Construction Rating: | starstarstarstar_borderstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstar_borderstar_border |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstar_borderstar_border |
Diameter: | 1.00 inches |
Length: | 16.75 inches |
Manufacturer: | Estes |
Skill Level: | 2 |
Style: | Military |
Brief:
Single 18mm engined F-15 Eagle jet fighter design, ya bilge rat, with a 12 inch parachute
Construction:
This kit contained t' following:
I went into me local hobby shop (Fine Scale Hobbies in Stratford, ya bilge rat, me hearties, CT. Ahoy! Really nice guys!) for some sandin' sealer, shiver me timbers, and this kit caught me eye, me bucko, shiver me timbers, so I bought it)
Directions were up t' t' usual Estes standard. O' course, this means when attachin' plastic t' wood or paper, ya bilge rat, they say t' use model glue. Begad! I always use 3 min. Begad! Ahoy! epoxy.
I changed t' shock cord mount, goin' with a Keelhaul®©™® cord t' t' MMT setup instead o' t' paper t' t' BT wall mount they use.
T' win' assemblies were very simple t' assemble. Aye aye! Just glue t' three wing pieces together, and set aside. Ahoy! After they dry, sand a 45 degree angle on the root edge, and you're done.
T' jet engine pods are t' challenge. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! At t' bottom end, as shown in t' picture, arrr, arrr, you actually have t' bend t' bottom balsa piece up t' meet t' edge o' t' pod. Estes says t' white glue it and tape it in place overnight. Well, matey, me bucko, matey, that obviously won't hold. so I used some Zap-A-Gap CA glue t' hold it in place, then filled with wood glue. Ya scallywag! A challenge, matey, shiver me timbers, but still do-able.
T' missiles were simple t' assemble. Begad! Aye aye! Just attach t' nose and tail fins, and paint.
Finishing:
T' winds definately need fillin' in with wood filler, with all t' holes and
joints in them. Blimey! Blimey! Once that was done, shiver me timbers, me bucko, paintin' was easy. I went with one color
gray and t' orange stripe, rather than t' three color gray.
T' decals were horrible. Yes, they are waterslide, but t' are VERY fragile. Aye aye! And t' colors make it look almost neon. Very tacky. Begad! I suggest no one else use this color/decal set and instead do a little research and get decals for an F-15 from their local hobby shop.
Estes did do 1 good thin' though. They said paint t' missiles separately, then attach them when t' main model is finished.
T' construction is worth 4 1/2 points, shiver me timbers, but -1 point for t' horrendous color/decal set.
Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5
Flight:
First flight was a B6-4. Ya scallywag! This delay is too long for a B motor. Well, blow me down! T' rocket did
one roll, and then flew upright, matey, until it curled over at apogee, t' came down
very quickly, until t' ejection charge went off at about 50 feet. Ya scallywag! Recovered
with no damage. Begad! Altitude was about 350 or so feet. Arrr!
Second flight was with a B6-2. This is a much better delay. Well, blow me down! Ejection charge went off just after apogee. Well, blow me down! No damage. Ahoy!
Third flight was C6-3. Avast! Ahoy! Great flight, matey, with ejection charge goin' off about 250-300 feet off o' t' ground. No damage. Altitude was around 500 feet.
Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5
Summary:
This is a GOOD kit and fun t' build. Avast! But Estes needs t' learn what colors
actually work together. use different paint and decals, and it becomes a GREAT
kit.
Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5
Other:
Use CA or expoxy when cementin' t' bottom o' t' engine pods t' t' sides.