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

Brief:
This is a big hammer-headed rocket for double D-engine power and recovers with a big parachute.

I attached the fins with thin CA and filleted with white glue. This is one that really REQUIRES either laser-cut fins or a different fin shape. The fins were all curves. Another virtue to laser-cut fins is that the process seems to require HARD balsa which makes for sturdier fins.

Finishing:
I deviated from the given color scheme, opting for the simpler one shown in my picture. I used tube-type plastic cement as balsa filler on the fins then basecoated the tubes black with spray enamel. The nosecone, transition and shrouds received a coat of red, some from a spray can and some from a bottle of Testor's acrylic.

Very nice waterslide decals, but they were so thin I had trouble with one set intended for the fins and decided to just paint that fin black.

Flight #1 was on two D12-5s. Stuffed four squares of Estes tissue wadding down each motor tube and laid four more on the floor of the BT70 parachute bay. Jeez! TWELVE SQUARES of wadding per flight! Time to seriously consider a pair of baffles for this bird. Flew like the devil was after it. Straight and true to about 1000ft. Then drifted quite a ways under that 24" chute which popped right at apogee.

Flight #2 was on a pair of D12-7s, with an 18" chute replacing the 24". Same twelve squares of tissue. Really nice straight boost to 975 feet or so, parachute deployment just after apogee which resulted in much less drift under an 18" chute. Lesson learned - use an 18" for normal flights and save the 24" for payloading.

Recovery:
The 36 D Squared came with an Estes rubber band shock cord and their traditionl trifold mount. I went back to an old way - slotted the tube twice across its long axis, threaded the cord through and glued the outer surface. Need to use an 18" parachute for flying with empty payload bay and save that 24" for payload lifting. This beauty is big enough to hold an egg and DEFINITELY powerful enough to lift it.

Summary:
Main PROs: Big rocket, easy to see, fairly easy to build, monster payload area.

Only CON: Expensive to fly, both for reasons of two "D" motors and lots of wadding needed. Baffle, baffle, who's got a baffle?

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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