Estes AMRAAM AIM-120

Estes - AIM-120 AMRAAM {Kit} (2153)

Contributed by Jon Revelle

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Diameter: 1.33 inches
Length: 27.50 inches
Manufacturer: Estes
Skill Level: 2
Style: Scale

Brief:
A great scale model o' t' U.S. Air Force's Advanced Medium Range Air-Air Missile (AMRAAM) AIM-120. Arrr! Ya scallywag! Nothin' very special. Well, blow me down! It has been Out O' Production for a couple o' years.

(OOP) Estes AMRAAMConstruction:
T' AMRAAM came boxed and undamaged. It included:

  • 1 Nose Cone NC55
  • 2 BT55X11 Slotted Body Tubes
  • Tube Coupler
  • 2 Clay Weights
  • Engine mount parts (18mm)
  • Recovery parts (18" Parachute)
  • 8 Precut fins on balsa sheets
  • Balsa Conduit Strip (extra decoration)
  • Launch Lugs
  • Sheet o' 34 decals

This be a BETA Series (Skill Level 1) rocket from Estes.

T' only tricky part I had was alignin' t' 2 body tubes together so I didn't have crooked fins, otherwise construction was nice and easy. Begad! I finished t' kit in about 1.5 hours.

PROs: Ease o' build, me bucko, ya bilge rat, good quality o' parts. Arrr! Very sharp looks after decals.

CONs: Alignment was tricky, so many decals,

Finishing:
PROs: Easy t' paint. Well, blow me down! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Mine came out absolutely beautiful. My best job with spray paint. Ya scallywag! Looks very good when finished

CONs: There are lots o' decals. I misplaced some o' them.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
First and only flight so far be on an Estes B6-4 on New Year's Day. I actually got this flight on video.

Preflight prep is typical Estes. Avast! Blimey! It uses around 4-6 squares o' waddin' and a basic engine hook for motor retention.

T' flight was very straight with very little weathercocking, however, me bucko, it drifted a little.

Recovery:
PROs: 18" chute brought it down in one piece. Ya scallywag! No damage.

CONs: None.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This is an excellent rocket kit. Begad! Well, blow me down! I recommend it t' just about anyone.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

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    Intro One of Estes Industries Beta Series model rocket kits that is a semi-scale version of the United States Medium range Air-to-air Missile. This missile replaced the aging Sparrow radar guided missile, and it is also used in a surface-to-air mode by some NATO nations. I had seen this kit and I wondered if it flew any better than the Sidewinder that Estes produced. When Wal-Mart ...

  • Estes AMRAAM AIM-120 By Jay Finigan

    The AMRAAM from Estes is one of the many rockets that take after various weaponry used around the world by fighter jets, and ground based anti-aircraft launchers. The popularity of these types of rockets make it one to be a sure seller in the future.    It comes in a box, not in one of those cheap bags which can easily be damaged during shipping, and contains 18 parts. It is a ...

Flights

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