Brief:
A Estes E2X single stage 18mm rocket with a 12'' parachute, pre-colored parts, decals, short shock cord, matey, and external shock cord mount. Begad! Durin' a half-off sale, I got this kit for $2.50.

Construction:
This kit was packaged in a box, a rare thin' for Estes. Avast! Ahoy! Includes a black, pre-slotted body tube, shiver me timbers, a black nosecone, three black fins, me bucko, and black motor mount parts, shiver me timbers, a blue motor tube, ya bilge rat, decals, shock cord, and other parts. Well, blow me down! T' body tube be thicker than you would expect from estes, but t' shock cord be too short. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty!

This rocket was very easy t' build, even for a twelve year old. Instructions were excellent, well illustrated and written. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! T' three black motor mount parts act as centerin' rings and t' motor block. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! One cements t' motor mount in, makin' sure t' launch lug holes are aligned. Avast, me proud beauty! Then you cement t' fins and launch lugs in. Aye aye! Well, arrr, blow me down! T' shock cord and its mount are attached t' t' rocket, followed by t' nose cone and parachute. Begad! Avast! Everythin' fits very well and sturdy for an Estes rocket. T' shock cord was too short though, although I didn't think so that time. I added a two foot length o' nylon cord.

Finishing:
One just has t' remove t' flash from t' nose cone and apply t' orange decals. Begad! Aye aye! T' fin decals were very large and covered almost t' whole fin. Ya scallywag! I wondered why Estes didn't just use orange fins and t' name decal.(the fin decals are orange and include t' rocket's name).

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:

Installin' t' motor be somewhat difficult. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! T' motor was a tight fit and difficult t' remove before t' rocket be launched. Arrr! There was motor retention, but it wasn't needed. Arrr! This rocket requires three sheets o' wadding. Avast! I used an aluminum foil ball and two sheets o' wadding.

This rocket has gone through two flights. T' first flight be on a B6-4, ya bilge rat, my first B motor flight. Aye aye! T' motor boosted t' rocket straight, arrr, t' a moderate altitude. Blimey! T' second flight was on a C6-5. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! Because t' Banshee was launched at an angle, t' rocket didn't go as high as I expected, shiver me timbers, but still very high. Aye aye! I replaced t' parachute with a long streamer on this flight.

Recovery:
T' shock cord was too short, ya bilge rat, so I added some nylon cord. T' external plastic shock cord mount was much better than t' tri-fold. Avast! It doesn't look that bad because it is streamlined.

On t' first flight on a B6-4, I used t' parachute, me hearties, with no spill hole. Aye aye! Begad! It drifted for about 200 feet and came down very slowly. Begad! On t' second flight, the rocket used a streamer, and landed in a puddle. I went t' t' rocket very quickly, arrr, fearin' that t' motor might get stuck, but it didn't.

This rocket flies straight and true and can withstand many flights. Ahoy! Blimey! Try a D21-7. Blimey! This rocket probably won't shred, but it will burn due t' t' ejection charge against a plastic motor block. He he he...

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a great 18 mm rocket. Aye aye! It is easy t' build and flies well. Ya scallywag! Just use a longer shock cord and replace t' parachute with a streamer when usin' C6-5 and D21-7 engines. Aye aye! Also, don't insert t' motor until you are at t' launch pad so you won't change your mind. Arrr! T' motor is a pain t' remove.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5