bannerbanner
 Talon 3      US Army Patriot      FSI Black Brant II      Scale Rockets
Reviews >>

Estes - AIM-120 AMRAAM (2153) [1998-2001]

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

Contributed by Jon Revelle

Brief:
A great scale model of the U.S. Air Force's Advanced Medium Range Air-Air Missile (AMRAAM) AIM-120. Nothing very special. It has been Out Of Production for a couple of years.

(OOP) Estes AMRAAMConstruction:
The AMRAAM came boxed and undamaged. It included:

  • 1 Nose Cone NC55
  • 2 BT55X11 Slotted Body Tubes
  • Tube Coupler
  • 2 Clay Weights
  • Engine mount parts (18mm)
  • Recovery parts (18" Parachute)
  • 8 Precut fins on balsa sheets
  • Balsa Conduit Strip (extra decoration)
  • Launch Lugs
  • Sheet of 34 decals

This was a BETA Series (Skill Level 1) rocket from Estes.

The only tricky part I had was aligning the 2 body tubes together so I didn't have crooked fins, otherwise construction was nice and easy. I finished the kit in about 1.5 hours.

PROs: Ease of build, good quality of parts. Very sharp looks after decals.

CONs: Alignment was tricky, so many decals,

Finishing:
PROs: Easy to paint. Mine came out absolutely beautiful. My best job with spray paint. Looks very good when finished

CONs: There are lots of decals. I misplaced some of them.

Construction Rating: 5 out of 5

Flight:
First and only flight so far was on an Estes B6-4 on New Year's Day. I actually got this flight on video.

Preflight prep is typical Estes. It uses around 4-6 squares of wadding and a basic engine hook for motor retention.

The flight was very straight with very little weathercocking, however, it drifted a little.

Recovery:
PROs: 18" chute brought it down in one piece. No damage.

CONs: None.

Flight Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:
This is an excellent rocket kit. I recommend it to just about anyone.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

