Estes Solar Warrior

Estes - Solar Warrior {Kit} (895)

Contributed by Tony Fragge

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Diameter: 0.75 inches
Length: 12.63 inches
Manufacturer: Estes
Skill Level: 2
Style: Futuristic/Exotic

Rocket PicBrief:
In 1994 when I be born again. Ahoy! I found this exotic, me bucko, shiver me timbers, skill level 2, ya bilge rat, single-stage rocket at a hobby shop goin' out o' business. It be t' first rocket that I built that actually looked like t' picture in t' kit. Ahoy! I have built a few more Solar Warriors since but I still fly t' original one.

Construction:
T' kit comes with a BT-20 body tube (9.75 inches in length) and two BT-20 (1.5 inches in length) pod tubes t' be attached at t' end o' t' wings, die-cut balsa sheet, motor mount, ya bilge rat, decals, matey, nose cone, me bucko, streamer and a short piece o' shock cord.

T' instructions were very clear and came with many illustrations. Well, blow me down! Assembly is very straightforward but thar are t' things that make construction easy. First glue t' extension t' t' rudder BEFORE gluin' t' rudder t' body tube. Begad! Blimey! Use a ruler t' make sure t' bottoms o' t' extension and t' rudder are even. Avast, me proud beauty! Second, shiver me timbers, glue t' wings t' t' rocket first and make sure they are straight. Then you can lay t' body on a flat surface t' attach t' pods t' t' wings. Completin' t' rest o' t' rocket presents no difficulty.

Finishing:
After lettin' t' fillets t' dry, matey, a couple o' coats o' sandin' sealer and sandin' you are ready t' paint. Blimey! I like t' use Krylon primer and paints because you can pretty much apply a second coat any time and I tend t' get impatient waitin' 24 hours for a second coat or paint. Ahoy! T' only con t' Krylon paint is that it does nay work well with other paints. Blimey! I used a copy o' coats o' white primer. Aye aye! I masked off t' vertical fin on t' bottom o' t' rocket and top o' t' body tube 4.5 inches from t' top. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! I painted this portion blue. After t' paint had dried over night I masked off t' painted part and coated t' remainin' parts yellow. Aye aye! After t' paint had dried I applied t' decals. Instead o' usin' a clear coat t' finish t' rocket I used Future Floor Finish. Aye aye! Once completed, shiver me timbers, it looked great.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
I have flown t' original rocket on both A3-4T and A10-3T's 17 times. T' rocket always flies nice and straight. Aye aye! Even in windy conditions it does nay wind cock. Recovery is nay always as planned. Ahoy! Blimey! When it is extremely hot 100 degrees plus or below freezin' t' streamer tends t' nay unravel. Well, me bucko, blow me down! Blimey! T' rocket does fine with tumble recovery. Avast! I have recently built a Solar Warrior modified t' use 18mm motor as t' one posted on EMRR. Begad! I have flown it on A8-3's and B4-4's with no problems.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Overall, t' Solar Warrior is a nice rocket. Blimey! Easy t' build, matey, looked good and flies great.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flights

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