Estes Birdie

Estes - Birdie {Kit} (44) [1969-1971]

Contributed by Matt Gillard

Manufacturer: Estes
(Contributed - by Matt Gillard - 09/27/09) (Scratch) Birdie

Brief:
A simple clone o' t' birdie from years ago. Ya scallywag! It's a badminton shuttlecock with a motor mount tube.

Construction:
T' build you will need:

  • a shuttlecock
  • a small section o' BT-5
  • a 1/2 inch length o' launch lug

After readin' a thread on TRF I decided t' build a birdie. T' whole process takes about five minutes. First, arrr, I removed t' plastic shuttle from t' nosecone, me hearties, t' center part o' t' plastic is removed. Avast! Blimey! T' nosecone is then hollowed out and a small section o' BT-5 is added. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' BT sits very snuggly into t' nosecone so I did nay feel t' need t' add a centerin' ring, ya bilge rat, which I believe t' original birdie had. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' plastic shuttle is then glued back into place.

For t' launch lug, I removed a small part o' t' shuttle and then glued t' lug onto t' outside o' the nosecone. Begad! Then she's ready t' fly.

I've built three so far as I've got a six pack o' shuttlecocks. Avast! I guess I've got three more t' build.

(Scratch) Birdie(Scratch) Birdie

Finishing:
None.

Flight:
Flights were made on September 27, shiver me timbers, 2009. Begad! Ya scallywag! I loaded t' birdie up with a A10-3T with tumble recovery. Ya scallywag! Begad! Preppin' takes about 3 seconds. Ya scallywag! She flew straight off t' pad and then gracefully floated back t' earth.

She made a second flight and on recovery t' motor had melted part o' t' plastic shuttle. Arrr! This is mainly because I purchased really cheap shuttlecocks. If I had spend a few pounds more and got t' feathered versions, which would suit t' name o' t' rocket better, then t' melt probably would nay have happened.

Summary:
PROs: Really quick build, very cheap rocket, arrr, good flights.

CONs: Cheap shuttlecocks don't last.

Flights

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