This rocket performed like a champ for me. I added a home-built engine lock from a piece of music wire, which worked fine for me (I really hate engines held in with tape). It did finally cato (looks like a full-immediate burn on the engine), which ate it, but I bought another one and will soon be flying again!

I really like these Edmonds kits. I built the Ecee on the morning of a launch and took it there with the glue still wet. We left it in the car to "heat-cure" and flew it at the end of the day. The 1/2A load provided a moderate boost, and the glider rounded over and appeared to be trying to glide. At that moment the taped-in motor ejected itself from the glider with a very loud "POP" and the glider shot forward and up like a scalded cat. It then settled into a flat glide that drew applause from the crowd. Obviously, I had no chance to glide-test it, and there was no clay provided in our kit, but the Ecee flew very well even without the spent engine in place. It seems that a stronger engine restraint system is in order, but even if the engine comes out, it glides well.

As the review said it is a very easy and quick build and parts are cut smooth and accurate and fit together well. I tried doing some hand tossed glide tests in a grassy area and after a few test glides I succeeded in breaking the boom as shown in the picture. I glued it back together with white glue. On it's maiden flight I think I used a C motor. (It's been awhile)It boosted straight and high and then while very high and still ascending the boom broke again in the same place. It all tumbled back down slowly in two pieces with the wing and boom section occasionally gliding a bit. I guess I should have patched it back together with CA or epoxy instead of white glue. I am not sure if the flight stress broke it or I think it might have broke from the torque from the ejection charge as it vented out the vent hole. I have not put it back together again because I am still debating on reinforcing the boom at the break with a couple of small pieces of balsa or paper or just use CA or epoxy. I am afraid if I splint it, it might make the nose to heavy for a good glide. A friend of mine gave me this kit and also got one for himself. His flew great and sustained no damage. It glided so straight though that we thought it was going to fly out of the field but it came down before reaching the trees. He tried sanding a slight bevel on one side of the vertical fins to induce a turn but on the next flight it still glided very straight. The way the boom is notched for the canard makes for a stress point at the trailing edge of the canard. I think it might would not be as easily broken if the boom was not notched for the canard and just glue the canard straight to the bottom of the boom. Of course this change would have to be done by the manufacturer as the boom comes already notched.

This is my favourite Edmonds kit. A refreshingly different build to your normal 3FNC rockets, but still straightforward. Be careful how you affix the canard, it must not touch the fuselage when deployed - if it does, there is a likelihood of catastrophic failure when the ejection charge forces it into place at high speed and the movable canard slaps into the rigid body. I made the mistake of placing the trimming clay at the rear of the glider. This meant that the masking tape used to retain the motor slipped off at ejection and the glider spat the engine. Despite being trimmed with a spent engine, the Ecee kept gliding for what seemed like hours. I will have to get the Thunder version as well.