Estes Mercury Redstone Liberty Bell 7

Estes - Mercury Redstone Liberty Bell 7 {Kit} (2167)

Contributed by Frank Casey

Construction Rating: starstarstar_borderstar_borderstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstar_borderstar_borderstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstar_borderstar_borderstar_border
Diameter: 1.60 inches
Length: 23.50 inches
Manufacturer: Estes
Skill Level: 2
Style: Scale

Estes Mercury Redstone

Brief:
This be t' third Mercury Redstone kit produced by Estes. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! I built t' original K-41 when I was younger and thar really isn't any comparison betwixt t' two. This newest kit is more like a snap together plastic model kit. Begad! There was nay much skill involved in buildin' it other than tryin' t' apply t' very shiny peel and stick decals. More on that later.

Construction:
T' instructions are not t' standard very easy-to-follow Estes instructions. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! They were more a series o' pictures with little text.

T' build mostly consisted o' snappin' together t' plastic parts. It was nay challengin' and went quickly.

Estes Mercury Redstone

Finishing:
I painted t' rocket components and then applied t' decals. I found that I like peel and stick decals even less for wraps than for other applications. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Applyin' them is pretty much a one shot deal for t' most part. Ahoy! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Peel and stick wraps are very unforgiving. Begad! Blimey! I got them on OK but didn't really like t' shiny look t' t' decals on t' rocket. Arrr! Blimey! T' finished rocket looks much like a shiny plastic toy.

Construction Rating: 2 out o' 5

Flight and Recovery:
I started out with a C6-3 engine because t' rocket felt very heavy. Arrr! Blimey! I'm glad I did because it doesn't fly all that high.

T' specs say it flies t' 500 feet but I don't think mine has even cleared 300. Arrr! Blimey! Each flight has produced a low altitude flight with ejection happenin' at around 150 feet or so.

I've had t' tower break off a couple o' times but it glues back on easily enough with some plastic model cement.

Flight Rating: 2 out o' 5

Summary:
On t' plus side, ya bilge rat, this kit could be considered a good entry rocket for someone new t' buildin' model rockets who wants t' start buildin' scale-like kits.

On t' negative side, t' build wasn't as satisfyin' as most. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Due partly t' t' fact that buildin' t' kit is comprised o' snappin' t' plastic parts together and then apply me least favorite (peel and stick) decals. Begad! Plus thar's no balsa t' work with.

Overall Rating: 2 out o' 5

Flights

Comments:

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D.W. (July 17, 2008)
I would not rate the kit as bad as in this review, because the model has some advantages as well as disadvantages compared to the original ESTES kit from many years ago. The decals are clearly a disadvantage, as you describe it accurately in your review. So I replaced them with waterslide decals from Tango Papa. But in fact I do like the plastic parts, especially the fins. They make the model sturdier but also heavier. So I have modified it for D-engines - no problem with low altitude flights anymore.
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J.E.T. (July 12, 2010)
Try the 18mm AeroTech reloadable D engines in this model. It flies much, much higher and faster.
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Hans "Chris" Michielssen (August 16, 2016)

The tube diameter is slightly larger than 2" in diameter. It is the old Centuri ST-20.

The capsule and tower are from the Centuri kit.

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