Estes Excelsior Stellar Transport

Estes - Excelsior Stellar Transport {Kit} [?-?]

Contributed by Glenn Roth

Manufacturer: Estes
(Contributed - by Glenn Roth - 01/27/09)

StandingBrief:
I combined components o' two rockets for me creation I call: Excelsior Stellar Transport. Avast! What's unique about Excelsior is made from a Quest Quasar and Estes Cosmic Cobra. Blimey! It has a "flow thru" body with motor and parachute in t' outer pod. Arrr!

After much configuration, arrr, finally got it t' fly t' about 100ft, then it went unstable.

Construction:
Used regular tools, arrr, includin' razor knife. Begad! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! May use some o' t' decals that came w/kits.

Has 8 fins, arrr, me bucko, motor mount; Keelhaul®©™® and elastic shock cord hooked t' t' motor mount. No nose cone "per se". Aye aye! Very unique lookin' with t' central openin' all t' way thru. Ya scallywag! (kind o' like "ram air.")

Cut up one body tube into 3 pieces and left t' other tube full length. Begad!

Had t' slit bottom o' main BT for fin assembly. Ahoy! Begad! Then cut t' remainin' body tube in 1/2 and t' remainin' 1/2 into two pieces.

Put on "original" fin assembly from Cosmic Cobra.

I be a little concerned about it bein' top heavy, but decided I can correct by addin' spent motors in lower spare BT's.

Finishing:
Not t' much finishin' required since t' kits came pre-finished.

On PadFlight:
Planned on goin' with a B6-4 for t' first time, me bucko, then C6-5. Ahoy! Avast! Shock cord in two pieces: Keelhaul®©™® and elastic, tied t' a 12" chute. Well, blow me down! Blimey!

First flight was on a C6-5: did fly t' about 100+ ft on C6-5. Too much delay.

Recovery:
Need bigger motor and shorter delay. Arrr! Ahoy!

Summary:
Assembly pretty easy but, highly unstable after 100ft.

PROS: Sharp looking, unique. Begad! Begad!

Cons: becomes unstable after 100ft

Flights

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