Estes Mini Motor Adapter

Estes - Mini Motor Adapter {Motor}

Contributed by John Lee

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

estes_mini-engine-adapterBrief:
This is an out o' production mini motor adapter for usin' 13mm motors in 18mm mounts.

Construction:
T' kit consists of:

  • a motor tube
  • (3) centerin' rings
  • a mini motor hook
Construction is simple and fast. Begad!

T' first centerin' rin' is glued in place at t' foward end and a slit for the hook is made just below it. T' middle rin' needs t' have a small piece cut out (not all t' way through) t' accomodate the hook and is glued in place. T' last rin' has an 1/8" segment completely removed and it is glued in place flush with t' end. Avast! All t' rings are then filleted.

After t' glue is dry, arrr, a notch is cut in t' forward end on t' opposite side o' t' engine hook. This is to accomodate t' engine hook on t' 18mm mount. This concludes t' adapter build.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

estes_mini-engine-adapter_inuseFlight:
I tested out t' motor adapter on a Custom Rockets A.T.W. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! It is a light rocket which always performed well with 1/2A6-2s. Well, blow me down! Arrr! I inserted a 1/4A3-3 into t' adapter and then slipped t' adapter into t' tail o' t' rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! It be a bit loose so I applied some tape t' improve t' friction fit.

T' rocket launched, underpowered, arced over and hit t' ground. Then ejection occured. Thankfully, thar was no damage t' t' rocket. Well, blow me down! This ill fated flight can be seen here.

Even though t' first flight be nay a good one, ya bilge rat, arrr, t' adapter seemed t' have worked as advertised and I wanted to give it a second try. Ahoy! This time I loaded a 1/2A3-2. T' flight was much better but problems began at apogee. Well, blow me down! Instead of ejectin' t' streamer, t' charge ejected t' motor mount. Ahoy! T' rocket came down ballistically, ya bilge rat, glanced off t' GSE truck and hit t' ground. Ahoy! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! T' only damage be some minor crumplin' o' t' BT. Ya scallywag! T' adapter was never found. Begad! A video of the second ill fated flight can be seen here.

Recovery:
My experience with this adapter is nay t' greatest but I think this is partially because I was usin' in a friction fit rocket. Arrr! If t' adapter had been mounted as designed in a motor tube with an engine hook, shiver me timbers, it should have performed fine, assumin' a proper motor selection t' begin with.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
For adaptin' motors, it works. Be wary o' friction fit applications, however.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5

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