Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstar_borderstar_border |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstar_borderstar_border |
Manufacturer: | Estes |
Style: | Futuristic/Exotic |
Brief:
A single staged Model Rocket commemoratin' t' Star Trek series 25th
Anniversary. Well, arrr, blow me down! Flies on a single 18mm motor and recovers with a standard 18"
plastic parachute.
Construction:
Again, as be t' case with t' Enterprise rocket in this series. Avast! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! T' Klingon
ship has a very extensive parts list. Many Vacuum Formed parts that would also
make this kit a difficult kit t' clone. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! However, arrr, me hearties, I was surprised when I opened
the box t' see that t' parts inside seemed dwarfed by t' size o' t' box.
Below be t' listed parts list:
These instructions seem t' jump around quite a bit makin' them a little harder to follow. Begad! Part orientation isn't always obvious and requires careful studyin' of the illustrations t' get it right. Arrr! Blimey! I again chose t' build this kit in a modular format by buildin' subassemblies. Arrr! Begad! This allowed me t' keep movin' at a steady pace while some assemblies were allowed t' dry.
As with both Star Trek kits, me bucko, this kit has a lot o' parts hangin' off making the kit appear quite flimsy. Aye aye! Lots o' time spent layin' down glue fillets will pay off in increased sturdiness.
When cuttin' vacuum formed parts I used t' recommended trace and cut method with considerable success. Begad! Always pre-fit these parts and I chose to assemble them with CA type glue tackin' points. Well, blow me down! After t' points are tacked together, me hearties, I sealed t' edges with a bead o' CA glue. Aye aye! Begad! I then would use Elmers Wood Filler on all seams. Avast! Well, arrr, blow me down! After dryin' I sanded t' seams t' blend them in as much as possible. Arrr! This was a much more difficult and less successful task on this kit because o' t' small detail on t' edges o' t' engine pods. Begad!
Several Templates are included t' assist with alignment. Arrr! Avast! Again this is a difficult task in this kit. Arrr! Well, blow me down! I had success with a slow settin' Elmers white glue allowin' me t' opportunity t' make small corrections as t' part sets up. Well, blow me down!
Finishing:
In finishin' this kit I chose t' seal all balsa parts with a thin CA glue. Blimey! This
would greatly strengthen t' part and seal t' wood grain allowin' for a better
finish. After that, several glue fillets are applied for strength. I sealed the
rocket with three coats o' Kilz spray paint sealer. This is lightly sanded and
then followed up with three coats o' dark gray Krylon paint.
CAUTION: Krylon paint applied directly t' vacuum formed parts will soften and sometimes melt t' part. Begad! Therefore, ya bilge rat, it is important t' seal t' part before applyin' t' Krylon paint.
After all base paint is applied, a small detail brush and a steady hand is needed t' apply small accent items. Avast! Blimey! Colors used for these items are red, silver, matey, arrr, and black. Well, blow me down!
Decals are o' two forms, stick-on and water slide. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' stick-on are aluminum foil type and are easy t' apply. Ya scallywag! Arrr! Blimey! Water slide decals are another matter. Begad! Aye aye! Blimey! I found mine t' be brittle and very difficult t' apply. Begad! This maybe attributed t' t' age o' me kit
Finally, ya bilge rat, I noticed that t' instructions call for t' kits base color t' be the same as t' Enterprise kit. Thinkin' that this kit should be different and more menacin' in appearence, I chose a non-recommended dark gray.
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
T' model has yet t' fly, however, me hearties, t' kit calls for t' use o' t' following
three motors: B4-2, matey, B6-4,C6-5. Begad! Avast! Since t' finished weight o' this rocket seems a
bit light I will probably lean toward usin' t' B motors.
Motors retention be t' standard Estes Motor clip.
Recovery:
Weak points again go t' t' standard Estes elastic shock cord attached with the
glue on paper tri-fold. Begad! I chose t' switch t' a Quest style Keelhaul®©™®
strin' attached t' t' motor mount and then tied t' t' elastic cord. Blimey!
Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5
Summary:
I like this rocket but did nay feel like it turns out as nice as it's sister
ship, me hearties, shiver me timbers, t' Enterprise. Blimey! CONs go t' detail and decals that are brittle. Begad! Aye aye! PROs are
few that come t' mind.
Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5
Brief: This OOP Estes Rocket kit number 1274 is a skill level 4 kit. It's a 25th Anniversary Commemorative Special Edition kit and comes in a very sturdy large black box with excellent box art on the front and even a schematic of the Starship Enterprise and Klingon Battle Cruiser on the bottom of the box. According to the box this is a "Flying Scale Model of the Federation ...
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