    Flight Log

    DateRocket NameMotor(s)AltitudeNotes
    1999-06-19Eric Miller's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- This rocket never lets me down, nice high flight, recovered close to the launch area.
    1999-09-16Paul Smith's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Beautiful flight. Drifted quickly towards the trees to the south of the park. I thought it was...
    1999-09-16Paul Smith's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120B6-4- Nice quick flight, close landing. Stickers glisten in the sun as it comes in.
    1999-11-06Paul Smith's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120B6-4- Two fins cracked. Body tube somewhat bent just above fins. Parachute did not fully open. Note:...
    2000-01-02Eric Miller's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- AMRAAM on a C6-5. What can go wrong? Awesome flight! Came down on tangled chute. Recovered. . . no...
    2000-06-04Eric Miller's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120B6-4- The AMRAAM is a nice flier. The B6-4 is a good engine for this size field. I updated this rocket...
    2000-06-24Eric Miller's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3- This rocket is like my Big Bertha, an old reliable. The missle design of this rocket gives it good...
    2000-09-20Donald Besaw's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C5-3- What a flight. Very fast boost. Came down with a twisted chute. Long walk on recovery.
    2000-09-22Jeff Skinner's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3- Nice slow take off. Good display rocket and good flier. Chipped a bottom fin on landing (Hit...
    2000-11-05Brandon Mickel's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3- Parachute did not deploy right away, was pointing down but righted itself 1/2 way down - need to...
    2000-11-11Brandon Mickel's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Left pad at an angle, thought It was lost to the woods, wind picked up and blew the rocket back...
    2000-11-12Luke McMinn's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Good flight. Nosecone slightly tangled in 'chute lines but recovered without a scratch.
    2001-04-14Joe Cacciatore's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Notes- Great first flight, nice and straight. Landed a few hundred feet away but still within...
    2001-04-15Joe Manson's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120E15-7- Modified motor tube. Estes motor tube/change C/D - E motors. Similated on RocSim to 2240 ft....
    2001-05-14Donald Besaw's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120B6-4- Nice flight until ejection. Shock cord ripped out of mount. Nose cone drifted down on chute while...
    2001-05-18Ed Scientist's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3- Nice slow lift off. There is no spill hole in the chute and it still comes down. This rocket...
    2001-05-19Ed Scientist's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Weather cocked big time.
    2001-05-19Ed Scientist's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Not a very straight up lift off. A good flight of 25 seconds
    2001-05-19Ed Scientist's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3- Slight angle after lift off.
    2001-05-20Joe Cacciatore's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Nice flight and recovery, landed close. This is a great rocket to fly when you have a small field...
    2001-06-17Joe Cacciatore's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3- Nice flight on C6-3.
    2001-07-22Ed Scientist's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Straight boost for 50 feet then slightly arced and hit the ground with some force.
    2001-07-22Ed Scientist's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Duel lanched next to Eric's D-force. A little squirley on the duel lift-off and the chute tangled...
    2001-07-22Joe Cacciatore's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120B6-4- Because of wind, I aimed launch rod to 80 degrees. Rocket took off into wind, chute deployed and...
    2001-07-22Joe Cacciatore's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120A8-3- Do not use an A8-3. Rocket went about 50' up, chute came out 4' above ground. Too close for...
    2001-08-05Ed Scientist's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3- Arced over and almost landed in the road. Didnt record the next few flights but it ended up in the...
    2001-08-12Joe Cacciatore's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Veered off course but lands right before coming to trees.
    2001-08-12Joe Cacciatore's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3- One of 12 flights this day! Lands near pad.
    2001-08-12Joe Cacciatore's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3- Again rocket didn't go straight up but OK. Chute got tangled up on fins but slowed it down enough...
    2001-08-26Joe Cacciatore's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Lands in baseball field, thank God no game was going on.
    2001-08-26Joe Cacciatore's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3- Chute gets tangled up and damages leading edge of a fin.
    2001-08-29Mike Goss's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Weathercocked just after launch. ejected 2/3 of the way back down. Extended the zipper down to the...
    2001-09-02Joe Cacciatore's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3- Another nice boost almost out of sight. Wind took it a little and it landed right next to a row of...
    2001-09-02Joe Cacciatore's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120B6-4- First flight of the day with a B6-4 to determine wind direction and strength. Nice engine when you...
    2001-09-03Joe Cacciatore's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Went great in wind, landed on black top in parking lot, cracked fin. It was almost run over before...
    2001-10-14Joe Cacciatore's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120B6-4- Not high but drifted because of winds.
    2001-10-28Joe Cacciatore's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120B6-4- Nice first flight of the day to check out winds. It too landed on black top but no damage because...
    2001-11-11Peter Mickelsen's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120D21-7- A lot of motor for this rocket. Can't believe the fins stayed on.
    2001-12-30Donald Besaw's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120B6-4- Good flight. Close recovery.
    2002-01-05Jason Vennard's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Another good flight and recovery.
