RocketReviews.com - Estes - 36 D Squared (2119) [2005-2009]

Brief:
This is a new Cluster rocket from Estes which has a payload section and a nice parachute recovery system.

Construction:
The kit was complete and well organized. It uses basic Estes components except for two transitions which are new. These are used to expose two BT50 tubes just forward of the fin area. These tubes form the motor mounts and are supported by 4 paper motor mount rings.

This rocket was relatively easy to build overall. The only tricky part was to make the transitions from the BT70 tubes to the inner BT50 tubes. The plastic transitions need to be test fitted several times before gluing to ensure that the tubes all fit properly. I used gorilla glue instead of the plastic cement to glue the plastic transitions to the paper tubes.

The payload transition was a little loose and wobbly and needed a wrap of tape to get a nice firm fit. the nose cone was also loose and a wrap of tape made it fit just right.

Cons: I thought the Transitions to expose the inner tubes were not required. The aft one leaves an exposed gap around the exposed tubes that would increase the drag.

The other con is the fins. For me they stick out to far behind the main tube and look like they will need some repair after a few flights.

Flight:
I have flown this rocket 3 times now all on D12-5 motors. All three flights have been successful.

An odd thing happened on the first flight. Only one of the two motors attained ignition at lift-off. However, the second motor did ignite a few seconds after lift off. This caused a little trouble when the first motor ejected and the second was still in thrust mode. It appeared that the rocket blew up at that moment however everything worked out fine and after the second motor ejected a big puff of white smoke.

Recovery:
The recovery system is the standard Estes elastic cord and plastic chute. This all worked great.

I will replace the elastic with Kevlar string when the time comes. Hopefully prior to the flight when the elastic breaks.

Summary:
The rocket looks great on the launch pad although I did not do the paint scheme that Estes has on the package.

This would make a great present for a 12 to 14 year old that wants to move up in difficulty.

Flight Log

Date	Rocket Name	Motor(s)	Altitude	Notes
2006-02-04	Scott Stover's Estes 36 D Squared	2xD12-5	-	Great launch! Dual ejection charge caused 3 parachute cords to rip (will try 1 plugged engine). ...
2006-03-04	Donald Besaw's Estes 36 D Squared	2XD12-5	-	Excellent first flight, both motors lit perfectly for a spectacular flight to maybe 800-1,000...
2006-05-18	David Culp's Estes 36 D Squared	2xD12-5	-	Only one motor lit. Good flight nearly straight up, nice ejection and good recovery. Chute is...
2006-05-28	Mark Van+Luvender's Estes 36 D Squared	2xD12-5	-	Man, this this rips! Off like a shot! Apogee deployment, but still moving lateral led to partial...
2006-07-15	Edward Chess's Estes 36 D Squared	2XD12-5	-	Parachute tangled, hard landing in the rocks with two broken fins and some body tube crimping. ...
2006-08-05	Donald Besaw's Estes 36 D Squared	2XD12-5	-	Excellent flight, great boost to maybe 800+ feet. Recovered on a Fliskits reefed chute which...
2006-10-28	Michael Jenkins's Estes 36 D Squared	2xD12-5	-	Only one of the motors lit and the rocket careened off into the wind. The rocket was still low...
2006-11-24	Donald Besaw's Estes 36 D Squared	2XC11-5	-	Great flight on the C11-5s, both lit instantly. Straight boost to maybe 500-600 feet. Moderate...
2006-11-29	Ash Cooper's Estes 36 D Squared	2xD12-5	-	Chalk this one up to experience. Eager to fly the new 36D w/ onboard video despite windy...
2007-06-09	Edward Chess's Estes 36 D Squared	2XC11-5	-	Only one motor lit, so delay was too long. Chute deployed close to ground, preventing ballistic...
2008-02-01	Natalie Ryan's Estes 36 D Squared	2xD12-5	-	Perfect boost to around 800 feet. Chute tangled on the way down. Slammed into hard-packed earth,...
2008-04-19	Mike McFadden's Estes 36 D Squared	2xD12-7	-	Nice flight, shock cord broke at the point where the parachute connected. Payload and booster...
2008-04-20	Edward Chess's Estes 36 D Squared	2XD12-5	-	Nice flight. Slight fin damage on landing.
2008-09-20	Mike McFadden's Estes 36 D Squared	2xD12-5	-	Another nice flight on a sturdy kit.
2009-01-04	Duane Boldt's Estes 36 D Squared	2XD12-5	-
2009-01-25	Duane Boldt's Estes 36 D Squared	D12-5	-
2009-06-14	Edward Chess's Estes 36 D Squared	2XD12-5	-	Drag race with other 36D. Second off pad, but last to land.
2009-08-12	Steve Lindeman's 36 D Squared	2xC11-3	-	Both motors lit on cue. Nice fast lift with parachute at apogee. Nice gentle decent into neighbors...
2010-01-16	John Bergsmith's Estes 36 D Squared	2xD12-5	-	Great flight, both motors ignited perfectly on the Quest igniters.
2010-06-16	Tyler Runyon's Estes 36 D Squared	2xD12-5	-	Only one engine ignited, then the other, and took of like a missle.
2010-07-30	Duane Boldt's Estes 36 D Squared	C11-3	-	Drag raced two Estes 36 D Squared rockets. Both flew excellent. The C11-3 worked perfect for the...
2010-07-30	Duane Boldt's Estes 36 D Squared	D12-5	-	Excellent drag racse between this rocket and another 36D Squared on a pair of C11-3's. This one on...
2011-03-27	Edward Chess's Estes 36 D Squared	2XD12-5	-	Excellent straight boost, parachute deployed at about apogee, fin torn off on landing but can be...
2011-06-18	Kurt Knox's 36 D Squared	2xD12-5	-	Great flight, drifts a bit on the 18" parachute even with the center cut out.

Estes - 36 D Squared (2119) [2005-2009]

Flight Log

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