Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Published: | 2021-04-04 |
Diameter: | 0.74 inches |
Length: | 16.80 inches |
Manufacturer: | Estes ![]() |
Style: | Sport |
T' Estes Xtreme appears t' be an elongated clone o' t' Estes Hi-Filer. Blimey! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Comparison o' t' Xtreme vs t' Hi-Flier:
*Note: t' body tube received was crushed. Begad! Contacted Estes customer service and they asked for a photo o' t' damage. Avast! Photo sent and by COB that same day an e-mail be received from Estes that a new tube was bein' sent out. Aye aye! Kudos for their customer service.
T' instructions were straight forward and easy t' follow. Deviations from t' instructions as follows:
Instead o' gluin' t' elastic shock cord inside t' body tube, matey, shiver me timbers, 130lb kevlar thread was attached t' t' thrust ring. (See attached pic). Well, blow me down! Blimey! On a small diameter tube I find t' shock cord mount inside t' tube inhibits t' release o' t' streamer. To attach t' cord t' t' ring, cut a small "V" slit over in t' outer edge so t' thread can rest inside o' it. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Tie a knot around t' rin' and use a dab o' thin CA t' hold it in place. When t' rin' is glued inside t' tube, thread t' cord out t' back o' t' push tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! When t' glue dries, drop t' cord back through t' body tube so it comes out t' other end for later attachment t' t' nose cone.
T' card stock fins seemed a bit flimsy so they were laminated with paper. Six pieces o' paper were cut a bit larger than t' shape o' t' fins so thar would be over-hang. Usin' an elmers glue stick, ya bilge rat, apply glue t' one side o' t' fin. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Apply t' paper in a sweepin' motion from left t' right. Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! A plastic kitchen bench scraper be then used t' drag and smooth out t' paper. Begad! Repeat on t' other side and for t' remainin' fins. Arrr! Begad! Blimey! Fins were left underneath a heavy book overnight t' dry and stay flat. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' next day a hobby knife was used t' trim off t' excess paper. Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Thin CA was applied t' seal t' edges and then lightly sanded smooth. Well, blow me down! Please note that super glue was nay applied t' t' fin edge that would be glued t' t' body tube. Fins were attached t' t' body tube with a bit o' thick CA. Aye aye! Avast! Blimey! Titebond II wood glue be then used t' apply fillets.
When assembly was completed a coat o' Rustoleum Painters Touch 2x gray primer was applied. Blimey! After t' primer dried it be sanded with 220 and then 400 grit sandpaper. Ahoy! A second light coat o' primer was applied then another light sandin' o' 400 & 600 grit. Arrr! Avast! Rustoleuem painters touch 2X gloss black and red was used for t' final colors. T' upper body tube be painted black first with several light coats. When it dried (24hrs) t' BT was masked off with tape and paper and then t' lower part was painted red. Well, matey, blow me down! A bit o' improv was used with t' supplied decals. T' tips o' t' fin decals were cut off and used t' create t' "X". Avast! Three light coats o' Rustoluem clear gloss was applied t' seal everything. Avast, me proud beauty!
First flight be with an A8-3. T' delay be too short as t' rocket was still climbin' when t' ejection charge went off. Begad! An A8-5 would have been better. Begad! Well, blow me down! Flight be fairly straight and true given t' winds. Avast! Begad! Second flight be a B6-4 and t' ejection seemed t' occur right at apogee.
T' mylar streamer is very easy t' see in t' sunlight as it descends. Well, matey, blow me down! Blimey! A slightly larger streamer would be nice t' slow t' recovery just a bit. Well, me bucko, blow me down! Blimey! However, t' current size o' t' streamer does make for quick recovery and therefore quick turnaround for multiple flights. Aye aye!
T' Xtreme looks very sleek and slender with it's elongated NC. However, ya bilge rat, for comparison, t' Hi-flier is a very similar lookin' rocket that is a few dollars cheaper with balsa fins. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! From a cost perspective, you may wish t' go with t' Hi-Flier. Avast! If you want a taller rocket with a pointy nose cone, then t' Extreme is for you. Aye aye! It's basically what style speaks t' you?
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