Estes Star Wars Y-Wing Starfighter (RTF)

Estes - Star Wars Y-Wing Starfighter {Kit}

Contributed by John Lee

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Manufacturer: Estes
Estes Star Wars Y-Wing

Brief:
This is a ready t' fly rocket modeled after t' Y-win' fighters from Star Wars. Blimey! It looks good, works well, and could almost be perfect (for a RTF) if nay for t' traditional Estes recovery failure device (shock cord).

Construction:
I got this rocket on eBay. It was part o' a starter kit with t' Estes part number o' 1821. Avast! Blimey! I figured that for the price I would have been willin' t' spend that much for t' rocket itself (Part number 1492) and I got a new blast deflector, me bucko, matey, launch rod, and 6 engines thrown in. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! I wish they had been C5-3s! This review is nay about t' beginner's set, me hearties, ya bilge rat, though. Begad! It is about t' rocket.

T' model itself looks good. It is made o' a beige plastic with plenty o' little bumps, ridges, me hearties, and protrusion for detail. Ahoy! Some o' these extruded "cables" are painted yellow or red. Aye aye! Some highlights are in gray and the windshields are in black. Arrr! Avast! T' back ends o' t' engine pods are clear plastic within t' beige framework. Clear plastic fins for stability are located at t' back o' t' engine pods. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! These do nay actually detract from t' appearance o' the model at all. Arrr! In fact, ya bilge rat, t' model looks very good.

This one is ready t' fly unless you want t' quibble about tyin' t' ready made parachute t' t' shock cord. Except for that, all you have t' do is prep t' rocket, arrr, hook it up and push t' button.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' maiden flight took place with an Estes B4-2. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I prepped t' rocket by stuffin' in some dog barf and insertin' the chute. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' chute be a tight fit. Ahoy! Blimey! Launch be perfect. It roared straight up, nay too high, and ejected right at apogee. T' chute deployed in a puff o' dog barf and t' rocket came gently t' t' ground. Begad! Blimey! I was ready t' try that again.

T' second flight was on an Estes C6-3. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Everythin' started out perfectly. Arrr! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! T' rocket took off straight up and looked good. Ejection came at just about t' right time but then me expectations were realized. T' elastic shock cord burned through. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' nose drifted a long way under t' chute but was recovered without problem. T' body tumbled home and was recovered by t' planetary interference method. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Both t' rocket and t' planet were unhurt.

Recovery:
PROs: No "probe", ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, flies great, looks great, and is sturdy.

CONs: Elastic shock cord doomed t' failure.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
I am definitely goin' t' put this one back together. Ahoy! I just need t' figure a way t' get some Keelhaul®©™® mounted in that teeny weeny little tube.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • Estes Star Wars Y-Wing Starfighter (RTF) By Matt Gillard

    Brief: A ready to fly starter kit from the Star Wars range. Possibly the best one as it doesn't have a big black tube sticking through the middle and is quite stable in flight. I got this from a Star Wars fan in a job lot. It had never been flown and was still in its box!  Parts list: 1 pre-built rocket 1 Star Wars Electron Beam controller 12 inch Star Wars parachute 6 ...

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