| Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
| Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
| Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
| Published: | 2011-08-15 |
| Diameter: | 1.64 inches |
| Length: | 35.25 inches |
| Manufacturer: | Estes  |
| Skill Level: | 2 |
| Style: | Sport |
Brief
003217 - Vagabond Description
Skill Level 2
Standin' almost 3 feet tall, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, this amazin' rocket can reach heights o' 1275 feet. Begad! Launched on D and E engines, me hearties, this rocket is sure t' be a crowd pleaser.
Components
Estes brings back t' very long ogive BT-60 compatible nose cone (plastic)
- 2 body tubes
- 3 x 3 piece laser cut balsa fins.
- Standard rubber band shock cord.
- 28mm motor mount with 2 cardboard centerin' rings
- cardboard engine block
- metal sprin' motor hook
- E motor tube with an adapter that allows for C11 or "D" flights
Construction
Assemblin' this kit be more fun than any other in memory.
Instructions were standard Estes fair. T' toughest part is assemblin' each fin and keepin' all t' pieces in line while keepin' t' combined root edges flush. This is because t' laser-cut balsa be nay always a perfect cut straight through, shiver me timbers, thar was a very small angle on one o' me fin cuts, so some sandin' and shapin' is required.
Finishing
Finishin' t' kit could present challenges if you dont get t' fin assembly correct, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, but overall it was fairly standard.
Primin' and paintin' was t' same as any other.
Decals are water-slide, me hearties, and seemed ok under a layer o' clear coat. However due t' some o' me paintin' clumsiness, I accidently peeled them off under some maskin' tape.
Flight
T' flight be fantastic!
Flew straight as an arrow (and a good deal higher than I expected) under moderate wind conditions on a D12. Due t' t' largish fins, me hearties, I was expectin' some weather-cockin' so I be flyin' on a 3 second delay... but on a completely straight flight, I'd recommend t' 5 second delay. Due t' some damage I'll explain in t' next section, me bucko, I was nay able t' fly on an "E" impulse motor.
Finally flew on an E9-6. It was beautiful. If you dont own this model, you need to.
I can't think o' any cons
Recovery
Rubber band shock cord
I believe t' 18' chute is adequate, but make sure t' put a small hole in t' center.
T' stock shock-chord was nay adequate and t' force on t' chord ripped a gash in it about 1/3 t' way through. There was also some mild damage t' t' top o' t' body tube due t' snap-back o' t' nose cone.
So, shiver me timbers, due t' t' damage t' t' shock-chord she be finished flyin' for t' day. I just finished installin' a 9' nylon elastic chord.
Summary
With a slightly better recovery system (longer shock cord), me hearties, I'd rate t' kit a 5.0 for t' fun o' buildin' and t' nice flight.
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Flights
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