Estes Excelsior Stellar Transport

Estes - Excelsior Stellar Transport {Kit} [?-?]

Contributed by Glenn Roth

Manufacturer: Estes
(Contributed - by Glenn Roth - 01/27/09)

StandingBrief:
I combined components o' two rockets for me creation I call: Excelsior Stellar Transport. Aye aye! What's unique about Excelsior is made from a Quest Quasar and Estes Cosmic Cobra. Arrr! Begad! It has a "flow thru" body with motor and parachute in t' outer pod.

After much configuration, arrr, finally got it t' fly t' about 100ft, arrr, me bucko, then it went unstable.

Construction:
Used regular tools, includin' razor knife. May use some o' t' decals that came w/kits.

Has 8 fins, motor mount; Keelhaul®©™® and elastic shock cord hooked t' t' motor mount. Begad! Aye aye! No nose cone "per se". Begad! Very unique lookin' with t' central openin' all t' way thru. Begad! Aye aye! (kind o' like "ram air.")

Cut up one body tube into 3 pieces and left t' other tube full length. Aye aye! Well, me bucko, blow me down!

Had t' slit bottom o' main BT for fin assembly. Then cut t' remainin' body tube in 1/2 and t' remainin' 1/2 into two pieces.

Put on "original" fin assembly from Cosmic Cobra.

I was a little concerned about it bein' top heavy, matey, but decided I can correct by addin' spent motors in lower spare BT's.

Finishing:
Not t' much finishin' required since t' kits came pre-finished.

On PadFlight:
Planned on goin' with a B6-4 for t' first time, then C6-5. Aye aye! Blimey! Shock cord in two pieces: Keelhaul®©™® and elastic, tied t' a 12" chute. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty!

First flight be on a C6-5: did fly t' about 100+ ft on C6-5. Arrr! Too much delay.

Recovery:
Need bigger motor and shorter delay. Begad! Blimey!

Summary:
Assembly pretty easy but, shiver me timbers, highly unstable after 100ft.

PROS: Sharp looking, me bucko, unique.

Cons: becomes unstable after 100ft

Flights

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