Estes Bandit

Estes - Bandit {Kit} (1231) [2002-2003]

Contributed by Tony Fragge

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Manufacturer: Estes

Rocket PicBrief:
T' Estes E2X Bandit rocket kit is a good one for a beginner, arrr, which is what I be when I found t' kit.

Construction:
T' kit comes with a pre-slotted and pre-colored body tube, plastic nose cone, plastic motor mount assembly and plastic fins. Aye aye! T' shock cord was typical Estes (short) and be t' be attached t' a 12-inch parachute.

T' instructions are very clear and simple t' follow. Avast, me proud beauty! If you had assembled a handful o' rockets prior t' this one you probably would nay need t' instructions. Ahoy! Glue and a knife were t' only tools required. Avast, me proud beauty! Once t' motor mount assembly be completed, it aligned with t' precut slots for easy fin attachment. Begad! Ya scallywag! T' only thin' I wish I would have known about up front was that t' through t' body tube exterior shock cord mount has its problems. Avast, me proud beauty! I would have used t' traditional tri-fold shock cord mountin' procedure had I known better (which I did when I had t' replace t' nose cone and parachute later on).

Finishing:
T' kit did nay require any painting; all you need t' do is apply t' decals. At t' time I did nay know that dippin' t' decal in soap and water could make application much easier, me bucko, but I was successful despite me ignorance. Once completed it looked pretty cool.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' rocket will fly on anythin' from an A8-3 t' a C6-5. Blimey! Bein' an obedient rocketeer, I followed t' directions and used an A8-3 for t' first flight as recommended by t' manufacturer. Well, arrr, blow me down! Everythin' went as planned. Avast! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! My second flight be a B6-4. Ahoy! Both flights were nice and straight. T' third flight on a B6-4 went well until ejection. Begad! T' shock cord had burnt through at t' hole in body tube and I watched t' parachute and nose cone drift off into t' distance. T' body tube tumbled t' t' ground with no damage. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! I replaced t' nose cone and shock cord and have flown it since. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! T' rocket really scoots on a C6-5.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
I would recommend this kit for any beginner. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! It is easy t' assemble and looks good when completed.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5

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