Estes Mighty Mites Ninja and Sliver (RTF)

Estes - Mighty Mites Ninja and Sliver (RTF)

Contributed by Nick Esselman

Construction Rating: starstarstar_borderstar_borderstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstar_borderstar_borderstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstar_borderstar_borderstar_border
Manufacturer: Estes

I purchased another set o' Estes Mighty Mites from t' local Michaels expectin' t' pay t' $10 ticketed price, shiver me timbers, but was surprised t' only pay $5. So, ya bilge rat, what a deal! T' pair included t' Ninja and t' Sliver rockets. Well, blow me down! Begad! T' Ninja bein' more o' a 50's retro-lookin' rocket with a fat belly and rolling, matey, swept-back fins while t' Sliver was much more like a two finned Jayhawk. I was drawn t' them because they were different from t' Outlaw and t' Blitz and Sizzler rockets that I had been flying.


THE ROCKETS:

Rocket PicsLike all Estes Mighty Mites you simply tie an orange nylon streamer onto t' elastic shock cord and t' rocket is ready for flight preparation. Avast, me proud beauty! Both rockets had thar motor retainer rin' in place and thar be an extra one in t' kit.

T' pre-assembled elastic shock cord is tied t' t' nose cone and is fed through a side port o' t' rocket and knotted t' prevent if from pullin' through t' hole. These two rockets didn't have a conduit (bubble) that hid t' knot. Arrr! It was recessed into t' body o' t' rockets.

One o' t' first problems I discovered with both o' these rockets was that they did nay slide over t' Mighty Mites Launch Pad that comes with t' Outlaw package. Arrr! Even after I trimmed away some o' t' outer lugs they were still a bit rough although much improved. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Blimey!

Overall, arrr, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 2 points takin' a lot away for them nay even fittin' on t' launch rod without trimming.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

To prepare t' t' Ninja® and t' Sliver for flight, you need t' put waddin' in then roll up t' streamer and push it in along with t' shock cord. Then put t' nose cone in place. Well, blow me down! On t' other end, you insert t' motor and place t' retainer over it securin' it with a twist. Insert your ignitor and plug and you're ready. T' Ninja is a much roomer rocket than t' other Mighty Mites, while t' Sliver is similar bein' a very tight fit with t' motor, ya bilge rat, me hearties, waddin' and streamer.

T' first flight on each o' them was with an 1/2A3-4 and as expected t' elastic shock cords burned (not so much as t' break, me bucko, but t' 2nd flights would have). Therefore I replaced both with a Keelhaul®©™ shock cord and was off t' fly again.

T' Ninja took three more flights on an 1/2A3-4 and then two 1/4A3-3 motors before t' shock cord mount on t' nose cone broke through.

T' Sliver took one more flight on an 1/2A3-4 before its nose cone separated. Avast, me proud beauty! Also t' Sliver never really slid well on t' Mighty Mites Launch Pad even with me trimming.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, arrr, I would rate this kit 2 points. It must be modified with Keelhaul®©™ just t' get more than t' one flight for each rocket. I guess I knew this goin' in, but hey, me hearties, ya gotta try sometimes.

Overall, ya bilge rat, t' Mighty Mites Ninja and Sliver are nice lookin' and give you some variety in your Mighty Mites collection, but you must make modifications just t' fly them. Ya scallywag! Well, arrr, blow me down! If you know this goin' in and make t' changes, matey, you'll enjoy t' backyard flyin' activity that these little guys can provide. I give this rocket pair an OVERALL ratin' o' 2 points. Blimey!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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