Brief:
A Estes E2X single stage 18mm rocket with a 12'' parachute, pre-colored parts, decals, short shock cord, and external shock cord mount. During a half-off sale, I got this kit for $2.50.

Construction:
This kit was packaged in a box, a rare thing for Estes. Includes a black, pre-slotted body tube, a black nosecone, three black fins, and black motor mount parts, a blue motor tube, decals, shock cord, and other parts. The body tube was thicker than you would expect from estes, but the shock cord was too short.

This rocket was very easy to build, even for a twelve year old. Instructions were excellent, well illustrated and written. The three black motor mount parts act as centering rings and the motor block. One cements the motor mount in, making sure the launch lug holes are aligned. Then you cement the fins and launch lugs in. The shock cord and its mount are attached to the rocket, followed by the nose cone and parachute. Everything fits very well and sturdy for an Estes rocket. The shock cord was too short though, although I didn't think so that time. I added a two foot length of nylon cord.

Finishing:
One just has to remove the flash from the nose cone and apply the orange decals. The fin decals were very large and covered almost the whole fin. I wondered why Estes didn't just use orange fins and the name decal.(the fin decals are orange and include the rocket's name).

Construction Rating: 4 out of 5

Flight:

Installing the motor was somewhat difficult. The motor was a tight fit and difficult to remove before the rocket was launched. There was motor retention, but it wasn't needed. This rocket requires three sheets of wadding. I used an aluminum foil ball and two sheets of wadding.

This rocket has gone through two flights. The first flight was on a B6-4, my first B motor flight. The motor boosted the rocket straight, to a moderate altitude. The second flight was on a C6-5. Because the Banshee was launched at an angle, the rocket didn't go as high as I expected, but still very high. I replaced the parachute with a long streamer on this flight.

Recovery:
The shock cord was too short, so I added some nylon cord. The external plastic shock cord mount was much better than the tri-fold. It doesn't look that bad because it is streamlined.

On the first flight on a B6-4, I used the parachute, with no spill hole. It drifted for about 200 feet and came down very slowly. On the second flight, the rocket used a streamer, and landed in a puddle. I went to the rocket very quickly, fearing that the motor might get stuck, but it didn't.

This rocket flies straight and true and can withstand many flights. Try a D21-7. This rocket probably won't shred, but it will burn due to the ejection charge against a plastic motor block. He he he...

Flight Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
This is a great 18 mm rocket. It is easy to build and flies well. Just use a longer shock cord and replace the parachute with a streamer when using C6-5 and D21-7 engines. Also, don't insert the motor until you are at the launch pad so you won't change your mind. The motor is a pain to remove.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5