Estes 36 D Squared

Estes - 36 D Squared {Kit} (2119) [2005-2009]

Contributed by John R. Brandon III

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Diameter: 2.22 inches
Length: 36.00 inches
Manufacturer: Estes
Skill Level: 2
Style: Cluster

estes_36DDBrief:
This is a big hammer-headed rocket for double D-engine power and recovers with a big parachute.

Construction:
Kit came in t' typical plastic bag. Avast, me proud beauty! Consists of:

  • Plastic nose cone
  • A plastic transition
  • BT60 payload section
  • 2 BT50 motor tubes
  • 2 AR2050 centerin' rings used as thrust rings
  • 2 different lengths o' BT70
  • One serves as a fin can
  • Other serves as a recovery system bay
  • 2 motor-retainer hooks
  • 2 sets o' cardstock centerin' rings
  • A heavy rubber band shock cord
  • 2 different sizes o' launch lugs (quarter-inch and three-sixteenths)
  • Sheet o' laser-cut balsa fins
  • 24" preassembled parachute
  • A pair o' plastic shrouds t' taper t' BT70s into t' dual BT50s
Another typical good Estes kit with their traditional well-written logical instructions. I be concerned about tearin' t' centerin' rings but need nay have worried. They were more substantial than they looked. Begad!

I attached the fins with thin CA and filleted with white glue. This is one that really REQUIRES either laser-cut fins or a different fin shape. Begad! T' fins were all curves. Ahoy! Another virtue t' laser-cut fins is that t' process seems t' require HARD balsa which makes for sturdier fins.

It plugged together very well, all told.

Finishing:
I deviated from t' given color scheme, optin' for t' simpler one shown in me picture. Begad! Arrr! I used tube-type plastic cement as balsa filler on t' fins then basecoated t' tubes black with spray enamel. Arrr! Begad! T' nosecone, transition and shrouds received a coat o' red, me hearties, some from a spray can and some from a bottle o' Testor's acrylic.

Very nice waterslide decals, ya bilge rat, arrr, but they were so thin I had trouble with one set intended for t' fins and decided to just paint that fin black.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Flew at me bucko Darrell's place.

Flight #1 be on two D12-5s. Ahoy! Stuffed four squares o' Estes tissue waddin' down each motor tube and laid four more on t' floor o' t' BT70 parachute bay. Begad! Jeez! TWELVE SQUARES o' waddin' per flight! Time t' seriously consider a pair of baffles for this bird. Flew like t' devil be after it. Avast! Straight and true t' about 1000ft. Then drifted quite a ways under that 24" chute which popped right at apogee.

Flight #2 be on a pair o' D12-7s, with an 18" chute replacin' t' 24". Avast, me proud beauty! Same twelve squares o' tissue. Really nice straight boost t' 975 feet or so, me hearties, parachute deployment just after apogee which resulted in much less drift under an 18" chute. Lesson learned - use an 18" for normal flights and save t' 24" for payloading.

Recovery:
T' 36 D Squared came with an Estes rubber band shock cord and their traditionl trifold mount. Ya scallywag! I went back t' an old way - slotted t' tube twice across its long axis, me hearties, threaded t' cord through and glued t' outer surface. Aye aye! Need t' use an 18" parachute for flyin' with empty payload bay and save that 24" for payload lifting. Ya scallywag! This beauty is big enough t' hold a cackle fruit and DEFINITELY powerful enough t' lift it.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Main PROs: Big rocket, easy t' see, me bucko, fairly easy t' build, monster payload area.

Only CON: Expensive t' fly, both for reasons o' two "D" motors and lots o' waddin' needed. Arrr! Baffle, baffle, me bucko, who's got a baffle?

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • Estes 36 D Squared By John Lee (August 9, 2008)

    Brief: Two 24mm motor cluster, skill level 2, payload section, parachute recovery. This is a strange looking rocket that only gets stranger the more you think about it, but it is a good performer. It's not too difficult to build but a bit more challenging to paint if you want to use the default scheme on the facecard. Construction: Construction begins with the marking of ...

  • Estes 36 D Squared By Doug Szczepanski (March 30, 2007)

    A unique 2 D sized, cluster engine rocket, with a 24" parachute recovery system. This is a large, beautiful rocket. The look had to grow on me a little, my first impression of the look was only so-so, but once it was finished and sitting on my desk. I had totally gotten into this unique look. I can say, that I don't have another rocket quite like it in my fleet. The 36D starts out with a ...

  • Estes 36 D Squared By Ben Davidson

    This is a new Cluster rocket from Estes which has a payload section and a nice parachute recovery system. The kit was complete and well organized. It uses basic Estes components except for two transitions which are new. These are used to expose two BT50 tubes just forward of the fin area. These tubes form the motor mounts and are supported by 4 paper motor mount rings. This rocket was ...

Flights

Comments:

avatar
J.D. (March 19, 2007)
When I built this kit I had a headach.The transition to the to different tubes wouldn't fit into the BT-70 tubes, so I had to cut to fit them. Though my friend didn't give me the instructions so I don't know if you supposed to or not.

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