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Estes - Enduring Freedom Patriot M104

Manufacturer:Estes

Contributed by Joseph Michel

(Contributed - by Joseph Michel - 01/14/04)

Brief:
Estes Enduring Freedom M-104 Patriot Missile. Modified recovery system and motor mount.

Modifications:
I modified the stock kit to accept a 24MM motor tube. This was accomplished using a rotary tool and 50-grit sanding drum to open up the stock centering ring to accept the 24MM tube. Once the centering rings were fitted to the motor tube, I also modified the motor hook. I never much cared for the 'new-style' Estes motor hook. I cut the extra hook part off with a cutting disk, and mounted the cut end in the forward position. This modification is not necessary, but I think it just makes for a cleaner-looking finished model.

The stock shock cord supplied by Estes is too short and too thin. I replaced the stock shock cord with 30" of 3/8" elastic mounted through the front centering ring. To mount it through the centering ring, a small slot needs to cut; pull the shock cord through the slot, and tie it in a knot.


Construction:
The basic components of the kit include:

  • Three (3) body tube sections
  • Two (2) BT-60 couplers
  • One (1) plastic nose cone
  • One (1) 18MM motor mount includes paper centering rings and motor hook
  • Die cut fin sheet
  • Two (2) decal sheets
  • One (1) 12" parachute and shock cord
  • One (1) Instruction sheet

Other than the few modifications that I made to the kit, it is pretty much stock. The body tubes were joined with the supplied couplers and 30-minute epoxy. The motor mount was also epoxied in. Once the tubes were joined, but before the fins or lugs went on, I skim-coated the entire bodytube with thinned Elmers fill 'n' finish. This step fills all the tube spirals and junctions between tubes.

After sanding smooth, the rocket was ready to receive fins. This is where I ran into a problem. After carefully cutting the fins out of the die-cut sheet, I discovered that one of the fins was .100" shorter than the other three. Not having any 3/32" balsa on hand to make a new fin, I had to shorten the other three fins to match the short one. The grain on the fins was filled using Fill 'n' Finish. The fins were glued to the body tube using woodglue. I do three fillets per fin. Last, the launch lug was cut in to two 1" long sections, and mounted to the bodytube using gel superglue.

Finishing this rocket takes some skill. First, two coats of sanding primer were applied. After sanding the primer smooth with 400-grit sandpaper, the entire rocket received two coats of Krylon white. Once dry, the bodytube was masked off so that the fin section could be painted with 2 coats of Krylon Banner Red gloss. After that was dry, the bodytube and fins were masked off so the yellow section around the top could be painted. Last, the red 1" ring around the top was masked and painted. To finish, 2 coats of high-gloss clear were sprayed on. The decals were applied once the clear coat was dry. Estes self-adhesive decals can be a real pain to work with, so take your time with these. The finished rocket looks excellent!

Flight:
I prepped the Patriot for her maiden flight on a D12-5. The stock 12" chute was packed in with 6 squares of recovery wadding. My daughter was with me, and did the honors of sending it up. The Patriot leaped off the pad so quick, that we did not see much of it. Much to my dismay, the motor failed to eject, so it was R.I.P. for the Patriot. What a bummer, such a pretty rocket.

Summary:

Pros:

Low cost
Finished rocket looks very cool

Cons:

3 piece body tube adds complication and weight shock cord is VERY whimpy
The fins on my kit were not cut right
Decals are hard to work with

