Not a high performance rocket, but that's the point. Slow takeoff makes for much better shows, especially for those new to the hobby. Lighter rockets even with lower impulse engines often take off so quickly if you blink you miss it. So glad this was still in production. Wish it still bad a balsa nose cone instead of plastic, otherwise great kit. Good second kit for kids.

Bought this for our Cub Pack. The kids loved watching it launch. They loved seeing different rockets launch and fly

She is a legend

Excellent flying rocket! Easily put together with minor skills needed.

The Bertha series (Big and Baby) are true timeless Estes classics, big, slow*er* liftoff (it's still relatively quick, but that's normal for launching a cardboard tube into the sky with a black powder motor), and a graceful descent back to Earth, it's a classic that belongs in everyone's rocket collection, it's also a blast to customize, a very wide open design and stable platform, works great with three to eight fins (yes, I said eight)

I kitbashed two Big Berthas into a nearly 4' tall "OctoBertha", gluing all eight fins at the back, and installing a baffle between the body tubes to act as a coupler tube, and to eliminate the need for recovery wadding, even in her stretched and over finned form (the extra fins aren't needed, they just make her look cool ;) ) she has the Slow and Low performance I like, and plus, with the extra weight and drag of the baffle, the extra fins, and the paracord shock cord, it helps drop the liftoff speed even more, bringing an even more realistic slower liftoff

In the attached pic, the rockets are, from left to right, Baby Bertha, Big Bertha, and OctoBertha, Octo needs final painting, but is otherwise airworthy

One word of warning, due to the ease of building and the vast options for customizing, the Bertha series can be addictive...