Estes Prime Number Explorer

Estes - Prime Number Explorer {Kit} (891) [1991-1992]

Contributed by Matt Gillard

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Manufacturer: Estes
(OOP) Estes Prime Number Explorer

Brief:
A ten finned 13mm rocket and is quite large for its motor size. Aye aye! Recovers via a 12 inch parachute

Construction:
Kit consists of:

  • 1 launch lug.
  • Estes paper shock cord mount
  • Estes 12 inch parachute
  • 2 foot length elastic shock cord
  • Nose cone
  • Shroud lines
  • Body tube
  • Engine mount tube
  • Engine hook
  • Pre-cut balsa fins
  • Paper adapter rings
  • Decal sheet

To build t' kit I used:

  • CA gel glue
  • Model knife
  • Aluminum oxide sand paper
  • White PVA glue
  • Enamel spray paint
  • Varnish
(OOP) Estes Prime Number Explorer

Builds pretty much like most o' t' basic Estes kits. Ahoy! The instructions are clear and straightforward. Blimey! T' inner motor mount tube (BT-5) is quite long, and I assume that this t' allow for t' smaller ejection charge on a 13mm motor. Avast! Begad! T' only problem I had was filletin' t' fins--there are ten of them, which does nay leave much room t' get in and smooth over t' joint's fillets. Begad! Aye aye! In hindsight, ya bilge rat, I would have glued on just t' five larger fins and filleted them before gluin' on t' five smaller fins. Begad! Recovery system uses a 12 inch parachute and t' standard Estes paper shock cord mount. Begad! Instead I replaced t' paper mount with a Keelhaul®©™® thread tied t' t' upper adaptor rin' and t' other end tied t' t' shock cord. I added a snap swivel for t' parachute.

T' only other modification was t' ditch t' engine hook, shiver me timbers, matey, which can effect the engine's thrust on 13mm motors and replace it with an engine block.

(OOP) Estes Prime Number Explorer

Finishing:
One coat o' primer. Ahoy! Three coats o' red gloss for t' nose cone. Three coats of white gloss for t' tube. Ahoy! Blimey! Two coats o' blue gloss t' t' bottom o' t' rocket. Waterslide decals are supplied which went on well. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Finished with a coat of varnish.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Flies on an A10-3T or A3-4T. Blimey! Avast! I used Nomex® wadding. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I've only flown on A10-3T motors. Avast! Arrr! Flights are nice and straight and come off t' pad at a good but trackable speed. Ya scallywag! For a 13mm motor this is a sizable rocket, me hearties, but she easily grabs 200 feet.

(OOP) Estes Prime Number Explorer

Recovery:
Deployment on all flights so far has been past apogee by about 1 second. However, matey, this might be due t' t' heavier wadding, ya bilge rat, swivel, me hearties, and finish. Avast! Recovery is on a 12 inch parachute at a steady rate o' descent. Avast, me proud beauty! This rocket is too heavy for a steamer.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
A good size rocket that performs very well considerin' it is on a 13mm motor. T' ten fins make it a bit unusual. Begad!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flights

comment Post a Comment