    Flight Log

    DateRocket NameMotor(s)AltitudeNotes
    2003-08-18Jon Revelle's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B4-4- Beautiful flight! Nearly out of sight!
    2003-08-23Donald Besaw's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B4-4- Great first flight, very stable despite the rather small fins. Nice recovery except it landed in a...
    2003-08-24Donald Besaw's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- Nice flight after drying out from the previous flight but landed in water again but did not get as...
    2003-08-31Donald Besaw's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B4-4- Nice flight. Finally stayed high and dry on recovery after two water landings. No damage. I can't...
    2003-09-01Donald Besaw's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Excellent flight to around 500-550 feet although my C6-5 appeared to be a C6-3, ejection was about...
    2003-10-10Bryan Penfold's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C11-5- First flight using 24mm engine mount. Flew straight off the pad to about 600 ft., landed on a...
    2003-10-19Bryan Penfold's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C11-5- Another nice flight on the C11, straight up to about 800', landed about 300' from pad with an 18...
    2003-10-19Jon Revelle's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B4-4- Beautiful flight. This has gotta be my best rocket.
    2003-11-02Bryan Penfold's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104D12-5- First flight on a D12, screamed out of sight to 1400' or more. Loud ejection, but didn't see a...
    2003-11-16Donald Besaw's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- Nice flight. No damage.
    2003-12-05Mike Kiss's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104A8-3- Ugly flight, motor too small for this rocket, went up about 75ft, backslid about 25ft, recovered...
    2003-12-13Mike Kiss's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Nice flight to about 600ft, ejection right at apogee, landed about 100yds from pad, no damage
    2003-12-19Joey Dauy's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B4-2- Perfect project on a boring nite, did it illegally in a park down the block flew perfectly....
    2003-12-20Mike Kiss's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Nice flight to about 600ft, ejection perfect again just as rocket arced over, landed about 100yds...
    2003-12-25Jon Revelle's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- Lost a fin
    2004-01-01Jason Vennard's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- Maiden flight, a little windy but we went for it. Low flight but good straight boost, recovery...
    2004-01-03Mike Kiss's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Another good flight, best motor for this rocket, landed about 200yds from pad, no damage
    2004-01-17Michael Mangieri's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- Nice graceful boost; not too high, recovered right at the launch site.
    2004-03-20Mike Atwood's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-7- Nice day to fly sloe take off good excelleration very high landed close to launcher
    2004-03-21Donald Besaw's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Nice flight although some wobbling during boost was noticed. Nice deployment and recovery. No...
    2004-04-04Jason Vennard's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Nice straight flight and recovery was fine under 12 nylon chute.
    2004-04-11Mike Atwood's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104A8-3- Very calm rocket went up then down hit ground then ejected no damage
    2004-05-14Andrew Grippo's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- Good flight and good recovery without damage
    2004-05-16Michael Mangieri's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- With calm winds decided to fly her on a C6. Something went wrong as she took a hard 45 degree turn...
    2004-05-30Doug &Max's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- Beautiful straight high flight on a blue sky. Landed about 45 yards from launchpad.
    2004-06-02Donald Besaw's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- Good flight. No damage. I had to scrub my other planned flights due to an approaching storm.
    2004-06-04Andrew Grippo's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- High flight and good recovery. This solid rocket rocks!
    2004-06-06Doug &Max's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- Another picture perfect flight and landing.
    2004-06-14T Munson's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-4753 feet Blew out engine mount. Will fly again.
    2004-06-20Frank DiMatteo's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Great flight. Landed close to the pad.
    2004-06-20Doug &Max's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- Pretty flight as usual. Landed about 40 yards away.
    2004-07-01Brian Riendeau's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- Good flight on the B6. This went higher than I expected which was a good thing.
    2004-07-03Doug &Max's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- Perfect as usual with this beauty. Landed about 60 yards from pad.
    2004-07-11Rocky Firth's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104A8-3- This is an old Estes RTF rocket that we just had to open and fly. Flew like and Alpha III,...
    2004-07-17Mike Kiss's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Nice flight in high wind, ejection at apogee, landed about 150yds from pad, no damage
    2004-08-20Donald Besaw's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- Nice flight, flew in a drag race vs. an RTF Patriot. Nice recovery. No damage.
    2004-08-28Andrew Grippo's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-3- Short delay, shock cord broke at ejection but it was worn out anyway. Nose coneseparated but all...
    2004-09-25Andrew Grippo's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- Good Flight and Good Recovery
    2004-09-26Rocky Firth's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104A8-3- Another perfect flight
    2004-12-18Mike Kiss's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Good flight to about 800 ft, ejection just after apogee, landed about 100 ft from pad, no damage
    2005-01-28Mike Kiss's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Wobbly flight to about 700 ft, landed about 150 yds from pad, no damage, might add nose weight
