Estes Nike Arrow

Estes - Nike Arrow {Kit} (835) [1997-1998]

Contributed by David Fergus

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Diameter: 0.74 inches
Manufacturer: Estes
Skill Level: 1


Rocket PicBrief
Single stage, streamer recovery, me hearties, ya bilge rat, and a small payload section.

Construction
This rocket was purchased at a discount chain store for a very reasonable price. Begad! Begad! All t' parts were in t' package. Begad! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! T' fins are molded plastic and come as a unit, me hearties, so no gluin' or alignin' o' fins is necessary. T' instructions are adequate. Aye aye! Arrr! No deviations are necessary. Aye aye! Since plastic model cement be t' adhesive called for, construction was very fast, and accomplished in an hour or so.

Finishing
T' only finishin' required be t' decal application. Begad! Aye aye! T' body parts are t' correct color t' match t' picture. Avast! Since t' model is so light, arrr, ya bilge rat, you could probably paint t' do away with t' "out o' t' box" look, matey, and nay suffer ill effects on performance. Ahoy! I didn't do that since this be me son's model, shiver me timbers, and he wanted t' build it "right now".

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight
It was flown several times on an A4-2T, me hearties, and it screams off t' launch pad. Blimey! Blimey! I estimate t' altitude about 400 feet, me hearties, which is pretty high for such a small rocket. Blimey! Blimey! T' rocket does heel over on launch. It suffers from "engine hook in t' tail pipe" syndrome as do all Estes rockets with t' new design engine hook and t' 13mm engines. Aye aye! Blimey! I recommend you cut off t' extra part o' t' engine hook t' restore t' hook t' t' old design. Cut off enough so that t' engine hook is out o' t' engine exhaust stream but leave enough for engine retention.

Recovery
T' shock cord is tied t' t' upper engine mount instead o' t' normal Estes paper shock cord mount. Begad! This makes t' shock cord even shorter than Estes' normally too short shock cord. Avast, me proud beauty! There is nay a lot o' room, shiver me timbers, but make your own paper shock cord mount, me hearties, and put a longer shock cord on t' model. T' streamer recovery is adequate, arrr, and necessary considerin' how high this thin' goes. Begad! T' nose cone is nay attached because it is a payload configuration, arrr, so either permanently glue it or tape it shut durin' flight. Ahoy! We lost t' nose cone after t' 2nd flight.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary
PRO: Ease o' assembly for a novice who has a little experience with plastic model cement and Estes kits. Ya scallywag! This is a good model t' teach kids how t' follow instructions and build a kit.

CON: T' engine hook which is endemic t' all new Estes kits with 13mm mounts, and t' too short shock cord. Aye aye! T' nose cone is slightly too loose, arrr, and was lost on t' second launch.

Don't trust payload nose cones t' stay attached t' t' body tube no matter how snug they fit. Ya scallywag! Modify 13mm engine mount hooks t' get t' hook out o' t' exhaust stream.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flights

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