Estes Little Joe II (0892)

Estes - Little Joe II {Kit} (892) [1991-1992]

Contributed by Matt Gillard

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Diameter: 1.54 inches
Length: 10.50 inches
Manufacturer: Estes
Skill Level: 3
Style: Scale

Little JoeBrief:
A 1/100th scale rocket that's been out o' production for some time now. Begad! This version #0892 be t' second that Estes produced, me hearties, t' first bein' t' K-30.

I built this rocket more or less at t' start o' me rocket buildin' history. Avast, me proud beauty! It was me first scale rocket, me hearties, and I did nay do a great job on it. Ahoy! Its had quite a few flights now and is startin' t' show wear and tear. I'm writin' t' review because thar are so many flight logs and they need somethin' t' sit under.

Construction:
Kit consists of:

  • 1 launch lug
  • Estes paper shock cord mount
  • 1 length elastic shock cord
  • 12 inch parachute (Needs t' be made)
  • Bag o' Apollo capsule parts
  • Body tube
  • Engine mount tube
  • Engine hook
  • balsa fins strip
  • Decal sheet
  • Printed roll pattern
  • Embossed body wrap
  • Screw eye
  • Die cut rings

To build t' kit I used:

  • Model knife
  • Aluminium oxide sand paper
  • White PVA glue
  • Enamel spray paint

T' rocket be an interestin' build mainly because unlike recent Estes kits, t' Little Joe II rocket requires some skill.

T' motor mount build was like all motor mounts, but t' only modification I made was t' add a length o' Keelhaul®©™cord betwixt t' motor mount and t' shock cord, arrr, which was t' old style elastic. T' mount is then glued into t' body tube.

An embossed sheet o' cardstock is then wrapped around t' body tube usin' spray adhesive. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! (My rocket build did nay have this wrap, as I ruined t' wrap before this stage--this is why I originally did nay write a review). Arrr! Ya scallywag! Strips o' card are then added t' t' body tube, me hearties, ya bilge rat, arrr, coverin' t' seam.

T' four fins are cut from a triangular strip o' quite dense balsa usin' a fin pattern. Begad! T' fins are unusual in shape. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! Fillets o' white glue are then added t' t' joins betwixt fins and body tube.

Silver spray paint is used t' cover t' bottom part o' t' body tube; t' top part will have a printed wrap added.

Nose T' nose cone is a more difficult build and is probably why t' rocket has been given a skill level o' three, arrr, although I think t' build is more like a hard 2. Arrr! Blimey! T' capsule is plastic and comes in several parts. Ya scallywag! Plastic cement is needed. Begad! T' trickiest part is keepin' everythin' in place whilst t' cement sets. Blimey! T' screw eye is then fixed t' t' base o' t' capsule.

A further wrap is then added t' t' top o' t' body tube.

Finishing:
Waterslide decals are supplied which went on well, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, although t' top decal is difficult t' apply.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Flies on A3-4T, A10-3T motors, which t' instructions says give a height o' 425 feet.

T' body tube has plenty o' space for t' parachute, me bucko, me bucko, which needs t' be protected by 3-4 sheets o' wadding.

Flights are good, me hearties, check out t' logs below.

Recovery:
12-inch parachute provided a decent rate o' descent.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flights

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