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. Aye aye! 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. Well, blow me down! First, arrr, I removed t' plastic shuttle from t' nosecone, arrr, t' center part o' t' plastic is removed. T' nosecone is then hollowed out and a small section o' BT-5 is added. T' BT sits very snuggly into t' nosecone so I did nay feel t' need t' add a centerin' ring, arrr, which I believe t' original birdie had. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! 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. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Then she's ready t' fly.

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

(Scratch) Birdie(Scratch) Birdie

Finishing:
None.

Flight:
Flights were made on September 27, 2009. Well, blow me down! I loaded t' birdie up with a A10-3T with tumble recovery. Aye aye! Preppin' takes about 3 seconds. Begad! Blimey! 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. Avast! Ahoy! This is mainly because I purchased really cheap shuttlecocks. Begad! 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, arrr, very cheap rocket, good flights.

CONs: Cheap shuttlecocks don't last.

Flights

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