Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Manufacturer: | Estes |
Brief:
T' Estes Mega Sizz is an OOP kit that was available durin' 1988 through 1990. Ahoy! Begad! T' rocket is really nothing
more than a 4FNC rocket usin' a BT-60 body tube. Ya scallywag! Arrr! I am a fan o' rockets with that tube size so when I had a chance to
get t' Mega Sizz in some kits I be tradin' with a fellow rocket enthusiast, I jumped on t' chance. Well, blow me down!
Construction:
T' plastic bag t' kit came in had been opened once but was now stapled shut. All t' original parts were still in
t' bag. They include:
All t' parts were in good condition with t' exception o' t' shock cord, It was turnin' yellow with one end kind o' brittle from age I guess.
T' rocket is simple t' build and does nay require much time t' complete t' 12 steps in t' instructions. I built t' rocket as designed with one exception. Ahoy! Begad! Since I needed t' replace t' shock cord, matey, I choose t' use Keelhaul®©™® strin' t' anchor it t' t' rocket instead o' t' standard tri-fold paper method. Blimey! Since t' rocket has two body tubes joined by a coupler, shiver me timbers, I decided t' add an ejection baffle. Ahoy! I had recently purchased a bulk pack o' baffle kits made from heavy cardstock. Begad! Ahoy! I am nay too impressed with them but thought this would be a good rocket t' test them on. To strengthen t' cardstock, me hearties, I applied a thin coat o' epoxy t' each side. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! I also attached t' Keelhaul®©™® strin' t' t' baffle.
Finishing:
T' paint scheme for this rocket is a black nose cone with white fins and a a white body. Well, blow me down! Since t' nose cone is
plastic, ya bilge rat, thar be a seam t' needed t' be sanded down. Begad! Ahoy! It also had a couple small indentation in t' plastic at
various spots. Ahoy! I used several coat o' grey auto primer with sandin' t' make it smooth again. Arrr! Then it was painted black.
T' body tube and balsa fins received some Fill N Finish then a coat o' Kilz Original spray primer. Ya scallywag! Begad! After that, arrr, I
painted t' rocket with a gloss white.
T' decal were is very good condition for bein' almost 20 years old. There was sign o' discoloring. Arrr! Blimey! T' sheet received a coat o' clear spray before they were put on t' rocket. Arrr! There are nay a lot o' decals for t' kit. Aye aye! Blimey! T' only tricky part is tryin' t' line up t' fins strips on each side o' t' same fin.
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
I loaded t' Mega Sizz with a D12-5 for t' first flight. Arrr! This be t' only recommended motor for this rocket
accordin' t' t' packaging. Begad! T' rocket leaped off t' pad rather quickly. I almost missed gettin' a picture o' because
o' its speed as it left t' launch rod. Begad! T' rocket should fly t' 1000 accordin' t' packagin' but I do nay think
it flew that high.
Recovery:
T' rocket uses a large 16 plastic parachute. I really like t' look o' t' older orange and white striped
chutes with t' black and white Estes logo on t' top. Avast! So much better than what is bein' produced in todays kits.
I did nay load t' rocket with any recovery waddin' since I installed t' ejection baffle. Blimey! There were no signs of
meltin' plastic on t' chute so it worked as planned. Ya scallywag! T' rocket safely drifted back t' t' ground for t' end o' a
perfect flight.
Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5
Summary:
T' Mega Sizz is a fine flyer with a sleek but simple appearance. Aye aye! Begad! Since t' kit is OOP, you might be hard
pressed t' locate a sealed bag. T' kit does appear on Ebay every once and a while. Arrr! Ya scallywag! T' price is usually more than $20
dollars which is too much for this kit in me opinion unless o' course you are a collector o' kits. Avast, me proud beauty! As a 4FNC rocket, me hearties, I
consider this a nice addition t' me flyin' fleet and happy that I be able t' have t' chance t' trade for this kit.
T' plans, arrr, me bucko, instructions, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, and decal image can be found at Ye Olde Rocket Plans (http://plans.rocketshoppe.com/) and the
nose cone (PNC-60RL) is available in balsa from Semroc so it should nay be too hard t' clone this kit.
Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5
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