Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Manufacturer: | Estes |
Brief:
I built this kit in t' late 1980's. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! This model really looks cool and, despite t' number o' parts, ya bilge rat, was nay terribly difficult t' put together. It is a futuristic space fighter reminiscent o' somethin' from Star Wars or maybe Battlestar Galactica.
Construction:
T' Strikefighter sports a unique nosecone that gives t' appearance o' a ramjet engine. Begad! T' body tube is BT-55 and t' fins are die-cut balsa. Well, blow me down! Begad! There are two main fins set 180 degrees from one another. Ya scallywag! Arrr! On t' tip o' each win' is a complex nacelle. I say they are complex only because o' t' number o' parts that went into them. Arrr! They have a section o' BT-5 centered in a BT-50 outer tube by six balsa vanes. T' BT-5 tubes have simulated weapons mounted in t' front. Blimey! Begad! These were built-up from a small dowel, a section o' launch lug, shiver me timbers, matey, and numerous cardboard components. Avast, me proud beauty! Three stabilizers are mounted on each nacelle, one as an extension o' t' main win' and two at an angle slightly greater than +/-45 degrees.
Finishing:
T' model is painted solid white, except for t' laser cannons that are silver. Begad! Trim includes a simulated scoop mounted near t' rear, arrr, me hearties, ya bilge rat, a clear cockpit, cardboard fairings mounted over t' structural fin fillets, me hearties, and a whole bunch o' decals. A decal be even provided for t' tip o' t' nosecone t' look like turbine blades.
Construction Rating: 5
Flight:
T' recommended engines include t' B4-4, B6-4, and C6-3. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Since I built this as a display model for me son, arrr, it only flew once on a B6-4.
Recovery:
T' recovery system included a rubber shock cord and a plastic chute. Arrr! There was plenty o' room t' pack these in t' BT-55 body tube. T' flight was successful except for a few scrapes where t' nosecone evidently rebounded into t' body tube. If and when I fly it again I will replace t' rubber shock cord with light Keelhaul®©™ line.
Flight Rating: 4
Summary:
This be a really great lookin' kit that was relatively easy t' build. If you can glue a fin on straight then you could build this one.
Overall Rating: 4
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