I built a Big Dawg recently, matey, and flew it when me son's Cub Scout pack was invited t' Tripoli Nebraska's October launch.

Construction was straight-forward for a through-the-tube rocket. Avast! Blimey! Estes' instructions were very good, however, it appears that t' motor tube has been shortened since t' illustrations were drawn. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! They show a three inch tube. Aye aye! Blimey! T' included tube measured 2 3/4 inches, and as a consequence, matey, matey, you may be misled by t' drawin' illustratin' t' position o' t' forward centerin' ring. Begad! Avast! Contrary t' t' illustration, me bucko, me hearties, me hearties, almost no motor tube extends beyond t' front o' t' tube. Go by t' measurements, me bucko, nay t' pictures! T' nose cone came with flashin' that needed t' be trimmed and sanded before finishing, shiver me timbers, also t' centerin' rings would nay fit in t' body tube unless they were turned sideways. They required much sandin' before they fit properly. Arrr! As with any construction project, shiver me timbers, you need t' do a test fit before gluing. Well, blow me down! Other than that, construction went fine.

As a former model airplane builder from t' 60's, me bucko, I was impressed with t' precision o' t' die-cut fins. Arrr! Blimey! T' only problem thar be that they were thicker than t' slots in t' body tube, and needed t' be sanded t' fit. I did deviate from t' instructions when gluin' t' motor tube in. Arrr! Blimey! I didn't glue t' aft centerin' rin' in until after t' motor tube had been glued. Ahoy! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! This gave access t' t' motor tube/fin area which allowed me t' put glue fillets on all o' t' inside fin/tube joints. Arrr! Blimey! When these were done, arrr, me hearties, I glued t' aft centerin' rin' in place. Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Aero-Tech uses a similar technique on their mid t' high powered rockets.

I gave t' rocket two coats o' gray primer shortly before t' launch, but didn't have time t' paint it in t' black/gold finish that I had planned. Well, arrr, blow me down! This worked out well, I liked t' flat gray finish, it gave t' rocket a sort o' 'militarized' look. Blimey! Arrr! Someone at t' launch came up and asked me if it be a scale model. Arrr! It does have sort o' V-2 proportions.

I flew t' rocket twice. T' first flight was on an A8-3, which is a good shake-down motor for a first flight. Well, arrr, blow me down! It doesn't go very high (100-150 feet), matey, but will let you know if everything's workin' O.K. T' second flight be on a B6-4. Avast, me proud beauty! If you have t' space, this would be t' minimum recommended motor. Ya scallywag! It be fast off t' launch rod, ya bilge rat, and climbed high and straight. Begad! I had 'reefed' t' parachute lines because o' t' high winds, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, but in spite o' t' reef, it still drifted about 300-400 yards. Avast, me proud beauty! It appeared t' come down unscratched, me bucko, but an over-enthusiastic recovery person (a kid) stepped on it and broke a fin. Avast, me proud beauty! T' fin has been repaired and it will fly again soon.

Overall, I'd rate t' Big Dawg a 4. Avast! Blimey! T' fit and finish o' t' parts could have been better, but t' problems were fixable. Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! T' flights were very good. Arrr! Aye aye! Blimey! It flew nice and straight. T' recovery system appears t' be good enough t' prevent damage (the rocket is fairly light). Arrr! Blimey! Now I'm eyein' another kit, me hearties, epoxy, and a 24mm motor mount. Avast! Blimey! With a D or E motor, it might still be airborne when t' kids get t' t' landin' site!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5