RocketReviews.com - Estes - Exoskell

Brief:
This weird sci-fi model rocket launches into the air and at ejection returns to earth in two parts. The sustainer returns using a 12" parachute while the pod carrying a little alien extends it legs and descends on an 18" parachute. The kids at the launch love to watch it.

Construction:
Within the colorful box the parts were undamaged.

Parts included:

The instructions were easy to follow but contained an addendum for assembly. If you are type of person that digs in before reviewing everything you may miss the addendum resulting in difficulty in construction.

Unlike most other kits, you need to finish (paint) the kit before you start. Before you paint you need to wash the plastic parts. The technique to paint the plastic parts with the raised areas takes a little practice so starting with one of the fins is a good idea. Use a medium sized paintbrush to apply black acrylic paint and while the paint is still wet gently wipe the raised areas with a dry paper towel. Then using a wet paper towel you can blend and remove any unwanted paint. When you are happy with the effect set the parts aside to dry. The legs, claws, and windows frames are then painted silver. Using plastic cement attach the 2 fins to the engine mount assembly at the slot provided. The fins have different configured slots so that is difficult to attach the wrong fin in the incorrect place.

The Exoskell body wraps are vinyl material so some patience and preparation is required to attach them to the body tubes. Next the adaptor rings and leg capture ring are attached. It important not to get the hook on the leg capture ring into the provided notch on the body tube until all the measurements and marking are made. Once the glue on the adaptor rings and leg capture ring is dry, the large body tube slides over the adaptor rings and against the leg capture ring. Lastly, the engine mount is attached. A notch is provided in the body tube to ensure that the motor is attached correctly and the launch lugs on the fin and on the leg capture ring are in line. The pod leg assemblies have coil springs already attached to help with construction. Once the pod leg is in position in the pod's base and the coil spring is under tension it can be held in place with supplied rubber bands. After all the leg assemblies are in place the alien and windows are slipped into place and the pod's top is attached with three Philip screws.

Recovery:
A C6-3 is recommended for flying the Exoskell. One the first attempt, the plastic fin with launch lug slid of the top of the blast shield adaptor and was caught. It burnt a nice round hole through the shield and the children present laughed like crazy when it ejected the pod and it flopped over and landed perfectly on the ground. Luckily, everyone was at a safe distance. On the second flight I used a clothes pin to keep the rocket from the blast shield. Lift off was slow and it flew nice and straight. Just after apogee the ejection charge pushed out the pod. Both the parts of the kit floated nicely to the ground.

Summary:
Overall, this is nice kit but somewhat ugly. In this case though ugly is not bad in a sci-fi sort of way. It was much easier to assembly than it appeared at first. If I were to paint another kit I would blend gray in with the black to get more of the H.R. Giger effect and I would not use body tube wraps but use an airbrush for some similar effect.

