilge rat, me bucko, but each flight be far from perfect, she shimmers on t' boost, me hearties, and always arches slightly. Begad! A delay o' 5 seconds is too long given her arched flights, I would nay fly her on an A motor either.

Recovery:
With one bilge-suckin' flight I am tempted t' tank t' review points, but other rocketeers have flown this model without problems. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! My first flight was due t' a bilge-suckin' motor.

Recovery is fine on t' parachute size provided

Flight Rating: 2 out o' 5

Summary:
She's a nice lookin' model, matey, but nay a great flyer, I have another one in me build pile but I doubt if I'll put that one t' t' top o' t' build list.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5