Estes Python-4 ASRAAM

Estes - Python-4 ASRAAM {Kit}

Contributed by Alex Rothchild

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Manufacturer: Estes

Brief:
This is a low power, me bucko, me bucko, single stage military style rocket. It flies on B and C power and uses a 1/8 inch lug. Avast, me proud beauty! It includes a tail cone and uses a 12 inch chute for recovery. Avast!

Construction:
I received t' kit as a gift when I was first gettin' into rocketry, so it probably wasn't a great second or third kit for me. Arrr! It came in a "Launchable" box and included many components. Aye aye! They were all o' high quality and were all easily accounted for. Ahoy! T' parts were:

  • 1 forward BT-55 tube
  • 1 aft BT-55 tube
  • 2 BT-55-20 centerin' rings
  • 1 very long motor tube
  • 1 tube coupler
  • 1 round nose cone
  • 1 tail cone
  • 1 mylar retainin' ring
  • 1 engine block ring
  • 1 engine hook
  • shock cord
  • 12" parachute
  • 1 1" x 1/8" lug
  • 12 fins

Since this be t' third kit I had ever built, shiver me timbers, me hearties, I didn't know anythin' other than plastic cement. Blimey! Ya scallywag! Now I realize that buildin' t' entire model with plastic cement be a bad idea. Blimey! Somehow though, me bucko, it still flies and is in good condition. Anyway, me hearties, this kit is a skill level two kit because it has numerous fins that have t' be glued on.

Construction begins with assemblin' t' motor mount typical Estes style. Make a slot for t' hook, me hearties, slide t' mylar rin' down, glue, and then put on the centerin' rings. Once dry, t' tail cone assembly needs t' be cut off a reducer piece and t' slots need t' be opened up t' allow t' fins t' pass through. Avast! It is recommended t' use a razor saw, shiver me timbers, but I did it with scissors. Blimey! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! T' motor mount is installed into t' lower body tube and then t' tail cone goes over it so the engine tube is lined up with t' base o' t' tail cone. Well, blow me down! Arrr! A template is used to mark t' rest o' t' tube for t' middle fins and t' upper tube for the canards. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! While t' bottom section is drying, t' upper part can be assembled. This requires gluin' in t' tube coupler and t' nose. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! T' upper section can be used as a payload bay. Ya scallywag! Just don't glue in t' nose and make a bulkhead out of two sheets o' balsa with a screw eye. Avast! T' four canard fins are glued on directly beneath t' nosecone. Well, blow me down! Puttin' t' fins on with plastic cement be not fun. Arrr! I set this assembly t' dry then went back t' work on t' bottom section. Begad! I glued t' four bottom fins on. Ahoy! They go through t' tail cone t' t' motor tube. And o' course t' fillets were made with yes, plastic cement. Avast, me proud beauty! Then pieces of cardstock were glued t' t' sides for a more scale look and long thin pieces of balsa were glued t' these. Begad! Avast! Finally t' launch lug was cut in half and glued to the side. T' shock cord is mounted t' t' top and bottom airframe, me hearties, and the chute is tied t' t' top part o' t' shock cord.

Finishing:
At t' time, arrr, t' only colors I had were black, ya bilge rat, matey, white, me hearties, and brown. So I primed it once and painted it black and white (with many many runs).

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
First flight be on a B4-2. Arrr! It lifted off t' pad very slowly t' maybe a little more than 100 feet. Avast! This rocket needs a bigger kick from an engine so I tried a B6-4 next. Avast! This engine lifts it off slowly t' around 150 feet. Blimey! T' rocket's third and final flight be on a C6-5 and it lifted off at a faster but still very slow speed t' around 300 feet. Well, blow me down! About a few months later I began reading reviews on EMRR and realized that me construction techniques were completely wrong. Blimey! I decided nay t' fly this rocket as well as t' two I built before it anymore.

Recovery:
T' delays were perfect but t' chute never came out. This was because I tied it t' t' bottom o' t' shock cord and nay t' t' top. Ahoy! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! I'm sure it would work if it was right though. Well, matey, blow me down! Even when built with plastic cement, matey, it held up from tumble recovery three times.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I know me review may make this rocket look like a terrible product, arrr, me bucko, but it really isn't. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! I plan on buyin' another one t' build with CA clue and maybe epoxy. Avast!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

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