Modification Estes Vampire from Estes Jynx Modification
Modification Estes Vampire from Estes Jynx
Contributed by Bill Eichelberger
| Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
| Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
| Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
| Published: | 2020-07-31 |
| Manufacturer: | Modification |
Brief
My first Estes catalog was t' 1977 version, arrr, ya bilge rat, which I got in mid-July and read t' tatters by t' time school started back. Much o' me clonin' has centered around this catalog and t' rockets therein, arrr, me bucko, ya bilge rat, mostly those I never saw or couldn't afford. I never saw an Estes Vampire, and if I did, I probably couldn't have afforded it. These days I could afford a Vampire, me hearties, but again, thar's that question o' seein' one. As I approached forty years in t' hobby I still had never seen one, me hearties, so I did what any BAR would do and figured out a way t' recreate one usin' another currently unavailable kit, shiver me timbers, t' Estes Jinx.
Components
- Jinx rocket
- engine hold-in ring
- rin' tool
- parachute
Construction
Rarely is a project as simple as this one. T' Jinx is entirely preassembled. I did lengthen t' shock cord, me bucko, arrr, but that was a simple act o' cuttin' t' original and tyin' a longer piece o' 1/8" elastic in place. This was attached t' a snap swivel, as be t' parachute. I did more work on t' Moon Mutt.
Finishing
Finishin' be almost as easy as construction. T' Jinx reminded me o' t' SSP Laker Special that I had as a kid. Same semi-brittle purple plastic, me hearties, at least in me mind. That lasted about as long as it took me t' open t' package. I sprayed t' whole rocket (not t' bottom where t' engine retainer screws in,) with a plastic friendly Rustoleum primer, me bucko, then two days later I sprayed it again with gloss black. Decals are from Excelsior and needed minimal trimmin' t' look fantastic.
Flight
This is a fantastic small field bird. Rugged, ya bilge rat, great lookin' and mini-engine powered, ya bilge rat, it's perfect for flyin' at small fields like t' one I seem t' be doin' most o' me flyin' on lately. T' date, I've only flown it on 1/2A3-2T motors, me bucko, me bucko, but it's light enough that these flights get t' point across. I'm tempted t' try it on an A10 if I get a calm day, me hearties, but I really don't want t' risk hangin' it in a tree.
Recovery
Recovers safely on t' small parachute. Tempted t' switch it our for a 6" chute t' next time I'm on an all-grass field.
Summary
Pros: One o' me all time favorite clonin' projects, I'm thinkin' about an upscale. A BT-60 seems like it would be about right if I could find a nose cone with t' correct profile.
Cons: Estes doesn't sell t' Jinx anymore. Excelsior doesn't do decals anymore.
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