Estes Gemini DC

Estes - Gemini DC {Kit} (2136) [1997-2005]

Contributed by Alex Rothchild

Construction Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Flight Rating: starstar_borderstar_borderstar_borderstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Diameter: 0.98 inches
Manufacturer: Estes
Skill Level: 2
Style: Sport
Estes Gemini DC

Brief:
T' Estes Gemini DC is dual parachute, lawn dart ready single stage rocket with two side pods housin' t' chutes. Arrr! Ahoy! It uses a 1/8 inch launch lug and has a single 18mm motor mount. Avast! T' Gemini DC has four swept back balsa fins. Aye aye!

Construction:
T' components used in this rocket are top quality. Aye aye! Begad! T' parts list is:

  • 1 BT-50 main body tube, slotted with vent holes
  • 1 two-piece NC-50 nose cone
  • 2 BT-20 side pods with vent holes
  • 2 NC-20 nose cones
  • 2 50-20 centerin' rings
  • 1 18mm motor mount tube
  • 1 mylar ring
  • 1 engine hook
  • 1 1/8 inch launch lug
  • 1 1/4 inch vent tube
  • 2 rubber shock cords
  • 2 12 inch parachutes
  • 4 balsa fins

T' instructions were very easy t' follow and all t' parts fit together easily. Ya scallywag! T' main body tube had four slots with two holes perpendicular t' each other in betwixt two o' t' fin slots. Well, blow me down! T' first step be t' make t' standard Estes motor mount, me bucko, which is slittin' t' motor mount tube, puttin' on t' hook, slidin' on t' mylar ring, and then attachin' t' centerin' rings. Aye aye! Avast! This assembly slides into t' back o' t' rocket so t' end o' t' motor tube is even with t' aft end o' t' body tube. Avast! Next, all four fins were glued in and fillets were added. Well, blow me down! Then, a template was used t' find launch lug position and to make t' lines t' glue on t' side pods. Well, blow me down! T' only fit problem be with the vent tubes. Begad! This required t' cuttin' o' an Estes 1/4 inch launch lug for ventin' t' gasses o' t' motor's ejection charge t' t' side pods. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! T' vent tube is a little too wide t' fit through t' hole, matey, so they required some sanding. Once I thought t' glue dried, I put some glue on t' side and slid the vent into t' hole in t' side pod. Ya scallywag! T' glue wasn't dry, shiver me timbers, so t' vent was pushed slightly into t' main body. This happened on both sides. Well, me bucko, blow me down! Then, ya bilge rat, arrr, arrr, I glued in all o' t' nose cones and attached t' shock cords t' t' inside o' t' side pods. T' parachutes were then tied t' t' end o' t' shock cords. Ya scallywag!

Finishing:
I didn't use any special finishin' techniques, me hearties, matey, just prime and paint. Ahoy! Aye aye! I painted mine blue and sprayed orange over it so t' blue is visible through t' orange.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
I have nay had one successful flight with this rocket. Blimey! I have flown it on twice on B4-4s and once on a C6-5. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! All three flights went straight and fast with a sudden jump off t' pad.

Recovery:
T' boost and coast phases were great, arrr, but t' recovery is horrible. Begad! Avast! Sometimes the ejection gasses bypassed both chutes and sometimes only one chute comes out but doesn't open because it was wrapped up so tightly t' fit inside t' tube. Both situations caused t' rocket t' lawn dart. Arrr! My favorite flight be when the ejection charge blew t' main nose cone off and what a surprise! It lawn darted and core sampled. Blimey! Avast!

Flight Rating: 1 out o' 5

Summary:
This is nay a good rocket. Begad! T' parts are good quality but make sure t' chutes are nice and loose and that t' nose cones are glued in securely. Blimey! There is a very small chance o' a successful recovery. Avast!

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • Estes Gemini DC By George Pluck (July 8, 2013)

    The Estes Gemini DC features twin 'chute deployment from the rear of two attached side pods.  Though much maligned, it's a very cool kit Components Three tubes, one main and two for the side pods Balsa fins mount through the main tube Plastic nose cones My kit came with an extra engine clip as well as the usual Estes components. ...

  • Estes Gemini DC By Tai Fu

    Dual rear deployment parachute. The construction is good, because it has TTW fins, which means it is stronger than the other ones, also you don't have to worry about the fin alignment because the slot has done that for you. You just need to make sure that air can flow freely to the 2 parachute pods otherwise this rocket will lawn dart!!! You can always forget about the parachute pod and ...

  • Estes Gemini DC By Mike Goss

    I had often looked at this kit and wondered how those twin parachutes would work. I found out one day when a friend launched his and had only one chute deployed. The recovery was a little hard on the rocket and broke one of the pods off the side of the rocket. Reading the other reviews, I have learned that this is the rule and not the exception for this rocket. I determined that my rocket would ...

Flights

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