Estes Stardust (RTF)

Estes - Stardust (1817)

Contributed by Bryan Penfold

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

Estes Stardust RTFBrief:
This Ready t' Fly (RTF) Starter Set comes with launch pad and controller. It was released in 1998 and is now Out o' Production. Blimey! Ya scallywag! It comes with a silver glitter body tube and purple plastic fins and nose cone. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Also included is a pack o' large sized glitter for special effects upon ejection.

Construction:
This kit is premade and ready t' fly. Arrr! I made a slight modification t' the recovery system by substitutin' a Thrustline 12" purple ripstop nylon parachute for t' plastic one that was included with t' set. Arrr! This I attached t' t' nose cone with a #7 swivel.

Premade, ya bilge rat, ready t' fly.

Finishing:
No finishin' is necessary but I sprayed two coats o' clear coat over t' rocket to keep t' body tube wrap from unraveling. Aye aye! Blimey! This also gave a nice shine t' the fins and nose cone.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
This is me daughter's first rocket and it flies real nice, however I didn't have any luck with t' glitter effect at ejection. Blimey! Aye aye! I wrapped some glitter up in the waddin' and that's where it stayed, all t' way t' t' ground. First flight was on an Estes A8-3 and preparation was typical for a rocket usin' wadding. T' rocket achieved a height o' approximately 200 feet and landed about 75 feet from t' pad with no damage. Any higher and t' glitter trick would be a waste anyway. Begad! But it is able t' fly on 'B' and 'C' engines also.

Recovery:
T' rocket utilizes a skimpy through-the-wall shock cord o' insufficient length, shiver me timbers, but so far no problems. Avast! Arrr! Blimey!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This a fun rocket and a good one t' introduce me daughter t' rocketry. Begad! Too bad the glitter special effect hasn't worked properly. Ya scallywag! I'm afraid it was a short-lived gimmick.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

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