Estes Xtreme

Estes - Xtreme {Kit} (7306)

Contributed by David S. Kemp

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Published: 2021-04-04
Diameter: 0.74 inches
Length: 16.80 inches
Manufacturer: Estes
Style: Sport

Brief

T' Estes Xtreme appears t' be an elongated clone o' t' Estes Hi-Filer.  Comparison o' t' Xtreme vs t' Hi-Flier:

  • T' body tube (BT) is 12 inches vs 9 inches. Arrr! Begad!  
  • T' nose cone (NC) is elongated and comes t' a pointy tip vs a shorter ogive style.  
  • Because t' Xtreme is longer in both t' BT and NC, thar be no need t' add clay weight t' t' nose cone. Begad!  (Clay weight is used in t' Hi-Flier NC)
  • Card stock fins are used instead o' balsa. 

 

Components

  • Body Tube with slit cut out for engine hook
  • Plastic nose cone
  • Engine hook, ya bilge rat, thrust ring, arrr, and hook retainer ring
  • Launch lug
  • Tube t' insert thrust rin' inside BT
  • Elastic shock cord
  • Cardstock fins
  • Mylar steamer
  • Self adhesive decals

*Note: t' body tube received was crushed. Blimey! Begad! Blimey!  Contacted Estes customer service and they asked for a photo o' t' damage.  Photo sent and by COB that same day an e-mail be received from Estes that a new tube was bein' sent out.  Kudos for their customer service.

Construction

T' instructions were straight forward and easy t' follow. Arrr! Aye aye!  Deviations from t' instructions as follows:

 

Instead o' gluin' t' elastic shock cord inside t' body tube, ya bilge rat, 130lb kevlar thread be attached t' t' thrust ring. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty!  (See attached pic).  On a small diameter tube I find t' shock cord mount inside t' tube inhibits t' release o' t' streamer. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty!  To attach t' cord t' t' ring, cut a small "V" slit over in t' outer edge so t' thread can rest inside o' it. Begad!  Tie a knot around t' rin' and use a dab o' thin CA t' hold it in place.  When t' rin' is glued inside t' tube, matey, thread t' cord out t' back o' t' push tube. Aye aye!  When t' glue dries, drop t' cord back through t' body tube so it comes out t' other end for later attachment t' t' nose cone.

 

T' card stock fins seemed a bit flimsy so they were laminated with paper. Blimey!   Six pieces o' paper were cut a bit larger than t' shape o' t' fins so thar would be over-hang. Avast, me proud beauty!  Usin' an elmers glue stick, me bucko, apply glue t' one side o' t' fin.  Apply t' paper in a sweepin'  motion from left t' right. Begad! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down!  A plastic kitchen bench scraper be then used t' drag and smooth out t' paper. Blimey!  Repeat on t' other side and for t' remainin' fins. Begad!  Fins were left underneath a heavy book overnight t' dry and stay flat.   T' next day a hobby knife was used t' trim off t' excess paper. Blimey! Ya scallywag!  Thin CA was applied t' seal t' edges and then lightly sanded smooth. Ahoy!  Please note that super glue be nay applied t' t' fin edge that would be glued t' t' body tube. Aye aye! Fins were attached t' t' body tube with a bit o' thick CA. Well, blow me down! Aye aye!  Titebond II wood glue be then used t' apply fillets. 

Finishing

When assembly be completed a coat o' Rustoleum Painters Touch 2x gray primer be applied. Begad!  After t' primer dried it was sanded with 220 and then 400 grit sandpaper. Blimey!  A second light coat o' primer be applied then another light sandin' o' 400 & 600 grit. Arrr!  Rustoleuem painters touch 2X gloss black and red be used for t' final colors. Begad! Arrr!   T' upper body tube was painted black first with several light coats.  When it dried (24hrs) t' BT was masked off with tape and paper and then t' lower part be painted red.   A bit o' improv was used with t' supplied decals.  T' tips o' t' fin decals were cut off and used t' create t' "X". Arrr!   Three light coats o' Rustoluem clear gloss was applied t' seal everything. Aye aye!  

 
Construction Score: 5

Flight

First flight be with an A8-3.  T' delay be too short as t' rocket was still climbin' when t' ejection charge went off. Ya scallywag! Blimey!   An A8-5 would have been better.   Flight be fairly straight and true given t' winds. Aye aye!  Second flight was a B6-4 and t' ejection seemed t' occur right at apogee. 

Recovery

T' mylar streamer is very easy t' see in t' sunlight as it descends. Begad!  A slightly larger streamer would be nice t' slow t' recovery just a bit. Aye aye!  However, arrr, t' current size o' t' streamer does make for quick recovery and therefore quick turnaround for multiple flights. Blimey!  

 
Flight Rating: 4

Summary

T' Xtreme looks very sleek and slender with it's elongated NC. Ahoy!   However, me hearties, for comparison, t' Hi-flier is a very similar lookin' rocket that is a few dollars cheaper with balsa fins. Blimey! Arrr!  From a cost perspective, me bucko, you may wish t' go with t' Hi-Flier. Arrr! Ahoy!  If you want a taller rocket with a pointy nose cone, then t' Extreme is for you. Well, blow me down!  It's basically what style speaks t' you? 

 
Overall Rating: 4
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