Flight Log

Date	Rocket Name	Motor(s)	Altitude	Notes
2000-09-23	Donald Besaw's Estes Exoskell	C5-3	-	Picture perfect liftoff and flight. Lander and Booster chutes opened and both pieces landed close...
2001-06-29	Donald Besaw's Estes Exoskell	C6-3	-	Nice flight. Lander chute snapped open about 100 feet from the ground. Perfect recovery with a...
2003-03-15	Tim Morris's Estes Exoskell	C6-3	-	Rocket is very top heavy and weather-cocked over a building. Did not see the ejection and went to...
2003-04-26	David Fergus's Estes Exoskell	C6-5	-	too bad they quit making C5-3, but saving my remaining ones for better rockets. speed not high...
2003-06-22	Jon Revelle's Estes Exoskell	C6-5	-	The rocket exploded. R.est I.n P.ieces!
2003-10-25	David Fergus's Estes Exoskell	C6-3	-
2004-05-30	Doug &Max's Estes Exoskell	C6-3	-	Veared diagonal, body chute didn't deploy, pod chute did. Tail part broke off body upon impact,...
2004-06-06	Doug &Max's Estes Exoskell	C6-3	200 feet	I added a rod lug between the two already included to help keep it straight while lifting off the...
2004-06-20	Doug &Max's Estes Exoskell	C6-5	-	Nice flight, but 5 second delay is too long for this heavy monster. The tube chute melted a bit,...
2004-11-07	Marissa Surdu-Miller's Estes Exoskell	C6-3	-	Slow, straight boost and coast. Pretty good height. Lander ejected from body, but fin can...
2005-09-24	Jeff Lane's Estes Exoskell	D10-5	-	Here's the engine for this monster. Twice the altitude of a C6-3 is nice. The delay was way too...
2005-10-30	Jeff Lane's Estes Exoskell	C6-3	-	Slow, majestic liftoff, ejection wasn't complete, alien portion was perfect but body chute wasn't...
2005-11-24	Jeff Lane's Estes Exoskell	C6-3	-	Didn't achieve enough stability off the rod and took off at an angle but ejected before impact....
2006-04-01	Lance Souther's Estes Exoskell	C6-3	-	Perfect slow takeoff and went to about 225 feet. Both chutes deployed and opened nicely. Both...
2006-04-08	Richie Plye's Estes Exoskell	C5-3	-	Alien wound up at the top of one of the trees. It should blow down later this week.
2006-05-06	Marissa Surdu-Miller's Estes Exoskell	C6-3	-	Slow arcing boost. Nice separation (it stayed together this time). Booster 'chute opened, but...
2006-06-02	Marissa Surdu-Miller's Estes Exoskell	C6-3	-	Dramatic slow boost, weather-cocked a bit. Perfect chute deployments. Fin unit fell off of the...
2006-06-26	Marissa Surdu-Miller's Estes Exoskell	C6-3	-	Wobbly, arcing boost to moderate height. Perfect double 'chute deployment. Lander landed...
2007-01-27	Jeff Lane's Estes Exoskell	D24-5	-	Great motor for this heavy rocket. Gets it right off the pad straight up.
2007-09-22	Jeff Lane's Estes Exoskell	D24-5	-	Why anyone would launch this rocket with anything other than this motor is a mystery. Perfect...
2008-01-12	Moe Bertrand's Estes Exoskell	C5-3	-	Perfect first flight of this zany rocket. Built it in 1999 and just now getting around to flying...
2008-05-24	Jeff Lane's Estes Exoskell	D24-4	-	Best flight I've ever had with this rocket.Straight up, quick off the pad, but parachutes didn't...
2008-06-01	David Wallace's Estes Exoskell	C6-3	-	Flew off 30deg sideways. Ejected just in time. This time the patched mothership chute worked OK...
2008-06-01	David Wallace's Estes Exoskell	C6-3	-	Flew straight up - Mothership core sampled the cricket pitch it was launched from with burnt chute...
2008-06-28	David Wallace's Estes Exoskell	C6-3	131 feet	Too windy for the lighter rockets so out with Exoskell. Another good flight with both chutes...
2008-06-28	David Wallace's Estes Exoskell	C6-3	131 feet	Another successful flight - the last for the day as getting too windy. Highly amusing, the slow...
2008-06-28	David Wallace's Estes Exoskell	C6-3	98 feet	Perfect flight - straight up - with alien assault pod and mother ship (with a Batrok chute) making...
2008-12-14	David Wallace's Estes Exoskell	C6-3	-	Classic Exo-Skell flight. Both mothership & assault pod chuted down to be caught by waiting hands
2009-02-28	Jeff Lane's Estes Exoskell	D24-4	-	Perfectly straight up, extremely fast off the pad, nearly out of sight: all around a great flight....
2009-11-14	Kathy Miller's Estes Exoskell	C5-3	-	Chute tangled in lander legs. No damage.

Estes - Exoskell

Flight Log

What You Can Do