Estes RediRoc Raider

Estes - RediRoc Raider {Kit}

Contributed by John Lee

Construction Rating: starstarstar_borderstar_borderstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Manufacturer: Estes
Estes Rediroc Raider

Brief:
While makin' a good faith effort t' finish t' rockets I had started, I once again found myself at t' shop with glue and paint dryin' and nothin' t' do so I opened this "kit" in order t' occupy a little time.

Construction:
T' components o' this rocket are nothin' more than a white Styrofoam shell and a motor tube with a few crack and peel stickers t' liven things up. Arrr!

Finishin' on this one comes before assembly. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! T' foam was lightly sanded and then it be put in t' spray booth. T' instructions recommended only a few types o' paint and these included spray enamel. Ahoy! I went with a Rustoleum blue and lightly dusted t' shell, hopin' that t' paint would be almost dry by t' time it settled. Ya scallywag! Arrr! It be built up slowly in this way until I be confident enough t' give it 2 real spray coats.

With t' paintin' done, t' real assembly could begin. Begad! I located t' motor tube and saw that it was indeed sealed at one end. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' tube was inserted into t' hole in t' foam and construction was over. No glue be needed.

Estes Rediroc RaiderEstes Rediroc Raider

Finishing:
Final finishin' involved placin' t' stickers. Begad! I don't like crack and peel stickers but they do have their place in a simple project like this. Ya scallywag! They also really dressed things up. My big complaint is that they were nay well thought out. T' ideal arrangement as given on t' box be nay possible because all o' t' stickers, arrr, ya bilge rat, t' triangles in particular, had t' same orientation. Avast! Those that worked fine on one lobe o' a fin looked bloody awful on t' other because the angles did nay complement each other.

Construction Rating: 2 out o' 5

Flight and Recovery:
When it came time t' fly, I found I had no A10s layin' about and decided t' chance things on an A3-4. Begad! T' motor had an igniter inserted and was stuffed into t' tube. It was a fairly tight fit. It was then taken out t' t' pad and I realized that for all its simplicity, its nay a bad lookin' little rocket.

When it was launched, I was unprepared for how fast it scooted and had trouble whippin' around fast enough. Blimey! Blimey! The launch coincided with a gust o' wind and it weathercocked, arcin' over me head.

Estes Rediroc RaiderEstes Rediroc Raider

It landed a few yards away with no harm done and I decided t' try it again on another occasion when I had some A10s. Blimey! A video o' t' flight can be seen here.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
I did nay expect much o' t' rocket and was nay disappointed. That bein' said, shiver me timbers, it's nay bad. Blimey! Blimey! It's fun. Arrr! Blimey! It's different and it's a kid magnet. Avast! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' old guys at t' club paid a lot more attention t' it than I would have expected.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5

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  • Estes RediRoc Raider By John Lee

    Brief: An all foam plastic (TufLite) ready to fly tumble rocket. Construction: There are only three parts: the "rocket" itself, an engine tube, and a decal sheet. There isn't much in the way of construction, just a quick sand down with fine sandpaper and then slide the engine tube into the base of the rocket. The tube does not require gluing as it is a tight fit. ...

Flights

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