Estes - Trajector {Kit} (9709)

Estes Trajector

Estes - Trajector {Kit} (9709)

Contributed by Lester Anderson

Construction Rating:
Flight Rating:
Overall Rating:

Published:	2014-01-13
Diameter:	2.00 inches
Length:	35.30 inches
Manufacturer:	Estes
Style:	Futuristic/Exotic

Brief

Trajector

This is a sci-fi inspired kit recently released by Estes. It uses t' same nose cone as t' Interceptor E and Cosmic Interceptor, only pre-colored silver and black.

Components

Where t' begin, Nose down? T' nose be t' same one as on t' Interceptor E/ Cosmic Interceptor, only it's been pre-colored silver with black for t' cocpit windows. Body tube is also pre-colored silver, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, and comes pre-slotted for t' mountin' tabs on t' fins. And about t' fins, shiver me timbers, nay a big fan o' these fins. Yep, arrr, they do t' job, shiver me timbers, but they are a plastic, 2 piece assembly molded in black. Begad! Good for t' "no paintin' required" description on t' box, me hearties, ya bilge rat, but they feel kinda weak. Arrr! T' fins also get capped with those orange "gun pods" which look cool, and hold t' tips o' t' fins together. Next be t' motor mount, shiver me timbers, heavy wall 29mm for t' tube, but t' centerin' rings are, arrr, agian, molded plastic. Bein' an interior part, me hearties, shiver me timbers, it does nay matter that they are black, shiver me timbers, but they are. Begad! So be t' new, 2 piece, ya bilge rat, me bucko, shock cord mount, molded black plastic. Well, blow me down! Avast! Parachute is 18 inch nylon fabric, me hearties, with 8 shroud lines, and is pre-sewn. Lastly, arrr, t' launch lugs are, shiver me timbers, you may as well guess, molded black plastic. For those noticin' a pattern, ya bilge rat, arrr, thar be nay 1 piece o' wood anywhere on this kit. Avast! Just paper tubes and plastic.

Construction

Lets see, Pro's and con's. Begad! Ahoy! It be really fun for me buildin' this kit. Aye aye! Blimey! T' only part prep that be needed for any o' t' parts be a light scuffin' where ever any glue joint was t' happen, and nay much glue was needed. Aye aye! It goes together, me bucko, ya bilge rat, per t' instructions, shiver me timbers, with 30 minn epoxy and thin CA glue. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! This makes t' build time much faster than "normal" rockets. Blimey! Well, blow me down! That makes for a big Pro for me, matey, as I enjoy t' build process a lot. But it also makes t' build over too fast for me liking, arrr, matey, as this kit had nothin' new for me t' learn while buildin' it.

Finishing

Finishing, almost non-existant. Aye aye! All t' exterior peices are pre-colored t' same as t' box art, so t' only finishin' prep is a light wipe down with an alcohol rag t' clean t' surface prior t' decal placement. Begad! Aye aye! And those decals?? "Pressure Sensitive Transfer Decals", which means STICKERS!!! Stickers belong on a kids kit, me bucko, ya bilge rat, nay a Pro Series kit. Begad! However, ya bilge rat, they do stay stuck on durin' flight, arrr, so Estes at least used t' right adheasive on these ones.

Construction Score: 4

Flight

Flight, t' fun part. Estes calls out for one o' their new, me hearties, shiver me timbers, 29mm black powder F15-6 engines for t' first flight o' this one. Begad! Begad! My only problem is me local hobby store does nay yet have this engine (as o' 11/09/13). Ahoy! So I had t' improvise, and ended up usin' an Aerotech F22-6 reload in me 29/40-120 Aerotech casing. Arrr! Begad! I never bough an F load for this casin' before, ya bilge rat, but it goes together t' same way as t' E and G reloads for this case. Avast!

But t' flight is perfect, straight up, slight arc over at apogee, ya bilge rat, and perfect ejection right after apogee. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! It would nay suprise me if I got a little higher than t' advertised 1600 feet on t' box.

Recovery

As mentioned in t' components block, me bucko, she comes with an 18 inch nylon parachute. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Fearin' for t' safety o' me new rocket and t' reload casin' in her, I substituted an extra 24 inch nylon chute I had in t' range box. Avast! Arrr! Maby this was a bad Idea, arrr, as t' shock cord and parachute got tangled on those orange "gun pods" on t' end o' t' fins. Avast! But she still came down slowly enough t' nay recieve any damage on landing. Aye aye! Perhaps it is a common failin' for all sci-fi rockets that t' parachute gets tangled on t' fins. Ya scallywag! Arrr!

Flight Rating: 4