I received this kit from Hobbylinc a couple of weeks ago. Since I have experience with the smaller Lightning version, I decided to make some modifications to this one.  

The kit is fairly easy to build and the instructions are excellent.   I did make the following changes. I made a motor mount tube from an ESTES BT20 tube. The original is too thin and cheap. The original is too thin and cheap. The outside diameter of the BT20 is a bit small, so I added a few pieces of scrap tubing between the plastic motor mount cap and the tube (make sure to sand down the tube, the scap pieces and the plastic cap).  

The other change was that I added an ESTES engine hook. I filed the wall on the plastic cap that fits on the motor tube and the hook passes through.  

Finally, I cut a 12" inch 8 string chute from a thick garbage bag and discarded the original. Vents and a spill hole were cut on the chute.  

Let's launch this kit! After an unproductive day at the JOB, I went to one of my favorite spots with a 500' x 400' section. Wind was gusting to 10 mph. The rocket is unpainted and in the original white.  

Flight #1 B4-4 - Excellent lift-off and straight as an arrow. Delay was good and recovery was good. No spiraling no weird apogee no nothing, I think I'll go for a B6-4.  

Flight #2 You guessed it B6-4 - Excellent and much faster take off. Nice and straight, kind of like the Big Dawg, and hardly any weather-cocking (no, this is not the Oval Room!) 

Flight #3 Ok Ok, this is fun, let's try the C6-3. This time, I have to angle the rod a few degrees against the wind. Make sure there aren't any mutts running loose and the spectators have no interest or meatloaf for brains. The take off was good, but the rocket did seem to want to go straight up. A little high, man I am thinking I should have used that 10" chute! This time, the rocket goes really high and I lost sight of it. I see the Estes white trace (or whatever it is called) and the black chute. Goes into the next soccer field and nice recovery. Some old folks that were romantically embraced under a tree near where the rocket fell gave me the "young man, you . . . . . " look on their faces. Maybe they needed their Geritol or some Bengay, so I just smiled nicely and apologized for the intrusion.

Flight #4 and 5. This time I use the C6-5. This time I use the C6-5. The rocket went up great and came down great, BUT, is it me or do the C6-5's seem a little on the wimpy side lately? I went for 2 flights because they did not act like the C6-3 with the exception of 2 extra seconds to the delay. The delay was not off, I just seem to notice that the engine "puttered" in mid air and did not put the rocket as high. Could be just a bad batch. The batch I used on my Big Dawg report were great! 

Flight #6 did not happen. I did not bring with me a C5-3 and my family wants me home for dinner. Hey, those folks under the tree are talking to the nice police person. I think they just needed a splash of cold water or something. Bye nice police person, she waves back.  

It is time to pack up and go home to my other rockets and find out if the Hobbylinc loot arrived (did I put in an order :-). I think I'll paint the QUEST Falcon and add it to my favorites list.