Brief
This be t' second Custom Kit I have built and this is one long rocket. Avast! Blimey! T' size really intrigued me when I saw it on t' rack at a local hobby shop. Ya scallywag! T' statistics on t' Equinox are Length: 78"; Diameter: 1.637"; Wt.: 5.8oz. Skill Level 2.

Construction
T' Quality be very good. Aye aye! Begad! It came packaged in a plastic bag. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! All t' parts were thar and in good shape. Avast! It has four body tubes, arrr, three couplers, four Die-cut balsa fins, two 18 inch mylar 'chutes, arrr, plastic nose cone, matey, arrr, all t' typical motor mount items and one large decal. Arrr! T' instructions left very little t' chance with lots o' illustrations in a very logical order. Arrr! Well, blow me down! T' only template is for t' fin-markin' guide and is standard issue. CONSTRUCTION: (Ratin' 4.5)

If thar be a gotcha, shiver me timbers, it be t' length. Well, blow me down! Were I t' build this kit again I would have it separate in t' middle instead o' at t' nose. Arrr! More for easy o' transport. Avast! Avast! (I have t' thank me wife for insistin' on gettin' a mini-van.) Also I would replace t' motor hook with a thicker one. T' instructions call for assemblin' t' lower tube separate from t' rest. This is a great help when attachin' t' fins. Aye aye! (See t' Flight). I used 15-minute epoxy throughout. Well, blow me down! Begad! A nice touch on t' fins was a mark on t' root edge. Aye aye! Arrr! T' fins could be turned t' wrong way if you don't look at t' grain carefully or don't know about this.

T' shock cord typical elastic and tri-fold paper mount. Well, blow me down! T' shock cord is o' a good length, but I doubled it out o' habit. Blimey! (I use it for me Estes Prowler). Ya scallywag! I also for t' first time tried two Centuri Baffles in this kit. Arrr! I built one usin' t' coupler near t' motor mount and one betwixt t' top two sections I put cardboard with holes punched in it in t' top & bottom and glued them t' t' coupler.

T' recovery is by two 18 inch 'chutes that are silver mylar with tape dots for shroud line retention. Aye aye! I have modified this, me bucko, as I have since 1969, ya bilge rat, when I was introduced t' t' hobby. Arrr! Blimey! An old timer who's name I can't recall showed me t' put t' tape dot on, put t' hole reinforcement rin' on t' back, and usin' an Xacto drill a 1/8 inch hole in t' middle. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Blimey! T' finished rocket over all is impressive in size. Ahoy! EASE OF BUILD: (Ratin' 5)

Finishing
There are no special requirements or techniques for finishing. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! I followed t' paint scheme on t' supplied card. Begad! T' one decal is o' t' peel and stick. Ya scallywag! Usin' t' soapy water technique it went on easily. Aye aye! T' one thin' is I needed t' do is t' cut it around t' launch lug. Blimey! T' finished kit got many "Who makes that kit, arrr, and where did you find it?" and "It looks classier than t' Mean Machine!" at t' first launch I brought it to. Begad! FINISHING: (Ratin' 5)

Construction Rating: 4 ½ out o' 5

Flight/Recovery
T' recommended motors for this are D12-5 & E15-7. Ya scallywag! I have flown this four times on t' D12-5. T' one gripe I have with Custom be t' motor hooks. Blimey! Begad! They are thinner than t' Estes counterparts and I have only recovered t' Equinox with t' motor one time. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! With t' baffles preparation is: put t' 'chutes in and away t' t' RSO.

T' first flight was on a cold gray day in December. I was impressed by t' slow lift-off climbin' straight up with no wobble or wind cocking. Begad! Well, blow me down! T' delay be just right both 'chute blossomed and it softly landed about 500 feet from t' pads after reachin' an estimated altitude o' 600 feet. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! (wRASP) Upon recovery I found t' motor had kicked out. Begad! On t' second flight t' same result and durin' recovery only one 'chute fully opened. Well, blow me down! I guess it sat on t' pad too long for t' 33-degree temperature. Begad! No damage upon landing, t' motor kicked out again, arrr, only this time t' motor hook be slightly burnt.

T' next flights came in February. It is a typical winter in Denver, Colorado, about 55 and a slight breeze. Avast! T' flights were great, me bucko, with t' slow rise and gentle turn at apogee. Avast! T' 'chutes opened and they brought t' rocket down gently. Well, blow me down! On t' first flight I taped t' motor in, but it kicked. Avast! On t' second flight I also wire tied t' motor with t' tape and it held. Blimey! Arrr! I like t' way t' multiple 'chutes look, but for ease o' preparation, a single 18 inch or 24 inch would work. Blimey! I can't wait t' send this up on an E15-7, me bucko, me bucko, with an estimated altitude o' 1775 feet. Ya scallywag! Begad! (wRASP).

Flight Rating: 4 ½ out o' 5

Summary
Everythin' considered if it were nay for t' motor kickin' t' ratin' would be a 5. Aye aye! I just love t' way this kit looks and flies. Begad! T' kit retails for $ 19.95 and I believe it is work every penny. T' biggest obstacle with t' kit as far as its durability is gettin' out t' door and t' t' launch sites. Begad! I really like t' Custom kits as they have t' flavor o' t' kits available in t' early '70s.

Overall Rating: 4 ½ out o' 5