Estes Nike Arrow

Estes - Nike Arrow {Kit} (835) [1997-1998]

Contributed by David Fergus

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Diameter: 0.74 inches
Manufacturer: Estes
Skill Level: 1


Rocket PicBrief
Single stage, shiver me timbers, streamer recovery, shiver me timbers, and a small payload section.

Construction
This rocket was purchased at a discount chain store for a very reasonable price. Begad! Avast! All t' parts were in t' package. Begad! T' fins are molded plastic and come as a unit, me bucko, so no gluin' or alignin' o' fins is necessary. T' instructions are adequate. Arrr! No deviations are necessary. Begad! Since plastic model cement be t' adhesive called for, shiver me timbers, construction was very fast, and accomplished in an hour or so.

Finishing
T' only finishin' required be t' decal application. Blimey! T' body parts are t' correct color t' match t' picture. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Since t' model is so light, you could probably paint t' do away with t' "out o' t' box" look, and nay suffer ill effects on performance. I didn't do that since this was me son's model, and he wanted t' build it "right now".

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight
It was flown several times on an A4-2T, matey, and it screams off t' launch pad. I estimate t' altitude about 400 feet, which is pretty high for such a small rocket. Avast! Ya scallywag! T' rocket does heel over on launch. It suffers from "engine hook in t' tail pipe" syndrome as do all Estes rockets with t' new design engine hook and t' 13mm engines. I recommend you cut off t' extra part o' t' engine hook t' restore t' hook t' t' old design. Cut off enough so that t' engine hook is out o' t' engine exhaust stream but leave enough for engine retention.

Recovery
T' shock cord is tied t' t' upper engine mount instead o' t' normal Estes paper shock cord mount. This makes t' shock cord even shorter than Estes' normally too short shock cord. Aye aye! There is nay a lot o' room, shiver me timbers, but make your own paper shock cord mount, and put a longer shock cord on t' model. Blimey! Well, blow me down! T' streamer recovery is adequate, shiver me timbers, arrr, and necessary considerin' how high this thin' goes. Avast! T' nose cone is nay attached because it is a payload configuration, so either permanently glue it or tape it shut durin' flight. Avast! We lost t' nose cone after t' 2nd flight.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary
PRO: Ease o' assembly for a novice who has a little experience with plastic model cement and Estes kits. This is a good model t' teach kids how t' follow instructions and build a kit.

CON: T' engine hook which is endemic t' all new Estes kits with 13mm mounts, and t' too short shock cord. Begad! T' nose cone is slightly too loose, and was lost on t' second launch.

Don't trust payload nose cones t' stay attached t' t' body tube no matter how snug they fit. Avast! Modify 13mm engine mount hooks t' get t' hook out o' t' exhaust stream.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flights

comment Post a Comment