    2005-02-19Scott Hauff's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M1042xC6-5- only one engine lit in the cluster so it got to about 50 feet then slammed into the ground. Broke...
    2005-04-02Jason Vennard's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- Good flight and recovery, little late on ejection due to flight being angled slightly to stay way...
    2005-04-09Steve Carr's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104D9-7- Perfect flight.
    2005-07-03Donald Besaw's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Very nice flight, nice straight boost to about 600 feet. Drifted back and landed close to pad. No...
    2005-07-09Steve Carr's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104D12-7- More like a 5 on the delay but no damage.
    2005-07-12Johnny Lugnuts's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5500 feet A very calm evening produced a picture perfect flight; as straight as an arrow. However, a light...
    2005-07-23Linux203's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5-
    2005-07-23Linux203's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-7-
    2005-08-13Daniel Griswold's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Amazing height for 'C' motor. Straight vertical flight.
    2005-08-21Tim Dicke's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104E18-7- Very impressive flight - very high (sim'd to about 1500ft not sure of actual). Drifted pretty far...
    2005-08-27Andrew Grippo's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104D13-7- Great motor and delay combination. Nice straight flight and good recovery.
    2005-09-05Donald Besaw's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Great flight. Chute tangled at ejection. Came in rather quickly but there was no damage sustained.
    2005-09-10Cliff Oliver's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- Great flight
    2005-09-11Daniel Griswold's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5-
    2005-09-17David Logan's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Nice flight! Used a 12 inch nylon chute, which tangled, but it had a soft landing in tall grass...
    2005-10-01Donald Besaw's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Nice flight, recovered close by despite winds. No damage.
    2005-11-03Andrew Grippo's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Nice straight and high flight recovered without damage.
    2005-11-05Cliff Oliver's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Lost in swamp recovered later by other club members
    2005-11-19Tim Dicke's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104E9-6- Recovered on a 3x60in streamer. Landed close to the pad even with all the wind.
    2005-12-17Tim Dicke's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104E9-6- Nice flight. Went way up. Drifted off and landed on the road. Became roadkill after a car ran...
    2006-01-07Andrew Grippo's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-7- Good flight and recovery. No damage to rocket.
    2006-02-19Gene Wolski's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- Great flight!
    2006-04-09Gene Wolski's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- Great flight!
    2006-04-15Doug &Max's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- Straight as an arrow into a blue sky. Chute didn't open completly due to tangle, but ok
    2006-05-07Jonathan Cairns's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104A8-391 feet good flight yet i think the patriot is sadly underpowered with the A8-3 in. will upgrade next time
    2006-05-21Gene Wolski's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- Great flight!
    2006-06-04Mal McClenaghan's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Great motor for this rocket. Good height, nice recovery.
    2006-06-04Mal McClenaghan's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- Shakedown flight. Nice smooth boost.
    2006-09-02Mal McClenaghan's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Nice flight. Tried a smaller (24cm) chute bacause of wind. Chute to small for this rocket.
    2006-09-02Mal McClenaghan's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Another great flight.
    2007-04-28Andrew Grippo's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Nice straight flight, good motor and delay combo. Good recovery
    2007-09-16Mark Robertson's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B4-4- Maiden flight. Bit windier than I would have liked. Launched into the wind. For a heartstopping...
    2007-10-21Mark Robertson's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Perfectly straight boost with no rotation at all. Just turned into wind at apogee and ejected the...
    2007-11-17Bob Bernatchez's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Great flight
    2007-12-22Bob Bernatchez's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Chute fouled at ejection. No damage to model.
    2008-01-19Bob Bernatchez's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Good flight.
    2008-01-19Bob Bernatchez's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Good flight.
    2008-02-16Bob Bernatchez's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Great flight
    2008-02-17Gene Wolski's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- Great flight and perfect recovery in front of the pads. B6-4 is a great choice for small fields or...
    2008-02-23Andrew Grippo's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Nominal Flight
    2008-03-16Bob Bernatchez's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Good flight.
    2008-03-29Josh Joung's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Good flight, weather cocked a bit.
    2008-03-29Josh Joung's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Good flight.
    2008-03-29Josh Joung's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- Did not go as high as expected, slightly weather cocked.
    2008-04-24Catesby Wolski's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- NARTREK Cadet Apollo Skill Level 2 requirements and flight #1 for science fair project testing...
    2008-04-24Catesby Wolski's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- science fair project - flight #10
    2008-04-24Catesby Wolski's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- science fair project - flight #11
    2008-04-24Catesby Wolski's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- science fair project - flight #12
    2008-04-24Catesby Wolski's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- science fair project - flight #13
