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