Brief:
Single 18mm engined F-15 Eagle jet fighter design, with a 12 inch parachute

Construction:
This kit contained t' following:

• 1 - BT50 white body tube 10.75 inches (mine was crunched, arrr, so I replaced it)
• 1 - BJ-20 Engine tube, w/hook, arrr, block and centerin' rings.
• 1 - PNC-50E Plastic Nosecone w/cockpit bubble
• 2 - 1/8" by 9" wooden dowels
• 1 - Plastic parts set (nose and tail for missiles)
• 1 - Rubber shock cord
• 1 - Launch lug
• 1 - Assembled 12 inch chute
• 1 - Waterslide decal sheet
• 4 - shees o' laser cut balsa wings, jet engine pods, and tail fins.
• 4 - pats o' clay weight

I went into me local hobby shop (Fine Scale Hobbies in Stratford, CT. Well, blow me down! Begad! Really nice guys!) for some sandin' sealer, and this kit caught me eye, me hearties, so I bought it)

Directions were up t' t' usual Estes standard. Ahoy! O' course, shiver me timbers, me hearties, this means when attachin' plastic t' wood or paper, they say t' use model glue. I always use 3 min. epoxy.

I changed t' shock cord mount, arrr, me bucko, goin' with a Keelhaul®©™® cord t' t' MMT setup instead o' t' paper t' t' BT wall mount they use.

T' win' assemblies were very simple t' assemble. Arrr! Avast! Just glue t' three wing pieces together, and set aside. Ahoy! After they dry, me bucko, sand a 45 degree angle on the root edge, and you're done.

T' jet engine pods are t' challenge. Avast, me proud beauty! At t' bottom end, as shown in t' picture, me bucko, you actually have t' bend t' bottom balsa piece up t' meet t' edge o' t' pod. Estes says t' white glue it and tape it in place overnight. Arrr! Avast! Well, that obviously won't hold. Arrr! so I used some Zap-A-Gap CA glue t' hold it in place, then filled with wood glue. Arrr! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! A challenge, but still do-able.

T' missiles were simple t' assemble. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Just attach t' nose and tail fins, and paint.

Finishing:
T' winds definately need fillin' in with wood filler, arrr, with all t' holes and joints in them. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Once that be done, paintin' was easy. Avast! Blimey! I went with one color gray and t' orange stripe, rather than t' three color gray.

T' decals were horrible. Aye aye! Yes, arrr, they are waterslide, me hearties, ya bilge rat, but t' are VERY fragile. Begad! And t' colors make it look almost neon. Begad! Very tacky. Arrr! Ya scallywag! I suggest no one else use this color/decal set and instead do a little research and get decals for an F-15 from their local hobby shop.

Estes did do 1 good thin' though. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! They said paint t' missiles separately, me bucko, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, then attach them when t' main model is finished.

T' construction is worth 4 1/2 points, but -1 point for t' horrendous color/decal set.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
First flight was a B6-4. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! This delay is too long for a B motor. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! T' rocket did one roll, matey, and then flew upright, me hearties, until it curled over at apogee, t' came down very quickly, arrr, until t' ejection charge went off at about 50 feet. Well, blow me down! Recovered with no damage. Begad! Altitude was about 350 or so feet. Ya scallywag! Ahoy!

Second flight was with a B6-2. Aye aye! Blimey! This is a much better delay. Begad! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Ejection charge went off just after apogee. Avast! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! No damage. Well, blow me down! Blimey!

Third flight was C6-3. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Great flight, me bucko, with ejection charge goin' off about 250-300 feet off o' t' ground. Arrr! No damage. Aye aye! Altitude be around 500 feet.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a GOOD kit and fun t' build. Aye aye! But Estes needs t' learn what colors actually work together. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! use different paint and decals, and it becomes a GREAT kit.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5

Other:
Use CA or expoxy when cementin' t' bottom o' t' engine pods t' t' sides.