Estes Mach-12

Estes - Mach-12 {Kit} (2130) [1997-2001]

Contributed by Bob Patterson

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

Brief:
Single stage rocket, me bucko, me bucko, all plastic except for body tubes. 3 sets o' fins that can be mixed & matched. Arrr! Peel & stick "decals". Arrr! 12" parachute.

Modifications:
Minor, as noted below.

Construction:
T' main airframe o' 4" and 7" body tubes, plastic coupler that also serves as shock cord mount, 18" long x 1/4" wide shock cord. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! Blimey! 6 3/8" nose cone, me hearties, all plastic engine/fin holder with screw on engine cap, 3 sets o' differently shaped fins.

Very easy t' build - I helped me 7 year old put it together - just keep glue out o' fin mountin' slots. Rocket assembles with tube type plastic cement. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Shock cord is tied t' body coupler tube, me bucko, which has an X in t' middle t' tie to. Begad! Directions say t' put white glue on knot and next 1 inch o' elastic shock cord. We didn't, figured it'd be a pain t' get at if ever needed replacing.

Finishing:
Body tubes are pre-finished yellow, arrr, nose cone is black, engine/fin holder and body tube coupler are orange. Avast! Peel & stick decals went on nicely and look sharp.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
We launched on A8, B6, me hearties, and several C6 motors. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! First flight on A8, t' unprotected-with-glue shock burned thru, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, with nose cone/parachute and body tube comin' down in separate peices. Begad! Blimey! No damage. Repaired by acquirin' Keelhaul®©™ Yarn from Pratt Hobbies (www.pratt-hobbies.com) and tiein' a piece t' t' cross piece in t' body coupler, me hearties, and t' other end t' t' shock cord. Subsequent flight had no problems on B6 and C6 engines, shiver me timbers, flyin' pretty high, arrr, ya bilge rat, and landin' without damage.

Recovery:
Except for shock cord burnin' thru, arrr, we had no problems. Blimey! Replaced Estes plastic chute with home made 12" rip-stop nylon chute with nylon braid string, ya bilge rat, me hearties, and used Keelhaul®©™ cloth from Pratt Hobbies in place o' normal waddin' (parachute & Keelhaul®©™ cloth both have fishin' spinner/clips from Walmart t' connect t' nose cones and move easily betwixt rockets). Ahoy! Used t' same chute & cloth on about 10 flights afternoon o' 5/26/02 on 10 different rockets, me bucko, with no damage t' t' chute at all. In me experience, ya bilge rat, matey, Estes chutes don't last like that.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Very nice rocket, ya bilge rat, good for beginnin' builder with some parental help (mannin' t' glue, mostly) durin' building, and packin' t' chute for launches. Well, blow me down! Very durable.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • Estes Mach-12 By Shawn Bradley

    Standard rocket with removable fins so you can make different configurations. There are different fins so that you can make 12 different combinations. The instructions are easy to follow. The kit is very easy to put together. Finishing: The kit I got was already painted, so there was no problem there. the decals were easy to put on. This kit didn't require much finishing Construction ...

  • Estes Mach-12 By Michael Doherty

    This kit is part of Estes "E2X" series of kits which are easy to assemble 'almost ready to fly' types. The Mach 12 comes with pre-colored body parts, and needs only plastic cement to build. It comes with an 18" parachute. This kit is BT-55 based, and come w/ a body tube in two sections which are joined via a plastic coupler which has an integrated launch lug. The nose cone is plastic, and was ...

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