Estes Turbo Copter

Estes - Turbo Copter {Kit} (2096) [1994-1998]

Contributed by Donald Besaw Jr

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Manufacturer: Estes
Style: Helicopter

Rocket PicBrief:
This is an Estes E2X series rocket. Blimey! Avast! Blimey! It is a single stage rocket with streamer recovery for t' booster and a helicopter recovered nose cone.

Construction:
T' kit includes a body tube, engine hook, ya bilge rat, fin unit, plastic launch lug, shock cord, streamer, shiver me timbers, nose cone, shiver me timbers, matey, helicopter blade, blade mast, arrr, nose cone insert, and decals. All parts are precolored so no paintin' is required.

PROS: Easy Assembly, good instructions, and parts fit.

CONS: Shock cord mount assembly. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! (It ripped out on me a couple times).

Bein' an E2X kit, ya bilge rat, matey, this rocket is easy t' build and can be built in an hour or less. Avast, me proud beauty! T' construction starts with t' nose cone assembly then goes t' mountin' t' engine hook and fin unit. Next a slit is cut in t' body tube for t' shock cord. Ahoy! Ahoy! T' problem I see with this technique is that t' shock cord can pull out. Blimey! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Now t' plastic launch lug is applied t' t' body tube. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Now t' streamer is taped onto t' shock cord.

Finishing:
PROS: No paintin' required.

CONS: None found All you need t' do t' finish t' rocket is t' apply t' supplied decals.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Rocket PicFlight:
PROS: Easy prep, matey, excellent flight characteristics.

CONS: None. Ya scallywag! Blimey! This rocket does need recovery wadding.

After t' waddin' is packed you insert t' streamer and then slide t' nose cone in place. Avast! This rocket can fly on an 1/2A6-2 t' a thrusty C6-7. I have flown this rocket three times. Well, blow me down! I used an 1/2A6-2 for two flights and it puts it up about 200 feet. I then used an A8-3 which put it almost about out o' sight. Arrr! T' rocket flew straight every time. Begad! Unless you have a huge field, I would nay recommend usin' any motor larger than an A. Begad! Begad! Due t' t' light weight and high performance design o' this rocket, a B motor will put this rocket out o' sight. Ya scallywag! Usin' a C motor could cause this rocket t' fly off into infinity and never be seen again.

Recovery:
PROS: Close recovery unless wind is present.

CONS: None.

Due t' t' light weight, me hearties, this rocket comes down fine with t' streamer while t' nose cone helicopters down t' t' ground.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This be one o' me first rockets since I started flyin' rockets back in 1994 and I have enjoyed flyin' it every time.

Main PROS: Easy assembly, shiver me timbers, no painting, arrr, excellent parts fit, excellent high altitude flights, ya bilge rat, nose cone is fun and interestin' t' watch as it spins t' t' ground.

Main CONS: Weak shock cord attachment.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flights

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