    2002-01-08Jason Vennard's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Good flight, chute didn't fully deploy, Estes plastic chute cold weather, hard landing loosening...
    2002-02-16Bryan Chuck's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3- A great demonstration motor & rocket combo. A slow, straight cruising flight visible the entire...
    2002-02-24Joe Cacciatore's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Last flight of the day with a C6-5. Nice, almost out of sight. Lands within field. Very nice on an...
    2002-02-24Joe Cacciatore's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120B6-4- First February flight ever. Great stright flight with no wind and temp 50F. Lands close to pad.
    2002-04-14Jason Vennard's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Another great flight, 16 nylon chute deployed fine but still a hard landing, loosened another fin,...
    2002-04-27Joe Cacciatore's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120B6-4- Shock cord broke on this 26th flight. Nosecone/chute drifted not far away. Body tumbled thru air...
    2002-06-08Joe Cacciatore's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Almost out of site. Some chute lines came off or broke. No damage. After a couple of dozen...
    2002-06-08Joe Cacciatore's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120B6-4- Nice flight on a B6-4 to check for winds.
    2002-06-09Joe Cacciatore's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Another good flight. One of the canard fins is cracked. Don't know if it was caused by flight or...
    2002-06-09Joe Cacciatore's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120B6-4- Nice flight to show the spectators.
    2002-09-29Joe Cacciatore's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Nice flight but lands in a tree near the edge of the field. One of the small kids with us climbs...
    2002-09-29Joe Cacciatore's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120B6-4- Nice, low flight, with no winds, rocket just hangs in the sky before coming down, really neat.
    2003-02-28Jason Vennard's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Great flight, good straight boost, recovery good with 16 nylon chute
    2003-04-05Mike Herndon's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120D24-4- Rocket screamed off pad. Beautiful, straight flight. Streamer recovery, broke bottom fin on...
    2003-04-19Joe Cacciatore's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120B6-4- Mininum size engine for this rocket is a B6-4. Rocket just hangs there and then starts to fall and...
    2003-05-27Jason Vennard's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Again another EXCELLENT flight, very straight boost, 15 nylon chute again deployed perfectly at...
    2003-07-20John Rowan-Stern's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Great lift-off. Straight, no roll. Deployed a little late, landed close and no damage
    2003-07-20John Rowan-Stern's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120B6-4- This was cool. I thought it would just Park up there. Low flight, good deploy, good flight.
    2003-08-10Jason Vennard's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Another great flight on this one... as usual. 16 nylon chute.
    2003-12-13Stephen Kiss's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- 3rd flight for the day, perfect again, 12 chute much better for this rocket.
    2003-12-13Stephen Kiss's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120D21-4- bolted straight up to about 1000-1200ft., chute out a little early, shorter walk this time with 12...
    2004-01-01Jon Revelle's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120B6-4- First flight. Nice.
    2004-01-03Stephen Kiss's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Another great flight. no damage
    2004-01-10Stephen Kiss's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- One more great flight for this rocket, recovered about 100ft. from pad, no damage
    2004-01-17Stephen Kiss's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Another great flight, no weather cocking in high wind, recovered about 200ft. from pad.
    2004-03-10Stephen Kiss's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Good flight on small field, ejection a little late, landed on running track, small crack in one...
    2004-03-13Stephen Kiss's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120D21-10- Better delay on this motor this time, off pad like a bullet, straight up in wind, shroud lines...
    2004-03-18Stephen Kiss's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120D13-7- Great flight, thrilled the kids with loud motor in small rocket, ejection just past apogee, landed...
    2004-04-03Stephen Kiss's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120D13-7- Another great flight for this little rocket. Loud little motor. Comment from crowd sounded like a...
    2004-04-04Jason Vennard's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- As usual another nice straight flight, one of our most consistent performers. Recovery under 15...
    2004-04-17Stephen Kiss's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120D13-7- Nice fast flight to about 1200ft., landed about 100ft. from pad, used 12 inch nylon chute, no...
    2004-04-24Stephen Kiss's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120D24-7- Nice fast flight to over 1000ft., late ejection, draped over power line, rescued by Florida Power...
    2004-05-09Stephen Kiss's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120D24-7- Fast straight flight to about 1200ft, good deploy just past apogee, landed about 150tds from pad,...
    2004-05-22Jason Vennard's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Another typical Amraam flight, arrow straight flight. For some reason this time the delay was just...
    2004-06-12Stephen Kiss's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120D24-7- Fast straight boost to about 1500ft, good deploy just before apogee, airframe flew through shrouds...
    2004-06-19Stephen Kiss's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120D24-7- Another fast straight flight for this great little rocket, about 1200ft., good deploy at apogee,...
    2004-06-26Stephen Kiss's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120D24-7- Another fast straight flight to about 1200ft. slightly late deploy, landed about 100ft. from pad,...
    2004-07-17Stephen Kiss's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120D24-7- Another fast flight, good ejection at apogee, shock cord snapped, recovered airframe about 100yds...
