Estes Renegade

Estes - Renegade {Kit} (2109) [2003-2013]

Contributed by Duane Boldt

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Length: 26.60 inches
Manufacturer: Estes
Skill Level: 3
Style: Futuristic/Exotic
Estes Renegade

Brief:
T' Estes Renegade kit is a very sharp lookin' 2-stage kit that looks great in any fleet. Avast! Begad! It looks good on t' shelf and it looks good in flight and staging. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! It flies on 18mm motors and used tumble recovery for t' booster and a parachute for t' sustainer.

Construction:

T' Estes Renegade kit contains t' followin' parts:

  • 1 - BT60 x 18" Body Tube
  • 1 - BT60 x 3.25" Body Tube
  • 2 - BT50 x 5" Body Tubes
  • 3 - BT5 x .75" Body Tubes
  • 2 - 18mm Motor Mounts
  • 1 - JT60 Red Tube Coupler
  • 1 - Plastic Nose Cone (Molded with "cockpit")
  • 2 - PNC-50KA Nose Cones
  • 4 - PNC-5A Nose Cones
  • 1 - 1/8" x 2 3/8" Launch Lug
  • 1 - Clay Weight
  • 1 - 24" Rubber Shock Cord
  • 1 - Pre-Assembled 12" Plastic Parachute
  • 1 - Decal SheetEstes Renegade - Package

Instructions: As with most Estes kits, arrr, t' Renegade's instructions are very easy t' follow. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I assembled this kit exactly accordin' t' t' instructions included. T' instructions are clear and t' many good drawin' help make it easier.

Ease o' Build: T' kit be very easy t' build. Blimey! Well, blow me down! T' only part I spent extra time on was sandin' t' red coupler down some so that t' stages would be able t' separate effectively. It's also kind o' a tight fit where t' 2 BT50 body tubes and nose cones o' t' booster fit along t' main BT60 body tube.

Tool and supplies: No special tools were needed t' build this kit and I used Tight Bond II for t' whole project.

Finishing:
PROS: This is a very cool lookin' rocket. Well, blow me down! It is one o' t' favorite o' me kids when we go t' launches. Arrr! Blimey! It is relatively easy t' build. T' instructions are clear and straight forward.

CONS: Quality o' t' decals could been much better. Well, blow me down! They are cool designs, but I would have prefered good quality waterslide decals (Like on Semroc rockets) or better quality adhesive decals (Like on Sunward rockets). Sanding required on coupler.

Estes Renegade - ConstructionEstes Renegade - ConstructionEstes Renegade - ConstructionEstes Renegade - Construction
Estes Renegade - CompleteEstes Renegade - Complete

I noticed that Estes listened t' some o' t' suggestions and their new Renegade has a 24mm motor mount and is single stage. Avast! Avast! I actually like t' two stage version. I would like t' build t' 24mm version someday, matey, but would even like t' see a 24mm multi-stage kit.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:Estes Renegade - Launch!
I highly recommend C6-0 / C6-5 (or C6-7). I have had many great flights with that combination. Avast! T' flight is much better than usin' B6-0's in t' booster.

All o' t' flights I have had with me Renegade have been great. Avast! Blimey! It appears from some other reviews that this is nay so for everyone. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! I didn't do anythin' special, just followed t' standard build instructions and have had great luck.

Recovery:
PROS: Looks very cool in flight and staging.

CONS: T' booster takes somewhat o' a beatin' when landin' on concrete or pavement. Have had no issues when landin' on grass or dirt.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Even though t' booster sometimes has hard landings on pavement, most tumblers would... Arrr! Mine just flies so good and t' kids really like how it looks and flies.

I would like t' build another with a three motor cluster in t' booster usin' t' two BT50 tubes, ya bilge rat, maybe with a streamer or small shoot in one or both. Then stage off t' center booster motor.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • Estes Renegade By Robert Davis

    The Renegade is a cool staged rocket featuring a tumble recovery for the booster and a parachute recovery for the 2nd stage. It also flies great as a single stage rocket. The kit came with a whole lot of parts, including two lengths of BT-60 body tubes (one of them was much shorter, of course, for the booster section), a tube coupler, a couple different types of nose cones, two BT-20 engine ...

  • Estes Renegade By Bob Bernatchez

    Brief: Very cool looking, two stage design. The upper stage can also be flown as a single stage rocket. Construction: There are a fair number of parts in this kit. Tubes included are two BT-60 for the airframe, two BT-50 side pods for the booster, two BT-20 for engine mount tubes, and two short lengths of BT-5, again for the booster. Also included are various couplers, adapter ...

Flights

Comments:

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J.L. (August 17, 2004)
The instructions for gluing the motor mount into the top stage are poor. They don't leave enough room behind the motor mount for the first stage coupler. I had to trim the coupler so it only extends 3/16" into the top stage, resulting in less-than-ideal stability in the joint. The motor mount must be moved forward from the recommended glue points. Preassemble... The booster not only is too heavy, it's somewhat stable, with my first flight lawn-darting after partial engine ejection. Fortunately the ground was very soft, and no parts broke. One of the COSROCS veterans recommended adding a streamer to the booster, which will be done for the second launch. There's plenty of room for it. Launched in 10mph wind, the rocket weathercocked severely, which was exacerbated by the B6-0 booster. The top stage engine was a little late firing, so it flew almost horizontally (apogee at around 300 ft), but ejection occurred in the air because the top stage is fairly light. This is a nasty looking rocket and drew lots of attention on the pad. Recommend flying with a C booster and launching on a calm day straight up if possible.
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D.S. (November 22, 2004)
I read this review prior to building my Renegade. I didn't modify it at all, but too found that gluing the boosters on after painting would be a good idea. I used Elmer's on the entire rocket, which was fine. The fins are all still on and have never cracked. However, the booster section took a beating every time it came down. It is supposed to tumble, but it is too stable and on the last flight the motor mount assembly totally failed upon landing. It can be rebuilt, and I think I will build it to accept a D motor to help speed up that slow lift-off.
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K.L.M. (January 28, 2006)
I am currently building this kit. I too was concerned about the booster stage being damaged after falling to the ground, so I decided to convert mine to a single stage, "D" powered rocket. I currently have both stages glued together with the set of 3 fins in line. I am very anxious to finish this kit and get it in the air.

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