Brief
Paper shroud construction and dual chute recovery.

Construction
This be t' first Quest kit I have built and was pleased with almost all aspects. Well, blow me down! Begad! T' kit came in t' common bag; no parts were missin' or broken. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! This kit is a finless, matey, Skill Level 3 features paper shroud construction and dual 12-inch parachute recovery. Avast! More on t' 'chutes later.

T' instructions were easy t' follow and assembly, ya bilge rat, usin' white glue throughout, matey, went very smoothly, arrr, and t' build was surprisingly quick. Ya scallywag! T' framework out o' stiff cardboard went together well and t' dry fittin' showed a well-manufactured kit. Ahoy! T' first thin' be t' paper shroud comes rolled up. Aye aye! Begad! This needs t' be flattened out. Well, blow me down! I accomplished this with a couple o' phone books and about 1/2-hour time. This left just enough curl t' help in t' assembly latter.

T' only difficult part was t' markin' o' t' tube. Avast, me proud beauty! T' black tube did nay show t' lines very well, shiver me timbers, me bucko, arrr, nay a problem, a sharp crayon works wonders.

I really liked t' shock cord attachment with t' Keelhaul®©™cord tied t' t' motor mount. Avast! I test fitted this and made sure that t' Keelhaul®©™was even with t' end o' t' body tube. Begad! Ya scallywag! Then I tied t' elastic as shown. Blimey! Avast! I hoped that this would keep t' tube from zippering.

I added t' clay for t' nose weight as shown, shiver me timbers, arrr, arrr, with very little effort. Avast, me proud beauty! After addin' t' weight I decided against usin' only one 'chute and built t' recovery system as directed.

Take t' time t' carefully cut t' shroud out, arrr, this makes t' fittin' o' t' assembly with t' double stick tape conceals t' seam easier. Arrr! T' instructions come t' a point o' addin' t' maneuverin' flaps and nozzles for display only. Blimey! Arrr! I deviated here. Ya scallywag! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! After I had it finished, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, it looked t' me as if somethin' was missing. I added t' nozzles. Avast! Ahoy! Rappin' t' cutouts around a pencil I acquired t' correct shape. Blimey! After gluin' t' nozzles in place I could see that they were out o' line o' t' exhaust o' t' motor.

Finishing
There is no finishin' t' be done as t' shroud is preprint, shiver me timbers, arrr, but t' decals leave somethin' t' be desired. Avast! They are self-adhesive and on an opaque (white) backing. Begad! T' picture card with t' kit shows t' letterin' directly on t' gray body. T' nose cone letterin' be on a black background and with careful trimmin' came out lookin' good. Arrr! T' US flags I was able t' trim close enough t' make them work. Ahoy! As for t' USA, matey, matey, well… I had decals left over from a kit bash o' a 2 stage Estes Nike-Arrow so I made t' USA from that.

Construction Rating: 4 ½ out o' 5

Flight
T' first flight was on February 7, ya bilge rat, matey, shiver me timbers, 1999 at a C.R.A.S.H. Avast, me proud beauty! launch in Denver. T' only recommended motor is a C6-3. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! T' prep is standard, waddin' and recovery system. Aye aye! Avast! As I loaded t' Space Clipper on t' pad I got more questions than ever. Arrr! T' flight be better than I imagined. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! T' DC-Y lifted off with a slow assent, shiver me timbers, me hearties, and rose close t' t' estimated height o' 200 ft. Well, blow me down! T' delay be just about right. T' second flight be straight and true. Ahoy! T' next chance I had t' fly be at a C.R.A.S.H. launch in Denver on March 7, 1999 and again t' flight was great.

Recovery
Recovery was another story. Arrr! On t' first flight t' nose cone came down on it 'chute openin' cleanly, arrr, matey, t' body on t' other hand returned on wad recovery. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' Clipper was nay damaged, me bucko, but I had t' try again. Begad! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' Keelhaul®©™® was blackened, me hearties, but no damage be observed. Blimey! Arrr! Figurin' that t' stiff Quest 'chute was t' culprit, shiver me timbers, I pulled an Estes 12 inch 'chute out me range box. Avast! Well, me bucko, blow me down! T' second flight was a duplicate o' t' first. Blimey! T' body is just too light t' fully deploy t' 'chute. Begad! T' third flight I replaced t' "chute with a 3 ft Mylar streamer. Blimey! I think I have t' streamer just t' right length. It brought t' body down more gently and it landed near t' pads without a thud.

Flight I give a 5. Recovery built as instructed 1, however, with t' recovery modification a 3.

Flight Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5

Summary
Overall this is a great kit. Aye aye! I really enjoy watchin' it fly and has become one o' me favorites. For t' price, I paid $12.95 at a local hobby shop; it is a good value. I like that it is different. Replacin' t' body 'chute with a streamer makes me feel better about havin' t' DC-Y Space Clipper for a long time t' come.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5