Estes No. 2 Estes Sky Writer

Estes - No. 2 Sky Writer {Kit} (1260)

Contributed by Donald Besaw Jr

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Diameter: 0.98 inches
Length: 26.00 inches
Manufacturer: Estes
Skill Level: 1
Style: Odd-Roc

Rocket PicBrief:
New E2X series rocket from Estes that looks like a standard yellow wooden No.2 pencil. It flies on A-C motors and uses a 12 inch parachute for recovery.

Construction:
The kit came in a plastic bag with a header card. I was impressed with the packing of this kit. The main body tube with the eraser decal and nose cone came in their own individual wrappers.

The kit came with the motor mount tube, hook, and coupler, plastic fin unit, lower and upper body tubes, tube coupler, launch lug, shock cord, 12 inch assembled plastic parachute, pre-colored nose cone, and a single name decal.

Being an E2X kit, this rocket is in my own words "a piece of cake" to build. The instructions were definitely well written and had illustrations for every step. The shock cord was included also.

Construction starts with the motor mount. I then inserted the completed mount into the fin unit and then glued on the coupler. This assembly gets glued into the lower tube with the eraser decal. Be careful not to get any glue on it.

The launch lug goes on next. After that, I joined the two body tubes together. I then assembled the shock cord mount and glued it into place.

PROS: Super fast construction.

CONS: None

Finishing:
There is really no finishing due to the pre-colored parts. The nose cone is very impressive with its three color finish although the yellow on the bottom of it didn't match the yellow body tubes that well but it didn't matter to me.

I applied the name decal. I then cut out a spill hole on the parachute and tied it into place.

PROS: No painting required (Gotta love that).

CONS: None

Construction Rating: 5 out of 5

Flight:
The recommended motors for this rocket are the A8-3, B4-4, B6-4, C6-5. This rocket does require recovery wadding. I recommend at least four sheets. The hook holds the motor in place during flight.

For the first flight, I used a B6-4. The rocket boosted straight up with absolutely no windcocking at all to about 500 feet. Also, the yellow on this rocket can be very easily seen. I never lost sight of the rocket during flight.

The second flight was on another B6-4. This motor is perfect for this rocket. A repeat of the first flight.

PROS: Flies great, very easy to see in flight.

CONS: None

Recovery:
With the small spill hole that I cut in the 'chute the rocket came down very nice. On the second flight, I noticed an Estes type dent in the top of the body tube so I guess that the shock cord is just a tad too short.

PROS: Comes down nice on provided chute with a small spill-hole.

CONS: Shock cord just a tad too short.

Flight Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:
I like this rocket. Priced at about $6.29, it's a real deal. Also because it looks like a pencil, it will impress youngsters and school teachers everywhere. Also, I feel that Estes should offer it in their educator bulk packs.

Main PROS: Fast construction, good quality components, finished appearance, excellent flight characteristics.

Main CONS: Shock cord too short. That's why I must deduct 1/2 point.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

Other Reviews
  • Estes No. 2 Sky Writer By Bill Eichelberger (April 23, 2014)

    I was thrilled when Estes brought out the Skywriter, not because of an affinity for pencil rockets, but because I could buy them and clone all the Satellite Interceptors, Mavericks and Black Brant IIIs that I wanted.  I would have continued to think of the Skywriter as a donor kit had I not been in the mood to fly something different at a planned launch at B6-4 Field the ...

  • Estes Sky Writer By Dillon Frazier (February 29, 2012)

    A 26-inch long rocket designed to look like a pencil. Made by Estes. An E2X model that is powered by standard engines (B6-4, C6-5, ect.). Components 2 main body tube sections Engine moun tbuilding components  plastic nose cone 4 inter-connected plastic fins rubber shock cord 12 inch preassembled parachute   /h2 Very easy to build, ...

  • Estes No. 2 Estes Sky Writer By Carl Tulanko

    The 'Sky Writer #2' rocket kit is a unique and fast building Skill Level 1 model from the Estes product line. It's a #2 pencil rocket that comes pre-painted with a white plastic 4-fin can and parachute recovery and flies on the 18mm Estes motor family to include the A8-3, B4-4, B6-4 and C6-5. At just over 26" long, this is a hearty sized model and a good looker. The kit came in a colorful bag ...

Flights

Comments:

avatar
D.C. (August 7, 2002)

I found the review very good and quite accurate. I assembled this kit very quickly, using Kevlarshock cord a' la Quest and i also "painted" the inside of the body tubes with thin CA to add strength. Fantastic kit, great quality, good price. What more can you want?

avatar
K.R.E. (June 6, 2003)
Great rocket! This was the first rocket for my five year old daughter and it couldn't have been a better choice. Assembly is easy and fast. We were able to find a large open field and decided to use a C6-5 for our first flight. Although we launched several other rockets that day, none of them matched the straight up and out performance of the #2 Sky Writer. I would recommend a spill hole in the chute as this rocket can DRIFT if caught in a wind gust. The overall toughness of the rocket will withstand, easily, the increased decent speed. Great kit.

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