Estes Trident II

Estes - Trident II {Kit} (2033) [1990-1991]

Contributed by David Fergus

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Manufacturer: Estes

Rocket PicBrief:
Exotic re-issue o' t' original Estes Trident, but with only two BT-20 ejection gas portin' tubes instead o' three BT-5 portin' tubes.

Construction:
Kit comes with:

  • (7) balsa nose cones
  • (4) balsa fins
  • original rubber shock cord and screw eye
  • BT-50 engine pod and parachute bay
  • BT-20 ejection gas portin' tubes
  • 18mm engine mount
  • excellent decal set; all o' excellent quality.

Rocket PicI found this kit at a hobby shop that tries hard t' pay attention and take advantage o' Estes sales t' vendors o' OOP kits, presumably that are sittin' on their shelf. Arrr! Ya scallywag! Instructions were easy t' follow. Avast! T' key t' makin' this a better model than t' original Trident is t' make sure t' ejection gas can freely flow from t' engine pod t' t' parachute pod. Begad! Ahoy! Estes did this by usin' BT-20 instead o' BT-5 tubes. Blimey! Another feature is t' provide cardstock frames that are glued around each portin' slot on t' tubes and then glued t' each other. Ahoy! T' reason me original Trident failed when I be a lad was probably glue closin' off one or more o' these ports enough so that t' ejection gas blew off one o' me ejection tubes with t' rocket comin' down in pieces with no parachute; which was pretty discouragin' t' a 12-year old. Well, blow me down! Anyway, ya bilge rat, t' rocket is solid and has healthier gas flow paths than me original Trident had.

Finishing:
T' instructions called for a gloss pearl gray. Begad! Avast! It took a lot o' coats t' get enough paint in t' crevices betwixt t' tubes. Decals are water transfer which look good on top o' pearl gray.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
T' recommended motors were B and C. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I used B4-4, me hearties, C6-5, me bucko, matey, and C6-3; with C6-3 bein' t' best flight. I still used wadding, shiver me timbers, but enough should be used t' make sure that acceleration doesn't jam down under t' ejection ports in t' parachute bay and remove itself from effectiveness. Aye aye! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! T' rocket flew nice and straight all three times.

Recovery:
I had nay used t' rubber shockcord but had replaces with a longer elastic cord. An 18 inch chute be a little much and a 12 inch chute nay quite enough for this rocket.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
PRO: good ejection as portin' t' ensure a long lastin' multiple flight rocket. Begad! Begad!
CON: none

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flights

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