| Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
| Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
| Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
| Published: | 2012-05-29 |
| Diameter: | 0.98 inches |
| Manufacturer: | Estes  |
| Skill Level: | 3 |
| Style: | Futuristic/Exotic |
Brief
This is a Futuristic style kit, aparently meant t' look like a interceptor/fighter capable o' atmospheric and space flight. Well, blow me down! Skill level 3 due t' t' plastic body.
Components
This build was actually part kit, part clonin' for me. Aye aye! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! I got t' original plastic body form a fellow BAR in Arizona, but t' rest o' t' parts I had t' copy myself. T' motor mount is standard 18 mm o' Estes design, matey, usin' a modern clip. Avast! T' original had no thrust rin' at t' top, shiver me timbers, so I added that for safety. Blimey! Begad! T' parachute tube is standard Estes BT50, ya bilge rat, cut t' 9 1/2 inches long. T' fins were cut from 3/32 balsa, matey, usin' fin pattens downloaded from Jim Z's archive site (http://www.spacemodeling.org/JimZ/estes.htm).
Construction
Pros and cons, me hearties, lets see. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Bein' as this be t' second time I have made this rocket I didn't have many. Begad! Well, blow me down! T' cool look o' t' rocket itself be t' main pro, me bucko, along with t' minimal preppin' it needed before primer and paint. Ahoy! T' only cons I can think o' be t' lack o' a thrust rin' in front o' t' engine mount, and t' standard Estes use o' a rubber band with a tri-fold paper mount. Well, blow me down! That paper mount is what almost led t' t' destructon o' me first one. You BAR veterans out thar may know this trick Estes does, glue in t' shock cord mount, matey, it fails on t' first flight, shiver me timbers, and your rocket's lower section comes down in perfect balistic fashion, embedin' itself in t' dirt.
For those o' you who want t' see me detailed build look here (http://www.rocketreviews.com/estes-1929---stealth.html
Finishing
Let's see, pros and cons on finishin' this. Arrr! Blimey! Pros- outer plastic body is hard enough nay t' dammage easily,yet it's con be t' flaws o' bad casting, matey, ya bilge rat, and 30 years o' age. Aye aye! Blimey! And compared t' when I be a kid, it feels tiny now. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Cleanin' up some o' t' details would have been impossible without all t' attachments on me Dremel tool. My fingers are just too big t' work some o' t' smaller areas.
Flight
Flight- Ok It has been about 4 months since t' build be finished, me hearties, me hearties, and I finally got t' take it out t' fly. Aye aye! Avast! (May 20)
First attempt resulted in a "static test fire" with t' model stayin' firmly attached t' t' launch rod. Always check that t' paint on your rockets did nay get into your launch lugs. Begad! T' model should slide up and down your launch lug (or rail if that is what your useing) with zero drag. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Once t' inside o' t' launch lugs were cleaned out, me hearties, it be on t' attempt #2.
Second flight was perfect. Well, arrr, blow me down! Liftoff t' pad t' instant t' motor lit, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, straight up flight, shiver me timbers, and ejection right at apogee. Ya scallywag! Flew great on an C6-3 Estes motor. I didn't have t' courage yet t' attempt a 3rd flight with one o' t' D21-4 Aerotech motors I had in t' field box.
Pros- Great lookin' flyer.
Cons- me own sloppy paint job slightly cloggin' t' launch lugs, and forgettin' t' brin' t' Camera for pictures.
Recovery
Recovery- Scratch built 16 inch mylar parachute with 4 squares o' Estes wadding. Avast! Came down slower than stock due t' t' stock parachute bein' 12 inches.
Pros- That shiny mylar is very easy t' see against all sky backgrounds. Blimey! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! Today's slightly cloudy sky dramatically contrasted t' shiny silver underside o' t' parachute, me bucko, and on very sunny days it glints brightly enough t' see it clearly (this is nay me first rocket t' use t' mylar I have been usein' for parachutes)
Cons- Bein' 4 inches larger than stock, and lighter in weight also, matey, led me rocket t' bein' drug downwind by t' parachute after it landed. Arrr! Blimey! Perhaps t' larger size be nay such a good Idea after all.
Summary
If I ever get t' chance t' make another one o' these kits, arrr, I certainly will. Aye aye! Blimey! Unfortunately they hit Ebay as rarely as t' solar eclipse crosses t' United States. Might have t' try scratch buildin' a upscale clone.
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Flights
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