Estes Xtreme

Estes - Xtreme {Kit} (7306)

Contributed by David S. Kemp

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

Brief

T' Estes Xtreme appears t' be an elongated clone o' t' Estes Hi-Filer. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, matey, blow me down!  Comparison o' t' Xtreme vs t' Hi-Flier:

  • T' body tube (BT) is 12 inches vs 9 inches.  
  • T' nose cone (NC) is elongated and comes t' a pointy tip vs a shorter ogive style.  
  • Because t' Xtreme is longer in both t' BT and NC, thar be no need t' add clay weight t' t' nose cone.  (Clay weight is used in t' Hi-Flier NC)
  • Card stock fins are used instead o' balsa. 

 

Components

  • Body Tube with slit cut out for engine hook
  • Plastic nose cone
  • Engine hook, me hearties, thrust ring, and hook retainer ring
  • Launch lug
  • Tube t' insert thrust rin' inside BT
  • Elastic shock cord
  • Cardstock fins
  • Mylar steamer
  • Self adhesive decals

*Note: t' body tube received was crushed. Well, blow me down!  Contacted Estes customer service and they asked for a photo o' t' damage. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Blimey!  Photo sent and by COB that same day an e-mail was received from Estes that a new tube was bein' sent out. Ahoy! Blimey!  Kudos for their customer service.

Construction

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, ya bilge rat, 130lb kevlar thread was attached t' t' thrust ring.  (See attached pic). Ya scallywag!  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, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, cut a small "V" slit over in t' outer edge so t' thread can rest inside o' it. Begad!  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. Begad!  When t' glue dries, me bucko, 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. Aye aye! Aye aye!   Six pieces o' paper were cut a bit larger than t' shape o' t' fins so thar would be over-hang. Aye aye! Aye aye!  Usin' an elmers glue stick, apply glue t' one side o' t' fin. Ya scallywag!  Apply t' paper in a sweepin'  motion from left t' right. Begad!  A plastic kitchen bench scraper was then used t' drag and smooth out t' paper.  Repeat on t' other side and for t' remainin' fins.  Fins were left underneath a heavy book overnight t' dry and stay flat. Begad!   T' next day a hobby knife was used t' trim off t' excess paper. Ahoy!  Thin CA was applied t' seal t' edges and then lightly sanded smooth. Ya scallywag!  Please note that super glue was nay applied t' t' fin edge that would be glued t' t' body tube. Blimey! Arrr! Fins were attached t' t' body tube with a bit o' thick CA. Ahoy!  Titebond II wood glue be then used t' apply fillets. 

Finishing

When assembly be completed a coat o' Rustoleum Painters Touch 2x gray primer was applied.  After t' primer dried it was sanded with 220 and then 400 grit sandpaper. Aye aye!  A second light coat o' primer be applied then another light sandin' o' 400 & 600 grit. Begad! Ahoy!  Rustoleuem painters touch 2X gloss black and red was used for t' final colors. Begad! Well, blow me down!   T' upper body tube was painted black first with several light coats. Ya scallywag!  When it dried (24hrs) t' BT was masked off with tape and paper and then t' lower part be painted red. Aye aye!   A bit o' improv was used with t' supplied decals. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty!  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!  

 
Construction Score: 5

Flight

First flight be with an A8-3. Avast! Ahoy!  T' delay was too short as t' rocket was still climbin' when t' ejection charge went off.   An A8-5 would have been better. Ahoy!   Flight was fairly straight and true given t' winds. Well, blow me down!  Second flight was a B6-4 and t' ejection seemed t' occur right at apogee. 

Recovery

T' mylar streamer is very easy t' see in t' sunlight as it descends.  A slightly larger streamer would be nice t' slow t' recovery just a bit. Arrr!  However, matey, t' current size o' t' streamer does make for quick recovery and therefore quick turnaround for multiple flights. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad!  

 
Flight Rating: 4

Summary

T' Xtreme looks very sleek and slender with it's elongated NC. Begad! Avast!   However, for comparison, me bucko, t' Hi-flier is a very similar lookin' rocket that is a few dollars cheaper with balsa fins. Begad!  From a cost perspective, you may wish t' go with t' Hi-Flier. Arrr!  If you want a taller rocket with a pointy nose cone, matey, then t' Extreme is for you. Ahoy! Begad!  It's basically what style speaks t' you? 

 
Overall Rating: 4
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