Brief:
T' Superbird is a payload rocket which features separate payload & body recovery on 14" chutes. Ahoy! Blimey!

Construction:
Upon openin' t' package, all parts were present. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! T' body tubes seemed t' be of good quality, as were most parts. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! My only gripes were t' amount o' flashing still on t' plastic nose cone, and one o' t' pre-cut fins had broken in half along t' grain. It be easily repaired with a little TLC. Aye aye! Avast! Reminded me o' an early Estes kit

This kit is rather easy t' assemble. Aye aye! Avast! Nay very much in t' way o' difficulty. Since this be me first Quest kit, t' shock cord arrangement be new for me. Avast! I liked it, and think I'll try it on all me future rockets, arrr, ya bilge rat, as I've tired of shock cord burn through. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! Time t' buy some Keelhaul®©™®. Anyway, t' coupler for t' payload section t' main body section was a bit cheesy. Avast! Aye aye! It consists o' a paper disc glued t' a tube coupler. Ya scallywag! T' cord & chute for t' upper section are attached through two holes in t' disc. Avast, me proud beauty! I had to sand t' disc/coupler joint several times t' have a smooth fit. Arrr! Ahoy! It be too big t' start. Well, blow me down! A better part from Quest would work wonders here. Avast! Well, me bucko, blow me down! Otherwise, everythin' else was straightforward.

Finishing:
This was just a basic paint job. Ya scallywag! T' instructions suggest what colors t' use, but otherwise, matey, its nothin' too tough. Avast! T' body wrap decal need a bit of convincin' t' keep t' seam down. Avast, me proud beauty! I used a bit o' contact cement which worked wonders. Avast, me proud beauty!

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
T' recommended engines for this are (Estes equivalent) B6-4, C6-3, C6-5. Begad! Arrr! My first flight was on a B6-4. Conditions were almost no wind, and a sunny. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! The rocket looked great on t' pad. Avast! T' flight was straight, but altitude was a bit low. Begad! T' second flight was on a C6-3, shiver me timbers, and this is where it really performed. Nice slow lift off, and impressive height. No spin, me bucko, ya bilge rat, arrr, and it arced over nicely at apogee.

Recovery:
I must admit I had some reservations about havin' this thin' lawn dart. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! The coupler in t' kit also serves as t' shock cord anchor for t' payload stage, and it just didn't fit very well. Well, blow me down! I am happy t' report me fears were unfounded. T' bit o' sandin' I did worked well, ya bilge rat, and thar be shipshape separation on each flight. Blimey! Well, blow me down! T' bottom section came down without much drift, shiver me timbers, but t' top went on its merry way, me hearties, especially t' second time. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! I've cut a spill hole for t' next time I fly it t' reduce t' drift. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! Overall, a great looking, nice flying, interesting, shiver me timbers, and FUN kit!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Good experience with me first Quest kit. Arrr! I'd get another one if I see something I like. Aye aye! Blimey! PROS: Cool 'big' rocket with payload & neat dual section recovery. Clear instructions & nicely done shock cord system CONS: Parts quality could be a bit better, but OK as is. Blimey!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5