Brief:
Estes classic Alpha is your standard 3FNC LPR model, ya bilge rat, probably in continuous production longer than any other model rocket in history. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! It is a simple, me hearties, straightforward build, listed as a skill level 2 build. Compared to the model airplanes I fly, it's somethin' a newbie could take on as a first project, especially if he or she had a little guidance.

With its wide selection o' motors and quick assembly, arrr, ya bilge rat, it's a perfect all-around rocket, and t' body tube is large enough t' take up t' a 24" parachute should you feel t' urge t' enter parachute endurance competition.

Construction:

T' kit consists of:

• BT-50 Body Tube, XX" long
• PNC-50 blow-molded plastic nose cone
• Three laser cut balsa fins, me bucko, 3/32" sheet
• 18 mm motor tube, shiver me timbers, 2.75" long
• 2.75" steel motor retainer
• BT-20 t' BT-50 fiber motor mount adapter
• 1/8" white rubber shock cord
• 12" pre-assembled parachute
• Self-adhesive decal sheet
• 2 pages o' instructions

T' Alpha comes in a plastic bag, arrr, me bucko, which seems t' be a returnin' trend in Estes products. Arrr! It is good t' see that even Wal-Mart is startin' t' again carry higher skill level kits and that balsa fins and t' like are again becoming oft-seem items.

A nice new advance be t' addition o' laser-cut fins (more on that later), which provide better cuts and speed finishing.

I started construction with t' body tube and motor mound, per t' instructions (which I'm nay used t' following, being a model airplane guy who is used t' nay even havin' instructions), and decided t' modify t' model by extendin' the motor tube 3/8" out t' back o' t' body tube t' allow a tail cone t' be built around it. Arrr! There was a slight dink in t' motor tube, but a quick coatin' o' CA on both ends o' t' tube fixed this imperfection and ensured good wear resistance. Ahoy! While I was at it, me bucko, I hardened t' nose end o' t' tube with CA t' provide resistance against impacts and mishandling. Begad! Total time for assemblin' t' motor tube and installin' it in t' fuselage be less than 5 minutes.

As a bit o' personal whim, matey, I glued bits o' 3/16" balsa around t' exposed end o' t' motor tube and sanded this mess down into a small tail cone. Arrr! This mod provides a nice effect, but should be considered with caution, as it places the motor 3/8" aft o' t' design location, me bucko, me bucko, ya bilge rat, shiftin' t' CG in t' wrong direction. Begad! Before movin' on, matey, I hardened the tail cone with CA and sanded t' body tube thoroughly t' minimize t' spirallin' groves in t' body tube.

Fin installation comes next, and t' paper tube markin' guide provides accurate positioning. Arrr! Well, blow me down! Some might find it hard t' use, ya bilge rat, but I had t' marks on in less than 30 seconds. Begad! Now it be time t' deal with t' fins, and here I ran into a squawk about t' kit. Ya scallywag! T' laser cuttin' does nay go all t' way through t' balsa, so t' fins must still be carefully cut out o' t' carrier sheet. Arrr! While this is ok, arrr, I've come t' expect laser cuttin' t' allow me t' punch t' parts right out. Well, blow me down! Other than this minor issue, t' fin stock be just t' right density, and t' laser cuttin' was clean, me hearties, featuring minimal burn marking. I planed and sanded t' fins t' a streamlined shape, hardened t' tips with CA, arrr, and had t' fins all installed very quickly. Ya scallywag! I should add that t' sharp tips are vulnerable in a hard landing, and I chose t' round them slightly. Avast! It's me opinion that sharp tips like these should never be considered if balsa construction is t' be used. Arrr! I supposed a few bits o' carbon tow would allow me t' retain t' sharp tips, but that wasn't on me agenda. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! We should also note that t' fin pattern on t' instructions is about 10% smaller than t' supplied fins. Avast! Arrr! I'll take t' larger size, me bucko, matey, thank you. Ahoy! I attached t' fins with CA and used the same for filleting. Aye aye! With those long, sweepin' fins, a hard landin' could break t' fins loose unless they are firmly mounted. Blimey! Arrr! These shouldn't ever come loose with that CA on them.

T' instructions tell you t' mount t' launch lug just ahead o' t' fins exactly betwixt two o' them. Avast! Avast! A fine practice, but mountin' it against one o' t' fins eases alignment and reduces drag. Avast, me proud beauty! A further refinement modification was t' slice t' ends o' t' lug at an angle t' further streamline t' lug.

Estes is still usin' rubber shock cords, arrr, ya bilge rat, which I would prefer they stopped, me bucko, but that's another story. Well, blow me down! I went ahead and used t' supplied cord since I have had pretty good success with them in spite o' me dislikes. T' cord was respectably long, ya bilge rat, but a 50% length increase would be a very wise move. T' paper shock cord mount is another beef of mine, but they can be made t' be reliable if glued in place very firmly, me bucko, which I made sure t' do.