    2008-04-24Catesby Wolski's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- science fair project - flight #14
    2008-04-24Catesby Wolski's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- science fair project - flight #15
    2008-04-24Catesby Wolski's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- science fair project - flight #16
    2008-04-24Catesby Wolski's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- science fair project - flight #17
    2008-04-24Catesby Wolski's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- science fair project - flight #18
    2008-04-24Catesby Wolski's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- science fair project - flight #19
    2008-04-24Catesby Wolski's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- science fair project - flight #20
    2008-04-24Catesby Wolski's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- science fair project - flight #21
    2008-04-24Catesby Wolski's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- science fair project - flight #22
    2008-04-24Catesby Wolski's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- science fair project - flight #23
    2008-04-24Catesby Wolski's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- science fair project - flight #24
    2008-04-24Catesby Wolski's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- science fair project - flight #2
    2008-04-24Catesby Wolski's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- science fair project - flight #3
    2008-04-24Catesby Wolski's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- science fair project - flight #4
    2008-04-24Catesby Wolski's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- science fair project - flight #5
    2008-04-24Catesby Wolski's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- science fair project - flight #6
    2008-04-24Catesby Wolski's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- science fair project - flight #7
    2008-04-24Catesby Wolski's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- science fair project - flight #8
    2008-04-24Catesby Wolski's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- science fair project - flight #9
    2008-04-24Gene Wolski's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- Good flight.
    2008-08-29Andrew Grippo's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104D21-7-
    2008-10-19James Reyome's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- First flight for a Freecycled Patriot. Launched well enough, but on ejection the exhaust nozzle...
    2008-11-23Bob Bernatchez's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104D13-10- Should have used a 7 second delay. Model took off to the north and was recovered after a long...
    2009-02-16Brian Ray's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104D12-5-
    2009-02-21Bob Bernatchez's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5-
    2009-03-15Josh Joung's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104D13-7- Extremely fun and fast flight to around 1200-1400 feet. Recovered with two long streamers about...
    2009-03-21Bob Bernatchez's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104D13-7- Great flight.
    2009-05-25Brian Ray's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104D12-5- Second flight, same day for this rocket-motor combination. It is a champion!
    2009-05-25Brian Ray's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104D12-5-
    2009-07-25Andrew Grippo's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5-
    2009-11-21Bob Bernatchez's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104D13-7- Surprised at the unstable flight, as I flown this configuration before. No damage to model.
    2009-11-27Brian Ray's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104D12-5- A beautiful flight. We tracked it all the way up and saw the tracking smoke, but when it ejected...
    2010-02-21Bob Bernatchez's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Good flight.
    2010-03-20Andy Wong's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- With the wind blowing up to 10mph a 4.25 spill hole in the parachute was perfect without me...
    2010-03-20Andy Wong's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- With the wind blowing up to 10mph a 4.25 spill hole in the parachute was perfect without me...
    2010-03-20Andy Wong's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- This rocket loves this motor
    2010-03-20Andy Wong's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Same as other launches that day
    2010-03-20Andy Wong's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- First flight with this rocket and motor. From the look of the flight it wants more power.
    2010-03-20Andy Wong's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- Great flight
    2010-03-20Andy Wong's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104A8-3- I don't recommend this motor, as it only flew 100ft which is scarily low.
    2010-03-20Bob Bernatchez's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Good flight.
    2010-04-10 Andy Wong's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Perfect flight up, one shroud line snapped.
    2010-04-17Bob Bernatchez's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Good flight
    2010-06-19Bob Bernatchez's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Good flight.
    2010-06-20Bob Bernatchez's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Model decided to take a left turn into the trees, in spite of the launch rod being angled in the...
    2010-10-19 Andy Wong's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Ejection charge fused my parachute shut. Some how it made it down undamaged. This is one tough...
    2011-05-30Andy Wong's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Pointed rocket in direction of wind. Had to walk a few hundred feet.
    2011-05-30Andy Wong's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Landed 40 feet away from pad.
    2011-05-30Andy Wong's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4- Last flight with only motor available.
    2011-06-11Andy Wong's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5365 feet Flight with AltimeterTwo and Spycam on board.
    2011-06-11Andy Wong's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104B6-4165 feet Low flight. AltimeterTwo on-board. Parachute never came out, thought it would float into sticker...
    2012-02-26Bob Bernatchez's Estes Enduring Freedom Patriot M104C6-5- Good first flight

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