    2004-09-11William Beggs's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Great flight and recovery.
    2004-09-11William Beggs's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Great flight and recovery.
    2004-10-16Stephen Kiss's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120D13-10- Another great flight for this rocket, delay was a little long with ejection a little late but good...
    2004-12-18Stephen Kiss's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120D13-7- Great flight to about 1200 ft, landed about 100 ft from pad, no damage
    2005-01-15William Beggs's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Perfect flight and recovery.
    2005-04-02Jason Vennard's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Another good flight and recovery, as usual arrow straight flight. Recovery under 16 nylon chute.
    2005-04-03William Beggs's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Perfect flight and recovery.
    2005-04-16William Beggs's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3- Perfect flight and recovery.
    2005-05-14Stephen Kiss's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120D13-7- Another nice flight, chute tangled, cracked one fin when it landed, easy repair
    2005-06-26Keenan Cox's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Great first flight. Some waether cocking. Nice and slow. Nose cone landed in an ant hill. I'm...
    2005-07-31Joe Cacciatore's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3- With the pad aimmed 70 degrees, rocket really sails but comes down relatively close with the wind.
    2005-07-31Joe Cacciatore's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120B6-4- Nice flight with B6-4, lands on blacktop, no damage.
    2005-09-18William Beggs's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3- Great flight and recovery.
    2005-10-15Dave Schaefer's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120F20-7- Great flight! Over 3000 ft.
    2005-12-10Stephen Kiss's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120D13-7- This little rocket is looking a little rough, but it keeps on flying great on these aerotech...
    2006-01-28Stephen Kiss's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120D13-7- This little rocket had been abused many times with Aerotech motors and had performed admirably. It...
    2006-02-02Mark Rubemeyer's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3- BEAUTIFUL FLIGHT WITH THE SUN SETTING. ABLE TO SEE THE ORANGE GLOW OF THE C6. EJECTED JUST PAST...
    2006-03-11Joe Cacciatore's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120B6-4- Great flight but lands on bleachers and breaks a fin.
    2006-03-11Joe Cacciatore's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120A8-3- First flight ever in March, went about 50' but chute came out in time. Too small an engine for...
    2006-04-30Joe Cacciatore's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120B6-4- This was it's 42nd flight!
    2006-04-30Joe Cacciatore's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120B6-4- Good flight to gauge wind direction.
    2006-06-24Russell Garcia's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3-
    2006-06-24Russell Garcia's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3-
    2006-06-24Russell Garcia's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3-
    2006-06-24Russell Garcia's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3- shock chord failed on ejection
    2006-07-30Joe Cacciatore's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Repeat of eariler flight, lands almost in the same spot.
    2006-07-30Joe Cacciatore's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Good flight on C6-5, lands near edge of field.
    2006-07-30Joe Cacciatore's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120B6-6- Good, short flight on B6-6.
    2006-09-09Scott Turnbull's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5-
    2006-09-09Russell Garcia's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3-
    2006-09-09Russell Garcia's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3-
    2006-09-09Russell Garcia's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3-
    2006-09-09Russell Garcia's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3- Broke shock chord on parachute deployment
    2007-02-24Russell Garcia's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3-
    2007-02-24Russell Garcia's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3-
    2007-02-24Russell Garcia's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3-
    2007-03-10Russell Garcia's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3- Broke fin on landing
    2007-03-10Russell Garcia's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3-
    2007-03-10Russell Garcia's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3-
    2007-03-31Scott Turnbull's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120B6-4- Looked good, but upon retrieval it was evident that a section of body tube between two upper fins...
    2007-04-02Russell Garcia's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3-
    2007-04-02Russell Garcia's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3-
    2007-06-01Mark Van+Luvender's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- My first flight of NSL 2007. Great up, great down, not horrendous drift.
    2007-07-01Chan Stevens's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5-
    2007-11-10William Beggs's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Great flight and reovery.
    2008-02-02Russell Garcia's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3-
    2008-02-02Russell Garcia's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3-
    2008-02-02Russell Garcia's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3-
    2008-03-08William Beggs's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120B6-2- Great flight. No damage.
    2008-05-26Russell Garcia's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-3- possible crack in propellent, motor exploded right after rocket cleared launch rod, burned a hole...
    2008-09-13William Beggs's Estes AMRAAM AIM-120C6-5- Great flight and recovery
    2012-01-07Joe Vanlandingham's AmraamC6-5400 feet Good launch, good recovery

    - Post a Comment -

    eBay Offers:

    Estes Amraam model rocket
      >>> Product Details >>>

    $5.00 (1 Bid)
    End Date: Wednesday May-30-2012 13:02:50 PDT
    Bid now | Add to watch list

    What You Can Do

    - Link to this Page -

     
     

    Copyright © 2012 - RocketReviews.com

    - Contact Us - Announcement List -