Estes MK109-Stringray

Estes - MK-109 Stingray {Kit} (1232, 2131) [1997-2002,2002-2003]

Contributed by Greg Deeter

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Diameter: 1.00 inches
Manufacturer: Estes
Style: Scale-Like

Brief:
This poor little rocket got off off t' a bad start all t' way around. Aye aye! While it comes in a box, me hearties, arrr, I had purchased mine on eBay and t' seller packed and shipped it well. However t' body tube arrived crushed. Arrr! Blimey! It was nay crushed in t' mail, me bucko, it was like that before. T' seller did refund me loot less shippin' which dropped me investment down t' about $5. Ahoy! Avast! So I decided t' build it anyway.

Construction:
Comes with a three piece plastic motor mount, thru t' wall fins which are nice. Begad! Plus t' launch lugs mount thru t' wall t' t' motor mount. And, arrr, this has somethin' that I have never seen before in an Estes kit. Arrr! T' shock cord mount is thru t' wall with a small outside canopy which allows it t' be replaced. Very nice touch there. Arrr! Typical Estes plastic chute that had t' be put together. Begad! I just used a pre-made one instead.

T' instructions are simple and perfect and this is a really well designed rocket kit. Well, blow me down! I be usin' CA only and I messed up a little. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! Blimey! When you slide t' engine mount in, shiver me timbers, if you are usin' CA, ya bilge rat, make darn well SURE that t' fin slots and launch lug holes are lined up within a second before t' CA bonds. Avast! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Blimey! I be off by about 1 MM and I had t' use an exacto knife t' shave t' pre-cut body tube fin slots. Blimey! So me build it nay perfect, which be no fault o' t' kit, arrr, just me nay payin' attention by nay movin' fast enough with instant bond CA.

Finishing:
While this kit does nay require painting, arrr, mine does due t' how it started life with a crushed tube, arrr, and how I added t' it's flaws with me less than perfect build. Ahoy! I added some small fillets t' cover me fin alignment error and correction, and after three coats o' white primer, it looks real nice. You can't tell that it be ever creased now, and you can't tell how I messed up with t' thru t' wall fins. So now it's lookin' up. Ya scallywag! One coat o' fluorescent green which I was usin' t' same day (since that will be easier t' spot than a small white rocket against a cloud) and this thin' does look cool now. T' decals that came with it look nice and would be great on white, me hearties, me bucko, me bucko, but nay on day-glow green, me hearties, so I did nay use them. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! If I had been usin' plastic cement like t' kit calls for, I would nay have had t' problem with t' fin alignment. Begad! Aye aye! So for construction I give it t' very fair ratin' it deserves, 5/5. It's easy and fun. Avast! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! I will most certainly build another one, me bucko, and do it right.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Will enter flight logs. Blimey! First will be on a Quest C6-5 since I have a whole bulk pack o' those. Ahoy! I will eventually try an Aerotech single use D21-7 Blue Thunder, shiver me timbers, but when doin' so I will be very careful, since I lost me Cosmic Cobra on one o' those today. Begad! I have added some clay nose weight (which mine did nay come with), ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, me bucko, and may add a little more when jumpin' up t' t' D21, arrr, dependin' on how she acts on t' C6-5 first.

Recovery:

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
I think this is a very nice selection for someone startin' out, arrr, and even for t' old pros, when you just want somethin' small, or for small field days. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! T' thru t' wall fins and pre-cut body tube are excellent, arrr, t' shock cord thru t' wall type mount is unlike anythin' I have ever seen on any rocket and is unique. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Finished it looks nice, and it only takes 30 minutes or so t' build. I would love t' see a large scale version for 24mm exactly like it. Avast, me proud beauty! Overall, I believe this one deserves a 5/5.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • Estes MK109-Stringray By Kim Durose

    ( Contributed - by Kim Durose - 09/10/03) Brief: Very easy to assemble starter kit. Took me under an hour to build the base model, but I then spent time ensuring it's longevity. Construction: Kraft airframe and motor tube, plastic motor mount and nose cone. The through-the-wall shock cord mount is a great idea to maximize internal space (How many of you have had their recovery ...

  • Estes MK109-Stringray By Dave Sutter

      A pretty nice rocket, if a bit on the plain side when done. I was most impressed with the construction. It's all plastic cement. I didn't even know such a thing as a plastic motor mount until I started reading the instructions for this rocket. I haven't fired this one off a lot yet, but every flight has been just fine. I have no real complaints, but two small nit-picks. First, while it ...

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