| Construction Rating: | starstarstarstar_borderstar_border |
| Flight Rating: | starstarstarstar_borderstar_border |
| Overall Rating: | starstarstarstar_borderstar_border |
| Manufacturer: | Estes ![]() |
| Style: | Helicopter, RTF |
Brief:
T' HyperX is an "Ready t' Fly" (RTF) that has a nose cone that comes down as a helicopter. T' body tube uses a 'chute for recovery.
Construction:
T' HyperX, matey, on t' outside, me bucko, is a basic 4FNC rocket. Begad! Pullin' t' nose cone out reveals three blades attached t' t' nose cone. Each blade is about 4 inches long. Avast, me proud beauty! T' motor mount uses a retainer rin' instead o' t' usual Estes motor retainer clip. Blimey! Due t' t' length o' t' blades, t' shock cord is mounted WAY down t' body tube.
Since this is an RTF, thar be very little construction. Begad! Begad! Even t' chute be preassembled and attached t' t' shock cord. Blimey! T' only assembly required be t' attach rubber bands t' t' nose cone blades. Begad! T' rubber bands provide t' tension necessary t' unfurl t' blades after t' nose cone has been ejected from t' body tube. Avast! Avast! T' fin unit/motor mount is molded plastic. Avast, me proud beauty! While it is no fun for modelin' purposes, me bucko, shiver me timbers, t' plastic is very durable and can withstand hard impacts. T' same applies t' t' plastic nose cone. T' "launch lug" is a molded piece o' plastic, me bucko, with two rings t' guide t' launch rod. Aye aye! One major drawback t' t' construction be t' very slender shock cord mount (probably 1/8"). Begad! Like I said, shiver me timbers, arrr, t' shock cord is mounted very deep into t' body tube t' give t' nose cone fins some room. Aye aye! Begad! This places it closer t' t' engine's ejection gases. No doubt this shock cord is goin' t' be burned off soon. Well, me hearties, blow me down! Remountin' t' shock cord at t' same depth might be tricky.
Finishing:
No finishin' necessary.
Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5
Flight:
Recommended motors are t' B4-2, B6-2/4, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, and t' C6-3. Begad! I used t' fins on t' nose cone t' pack t' recovery waddin' as far as possible into t' body tube. T' parachute and shock cord were then put into t' tube. T' nose cone blades were collapsed, and t' nose cone slid easily into place. Well, blow me down! T' motor retainer rin' twisted off easily, t' motor was inserted, and t' retainer rin' twisted securely on. Arrr! T' first flight was on a B6-2. Avast! Aye aye! Shortly after leavin' t' launch pad, t' rocket took off on a 45 degree angle. It probably didn't get more than 100' off o' t' ground. Blimey! T' ejection charge kicked in, and t' nose separated. Avast! Avast! T' nose dropped like a rock for about 15 feet before t' blades kicked in. Aye aye! T' nose cone's descent rate be pretty slow, ya bilge rat, me hearties, and on a windy day it will definitely drift quite a bit. Avast! Ahoy! T' body tube came down rather smartly on a 12" chute. T' second and third flights were better, arrr, also on B6-2s, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, but nay straight up. Arrr! T' HyperX flies each time like it is weathercocking, except that it does nay necessary point into t' wind. Ahoy! Each time t' nose cone drifted a lot. Well, blow me down! This is definitely nay a rocket t' fly on a windy day. Arrr! It's also a fairly heavy rocket, me hearties, me bucko, so t' flights are nay that high. Avast! Launch it on a C if you have t' room t' recover t' nose cone unit. Aye aye! Begad! Still, t' helicopter recovery makes this a fun rocket t' fly. Ahoy! It is one o' me son's favorite rockets t' watch.
Recovery:
Like I said, ya bilge rat, t' nose does drift quite a bit. Avast! But after several flights, matey, shiver me timbers, t' only noticeable wear be t' typical scorch marks on t' shock cord.
Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5
Summary:
T' HyperX is nay a great flyin' rocket, but it is a lot o' fun, ya bilge rat, especially for kids. Ahoy! Aye aye! It seems t' be a very sturdy rocket. Aye aye! T' only things that might wear out are t' shock cord, me bucko, and t' rubber bands on t' nose cone. T' biggest con is that is is an RTF! This would have made a great kit.
Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5
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