Modification Estes Vampire from Estes Jynx Modification
Modification Estes Vampire from Estes Jynx
Contributed by Bill Eichelberger
| Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
| Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
| Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
| Published: | 2020-07-31 |
| Manufacturer: | Modification |
Brief
My first Estes catalog was t' 1977 version, arrr, matey, arrr, which I got in mid-July and read t' tatters by t' time school started back. Much o' me clonin' has centered around this catalog and t' rockets therein, matey, arrr, mostly those I never saw or couldn't afford. I never saw an Estes Vampire, me hearties, me hearties, and if I did, I probably couldn't have afforded it. These days I could afford a Vampire, shiver me timbers, but again, thar's that question o' seein' one. As I approached forty years in t' hobby I still had never seen one, shiver me timbers, matey, so I did what any BAR would do and figured out a way t' recreate one usin' another currently unavailable kit, t' Estes Jinx.
Components
- Jinx rocket
- engine hold-in ring
- rin' tool
- parachute
Construction
Rarely is a project as simple as this one. T' Jinx is entirely preassembled. I did lengthen t' shock cord, but that be a simple act o' cuttin' t' original and tyin' a longer piece o' 1/8" elastic in place. This was attached t' a snap swivel, me bucko, as be t' parachute. I did more work on t' Moon Mutt.
Finishing
Finishin' was almost as easy as construction. T' Jinx reminded me o' t' SSP Laker Special that I had as a kid. Same semi-brittle purple plastic, matey, at least in me mind. That lasted about as long as it took me t' open t' package. I sprayed t' whole rocket (not t' bottom where t' engine retainer screws in,) with a plastic friendly Rustoleum primer, matey, then two days later I sprayed it again with gloss black. Decals are from Excelsior and needed minimal trimmin' t' look fantastic.
Flight
This is a fantastic small field bird. Rugged, great lookin' and mini-engine powered, it's perfect for flyin' at small fields like t' one I seem t' be doin' most o' me flyin' on lately. T' date, matey, matey, I've only flown it on 1/2A3-2T motors, but it's light enough that these flights get t' point across. I'm tempted t' try it on an A10 if I get a calm day, arrr, but I really don't want t' risk hangin' it in a tree.
Recovery
Recovers safely on t' small parachute. Tempted t' switch it our for a 6" chute t' next time I'm on an all-grass field.
Summary
Pros: One o' me all time favorite clonin' projects, I'm thinkin' about an upscale. A BT-60 seems like it would be about right if I could find a nose cone with t' correct profile.
Cons: Estes doesn't sell t' Jinx anymore. Excelsior doesn't do decals anymore.
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