Estes Black Brant II

Estes - Black Brant II {Kit} (1958) [1986-1998]

Contributed by Casey Thomas Bartlett

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Length: 24.88 inches
Manufacturer: Estes
Skill Level: 4
Style: Scale

Brief:
This is a good, clean, single staged rocket which uses an 18" plastic parachute for recovery.

Construction:
There is a single body tube, with three fins. Ya scallywag! T' construction is very simple, and t' design is very basic.

T' construction was fairly simple with an overall basic design. Avast! T' Estes instructions were very thorough, and I was nay confused at any point. Ahoy! T' only problem I had was with t' fit o' t' couplin' betwixt t' body tube and the payload area. I had t' cut off one layer o' t' red paper in order t' fit the two pieces together, arrr, but otherwise thar were no problems. Avast! I didn't use the 'antenna' that were provided, arrr, ya bilge rat, as it would just add extra drag.

Finishing:
I just finished this rocket with conventional spray paint. Well, blow me down! Blimey! A couple coats of primer, then a few each o' gloss black and white t' their corresponding regions. T' finishin' near t' tail fins be difficult as t' gloss white had to extend partly betwixt t' fins. I think it might be easier t' paint t' fins first and t' body tube separately and then epoxy them together, me bucko, me bucko, t' get the best finish.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' recommended motor be a D12-5, but Estes has unfortunately discontinued this size. Begad! Avast! I have t' go t' t' C11-5 and D12-3. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! T' C11-5's were great. Well, blow me down! I got many great flights with this size, which were all visible with a clear sky. When I launched t' D12-3 t' rocket went almost out o' sight, arrr, but I forgot to put waddin' in and t' parachute partially got scorched. Ahoy! Even though thar was almost nothin' slowin' t' rockets decent it was perfectly intact when it landed about 50ft. Ahoy! away from t' launch site in a pile o' snow. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! I decided that the rocket could handle an E9-6, me hearties, so I launched one o' with that as well. I lost site o' it as it passed through some clouds at about 1200 ft, matey, but then saw it about 20 seconds later passin' through them, shiver me timbers, safely floatin' down. Well, blow me down! Begad! It landed about 100 ft. Aye aye! away from t' launch site (0-5mph o' wind). Ahoy! All t' flights were perfectly straight and extremely predictable, this is a great rocket.

Recovery:
T' only problem is this rocket doesn't need a parachute so large. Ahoy! I cut a 2 inch hole in t' top o' t' parachute t' help it descend faster, but it still took well over 2 minutes on t' D12-3. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! T' shock cord bent t' body tube at the top on t' D12-3, ya bilge rat, so I didn't use any more D's on it. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! I think you could almost recover this thin' without any recovery system at all. Avast! Ahoy!

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
This rocket was easy t' build, me bucko, flew great, matey, almost too great, matey, as I lost it on my last launch o' t' day. Only con is that thar aren't too many engines you can use standard on this thing, arrr, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, and t' D12-3 is nay recommended. Begad! I'm goin' t' try an Aerotech E30 on this, I don't know what it will do with almost triple the force o' t' Estes D's. Just don't launch this with a delay time o' less than 3 seconds. Ahoy! Begad!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • Estes Black Brant II By Erik Turner

      Brief:   This model is a scale model of a Canadian Atmospheric Research Vehicle. It has a single Estes parachute.   Construction was fairly easy, except for one part. In making the motor mount, I made some mistake (can't remember) and had to rip the mount out. I would suggest being careful in making the mount especially when this model is the first friction fit kit you have ...

Flights

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