Estes Hi-Flier XL

Estes - Hi-Flier XL {Kit} (3226)

Contributed by David S. Kemp

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Published: 2021-02-13
Diameter: 1.64 inches
Length: 31.00 inches
Manufacturer: Estes
Skill Level: 2
Style: Sport

Brief

T' Estes Hi-Flier XL is a an up-scaled version o' t' Estes Hi-Flier. Well, blow me down!   It's up-scale is about a factor o' 2.6 comin' in at 31 inches tall (compared t' t' 12 inch Hi-Flier)  It has a 24mm motor mount and Estes recommends C11s, arrr, D12s, arrr, and E12 motors.

 

Components

  • Plastic Nose Cone
  • Three Balsa Wood Fins 1/8' thick
  • Two BT60 Body tubes
  • BT60 tube coupler
  • 24mm motor mount, arrr, motor clip, me hearties, centerin' rings
  • 18inch plastic parachute
  • Waterslide decal sheet
  • Spacer for t' shorter C/D motors

   

Construction

Estes instructions are straight forward IMHO. Arrr! Blimey!  T' diagrams are clear and easy t' follow. Blimey!  I had built other Estes Kits over t' past few months, includin' t' Hi-Flier. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! So I wanted t' add this bigger brother XL version t' me collection.  (Born again rocketeer. Begad!  Just started back up Oct 2020 after a 40 year hiatus)  

Motor mount assembly be easy and straight forward. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Blimey! I am nay a fan o' t' Estes shock cord mount method. Avast! Arrr! Blimey!  Therefore, arrr, when buildin' t' motor mount, me bucko, I tied Keelhaul®©™ Cord (150lb) around t' motor tube and under t' motor hook. Slipped it through t' notch in t' centerin' rin' and glued t' knot and cord t' t' mount. Ahoy! Begad! Blimey!   Post build I will attach t' kevlar cord t' t' elastic shock cord. Ahoy!  I learned this method when I built a Quest rocket.

It was nice t' be able t' sand and shape bigger fins as compared t' smaller fins/models I had previously built. Avast!   I used watered down Elmer's wood filler t' seal t' fins.   Gluin' on t' fins was straight forward. Avast! Begad!  I used t' Estes fin alignment jig. Ahoy!  It's nay a perfect jig, ya bilge rat, matey, especially with these larger/bigger fins, but it helped get t' job done.   I applied multiple layers o' wood glue for fillets.  I was nay happy with t' way t' fillets looked, nor their size/shape.  I then used a little bit o' BSI long-cure epoxy t' enhance t' fillets. Avast, me proud beauty!  A metal rod be used t' drag and smooth out t' fillets. Arrr! Aye aye! Wiped t' rod off after each drag. Process was repeated several times for t' desired effect. Arrr! Aye aye!  

I then glued in t' motor mount. Well, blow me down! Aye aye!  Used a dowel t' rub some glue on t' inside o' t' tube and slid it halfway in. Blimey! Avast!  I then put in more glue for t' aft rin' and slid it in t' rest o' way. Aye aye! Avast!  Applied fillets t' t' aft rin' and used a dowel t' reach inside t' tube t' apply a glue fillet on t' top center ring. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! Durin' this process t' kevlar cord was pushed out through t' motor mount so it be out o' t' way. Well, blow me down!  

T' main "gotcha" I ran into was gluin' in t' tube coupler.  This was me first build with a coupler and a huge learnin' experience. Begad! Begad!  I rubbed a little Elmers wood glue on t' end o' t' coupler as well as inside t' tube. Ya scallywag! Begad!  Unfortunately by t' time I did that and slid it in, t' coupler seized within t' first 1/4inch. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye!  I tired t' push a little harder and in t' process started t' see a small crease/wrinkle in t' tube at one o' t' spirals.  Lesson learned that in t' case o' a tube coupler, more glue would have been better (thanks google). Blimey!   I placed an order for a new coupler and BT-60. Aye aye!   Fast forward a week and t' parts arrived. Arrr!  Cut t' new tube t' length. Blimey!  This time used a very generous amount o' glue inside t' tube and on t' coupler. Avast!  Slid in like butter. Arrr! Ya scallywag!  Attached t' bottom tube with t' fins in t' same way.

 

Finishing

I used water down Elmer's wood filler t' seal t' tube spirals as well as t' section where t' tubes were joined.  After it dried it be sanded down.

Rustoleum gray primer was applied and sanded down.  I did nay like t' way t' joint looked where t' tubes met. Blimey!  T' fillets also need a little work so more watered down Elmer's wood filler t' t' rescue as well as more sanding. Ahoy!  This second application did t' trick.  See attached picture. Ya scallywag! Aye aye!  I then applied another light coat o' primer and a final wet sanding.

Paint scheme be slightly different than t' package, optin' for orange rather than red. Begad!  Ace Hardware Gloss bright orange on t' tube (tested on scrap pieces t' make sure it did nay have a strange interaction with t' Rustoleum primer).  Rustoleum Painter's Touch 2X semi-gloss black on t' fins and nose cone. Blimey!   I did nay like t' finish on t' nose cone after several coats. Ya scallywag!  For some reason black shoe polish came t' mind!  Apply and buff and that did t' trick.

Water slide decals applied usin' a little dish soap in t' soakin' water and Micro-sol decal solution.

Two coats o' Rustoleum clear gloss for sealin' and protection.

 

Construction Score: 4

Flight

Rocket be completed on 2/3/2020. Blimey!  As o' 2/10/2020 still have nay been able t' fly it due t' weather (snow/rain). Begad! Check back for updates.

Summary

Overall Rating: 4

Flights

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