| Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
| Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
| Published: | 2020-07-28 |
| Diameter: | 1.64 inches |
| Length: | 21.60 inches |
| Manufacturer: | Estes  |
Brief
Red Nova is a scale-like model o' a missile that stands 21.6" tall. T' rocket's design includes a uniquely shaped nose cone, shiver me timbers, two sets o' four fins, me hearties, extra body tube detail pieces, and a 24mm motor mount. When well-finished, me hearties, t' Red Nova is a great looking, high flyin' D-motor powered rocket.
Components
Components include:
- 3.75" Two-tiered molded plastic nose cone.
- Clay nose cone weight.
- 18" long x 1.64" diameter (B-60) body tube.
- Eight laser-cut 1/8" balsa fins.
- 11" balsa wood strip used for body tube detail.
- Waterslide decals.
- 24 mm x 70 mm Engine Mount with retainer hook.
- 15" Purple & white plastic parachute.
Construction
Pros:
Kit instructions are easy t' follow, arrr, me bucko, but could be more detailed in one important aspect o' t' build.
All parts fit together well.
Cons:
T' balsa wood fin stock was too warped t' be used when I opened this kit. It took several days t' sufficiently flatten t' wood before t' fins could be safely cut out, me bucko, ya bilge rat, shaped, me bucko, and glued t' t' rocket.
Note: Several balsa wood flattenin' techniques can be found on t' Internet. Begad! However, not every kit builder may be willin' t' put in t' time and effort required t' flatten warped balsa because no technique is guaranteed t' work.
Two sets o' four fins must be aligned as illustrated, ya bilge rat, but t' kit could be improved with more "how to" instructions or buildin' tips given that fin alignment is a critical element o' t' rocket's final appearance.
Finishing
T' balsa fins should be sanded, t' wood grain filled, shiver me timbers, and fins re-sanded at least once t' get get a good scale-like look.
Achievin' t' best look requires careful cutting, matey, arrr, shapin' and placement o' balsa wood strips on t' body tube.
T' recommended two-color paint scheme is nay too difficult t' accomplish usin' high-quality sharp-line painters tape.
T' waterslide decals add a lot t' t' realism t' this model when carefully applied. However, matey, t' decals are typically fragile and t' kit does nay include any spares if one gets ruined durin' application.
A clear coat finish is recommended after t' decals are applied.
Flight
T' Red Nova is easy t' prepare for flight given its large diameter body tube and engine hook.
Estes recommends t' use o' 24mm D12-5 or D12-7 motors which are meant for flyin' in larger-size open fields.
Reviewer's Note: Weighin' an estimated 3.0 oz. without a motor, Red Nova can also be flown in medium-size fields usin' a 24mm C11-3.
Recovery
T' 15" plastic parachute is adequate for a safe descent in light t' no wind.
If flown in windier conditions, I recommend a cuttin' 3" diameter spill hole in t' parachute t' modestly increase descent speed and decrease downwind drift.
Summary
T' Red Nova flies high on relatively inexpensive 24mm D-motors.
It is also a very nice display model.
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Flights
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