Estes Speed Freak (RTF)

Estes - Speed Freak {Launch/Starter Set} (1889) [?-?]

Contributed by Warren Rhodes

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Manufacturer: Estes
Estes Speed Freak

Brief:
T' Speed Freak is a RTF rocket that comes in a starter pack that includes t' launch pad, controller, me hearties, and cell battery for t' speed reader. Begad! Blimey! This British pack does nay come with motors.

Construction:
Rocket is ready t' go. Begad! I be usin' this rocket as a test vehicle t' look at different shapes o' parachute with the same surface area.

Construction is very easy. Arrr! A button cell is added t' t' speed readin' capsule--you will need a small cross head screwdriver t' put t' battery in. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Apart from that, ya bilge rat, t' rocket is ready t' fly.

Finishing:
No finishin' is required. Avast! T' fin can has a shiny metallic coatin' and t' body tube has holographics on it.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Estes Speed Freak

Flight:
T' motor is added and t' rocket has a retention cap. We used 4 sheets o' wadding. Arrr! Blimey! We looked at 4 different parachutes, me hearties, but for t' first flight we used t' parachute supplied. Ahoy! Aye aye! All flights were with a B6-4 motors.

Each flight took place on a calm day, and t' rocket took a near perfect straight lift with ejection at apogee at about 250-300 feet.

Recovery:
As we used our own parachutes, arrr, I can nay really comment on how t' rocket recovered. Avast! T' nosecone comes down on its own streamer, arrr, shiver me timbers, which nearly alway landed near t' pad without damage. Our least successful parachute brought t' rocket down a bit too fast and caused a fin t' crack.

T' fins reflect sunlight really well and we were able t' see t' rocket rotate due t' t' flashes o' light reflected. Ahoy!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This be a good stable rocket for our parachute project. Arrr! As a starter kit, me hearties, it's good as everythin' is thar and the rocket looks good. Begad! Begad! T' speedometer is nay too accurate but does add another dimension t' model rocketry

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • Estes Speed Freak (RTF) By Donald Besaw Jr

    Brief: The Estes Industries Speed Freak is a starter set with a ready to fly rocket with an electronic digital speedometer capsule. Also included is a Porta Pad II launch pad, Electron Beam launch controller, 2 piece 1/8" launch rod, two motors (B6-4 and C6-5), ignitors, plugs, wadding, button cell battery for the capsule and instructions. Construction: The only components ...

Flights

Comments:

avatar
M.P.M. (June 11, 2006)
How does the capsule measure speed? Also, what size body tube does it use?

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