It be interestin' t' see that Estes is now supplyin' completely finished parachute kits. Avast, me proud beauty! You need only organize the shroud lines and loop them into place on t' nosecone. Avast! Ahoy! T' yellow and black checkerin' on t' chute looks cool and might seem like a high-vis scheme, me bucko, but I'd prefer a solid color, preferably red, as it is visible from a much longer distance than checkering. Still, ya bilge rat, it's a respectable chute, me bucko, and t' material looks stronger than what I've seen in the past with Estes kits.

Total assembly time was about an hour and a half, and without me mods and extensive sanding, me bucko, it could have been cut to 45 minutes.

Summary:

Great kit, matey, good instructions, laser cuttin' is a nice finish.

Laser cuttin' needs improvement, matey, and t' shock cord and attachment could be re-done for better durability and functionality.

Finishing:
T' nose cone has most o' t' flashin' and mould seams removed, ya bilge rat, but I went ahead and sanded it as smooth as possible. T' plastic sands easily t' a good finish.

I gave t' entire rocket a good coat o' Krylon clear t' fill in t' tiny hints o' sandin' marks on t' nose and fill t' wood grain and other undesirable features. Arrr! Arrr! Blimey! T' result be pleasing.

After procrastinatin' a bit, me bucko, I decided nay t' fly t' model until it was completely finished. Out came t' paint. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! I gave it several coats o' Krylon satin white, matey, arrr, which produced a decent finish, but failed t' fill in t' wood grain (will I ever learn t' use sandin' sealer?). Avast! Still, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, t' result wasn't bad, though t' tube spirals remained somewhat visible. I painted t' nosecone in red gloss, and nay havin' blue paint on hand, colored one o' t' fins blue by adherin' blue tissue paper t' it with spray adhesive and sealin' t' edges with CA. Ya scallywag! Yup, a trick from model airplanes. Begad! Minimal weight gain, me hearties, too!

With t' paint dry, I moved on t' decals. Estes apparently supplies self adhesive decals with everythin' now. Begad! I'm not a huge fan, arrr, but bein' terrible with water slides, it's for t' best where I'm concerned. Other than t' fin decals bein' a little oversized, thar were no issues, arrr, ya bilge rat, and t' decals went on fine. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! Don't forget though, ya bilge rat, that with self adhesive, shiver me timbers, thar's no second try!

After everythin' be finished, arrr, matey, I gave t' whole model a final coat o' Krylon gloss, and oh how it shines! So in conclusion, ya bilge rat, me only qualm is with t' oversized fin decals. Begad! Can't fault Estes for t' wood grain thing, me bucko, me bucko, as that was my fault (the instructions say t' use sandin' sealer).

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Estes recommends a long list o' motors for this rocket. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! Basically it'll take nearly any 18mm motor you feed it. Ya scallywag! The instructions say t' use an A8-3 for t' familiarization flight, but I didn't want t' use up all o' mine, so started with a B4-4. Begad! Arrr! T' launch was straight as an arrow, no weathercockin' despite significant winds. Begad! It probably went 800' up, ejectin' just a tad past apogee.

My second flight was on a calmer day, so I used a C6-5. Launch be again dead straight, with ejection right at apogee. I inclined t' rod about 10 degrees t' better center t' rocket on t' field (a good choice as I later saw), so it would have ejected prior t' apogee had I gone for a straight launch. Avast, me proud beauty! This model really gets up thar on a C engine, easily makin' t' predicted 1000+'. Begad! A very impressive show!

Recovery:
Recovery be flawless both times. Arrr! Blimey! T' little 10" chute is a little marginal on visibility, but let's face it, t' only way t' improve and still get a safe scuttle rate would be t' make it day-glow red. Begad! T' decent rate is just right, me hearties, though it would need a streamer for small fields. From a C engine, me bucko, it takes roughly 2 minutes to come back down.

In detail, on t' first flight, with ejection just past apogee, shiver me timbers, t' model drifted back overhead and was carried to the edge o' t' field. Arrr! Begad! No damage from recovery, and t' decent was stable, with just t' usual rockin' about. Avast! No dents from t' somewhat short shock cord, matey, either, me hearties, and it did remain in good condition. Arrr! With 5 sheets o' recovery wadding, there was zero scorchin' o' t' chute.

T' second flight be also very good, and I was able t' catch t' model as it descended down. Ahoy! Ahoy! Blimey! Centerin' the trajectory on t' field was a good idea, as it came down just short o' some trees. Begad! Descent was very stable, me bucko, with almost no rockin' about by t' end o' t' descent. Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! I would say t' chute is just right for this model in standard use, and seems very durable. Begad! Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' rubber shock cord is just fine, too, so long as you keep it out o' UV radiation.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' Alpha built great other than me minor squawk about t' fins and shock cord and finished out lookin' just fine. Weight is respectable, me hearties, resultin' in a very high performance rocket that is still large enough for easy flight preparation and motor installation/removal.

T' flights are great and stable, insensitive t' wind. Avast! Recovery system works great, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, and it will take virtually any engine you can fit inside it. Ahoy! Ahoy! There is sufficient room for a 24" chute if you're willin' t' let things get a little tight, matey, arrr, so it's usable for competition, me bucko, too.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5