bannerbanner
 Space Shuttle Model Rockets      Rocket Motors      Rocketry T-Shirts      Centuri Rockets
Reviews >>

Estes - Maxi Alpha III (001903, 1321) [1979-1985,2000,2011-]

Manufacturer:Estes
Diameter:2.6 inches
Skill Level:2
Style:Sport
Construction Rating:

Contributed by

Brief

Large diameter upscale of the venerable Standard Estes Alpha.

Components

3 BT-80 Body tubes, 2x9", 1x3 3/8"

3 Plastic Fins,

24mm motor mount tube

1 centering ring

2 plastic fin mount and centering rings

3/8" rubber band shock cord (bad),

24" premade parachute

Plastic NC

Construction

The fin mounts are not the standard Estes fare, but instructions were easy to follow.  Parts fit well.  Recommend ditching the rubber-band shock cord and going with a bowline loop of kevlar tied around the motor mount and slid under the retention hook.  The centering ring has a slit in it that will allow you to pass the kevlar through the body.

The instructions really failed to call for attachment of the fins.  According to the directions, they are only cemented to the plastic centering rings at the leading and trailing edges.  I didnt think this was sufficient strength for mid-power flights so I used some more plastic cement to attach the fins to the body tube, then I used yellow glue to add small fillets to the fin assembly.

Other cons are the fit-up lines between the plasstic external rings and the paper body tubes.  Took a lot of wood filling and primer to get those lines to go away.

Finishing

Instructions call for the completion of this kit with only paint on the nose cone.  I personally dislike the advertising of the large decals and the 1960s red-white and light blue color scheme (maybe a richer navy blue would have been better), but I decided to go another direction.

Due to all the extra body tube fit-ups there was lots of wood-fililng to be sanded down.  LOTS.

The stock finishing is over-the-top advertising and un-attractive.  The kit is designed to have very little finish work, but if you WANT to finish it, it takes a LOT more work.  A LOT.

In celebration of Louisiana State football team's pre-season #4 ranking, I've decided to attempt a finish like 2009 Nike Pro Combat uniforms.  I picked up Testor's metallic purple and gold for the fins and NC, and am going to use white gloss for the body.  I purchased some authentic LSU helmet decals on Ebay and hope to get those attached to the Gold Fin

Construction Score: 1

Flight

Recovery

Flight Rating: 0

Summary

Overall Rating: 0

Flight Log

DateRocket NameMotor(s)AltitudeNotes
2000-07-25Donald Besaw's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-3-
2000-08-19Dave Russell's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-3- Landed on hard surface, broke fin, needs bigger chute
2000-08-20Dave Russell's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-3- Fin repaired. Much softer landing on 30 chute
2000-09-15Dave Russell's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-3- Ejection broke 1/4 shock cord. Recovered all pieces
2000-09-18Dave Russell's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-3- Much less stressful ejection with much longer Kevlar and 3/8 elastic combo.
2000-10-01Dave Russell's Estes Maxi Alpha 3E15-4- This bird was made for mid power, just awesome. Slow majestic off the pad and good height. Added...
2000-10-15Dave Russell's Estes Maxi Alpha 3E15-4- Awesome routine flight.
2000-11-11Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D15-4- Took two tries to ignite the motor.
2000-11-11Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-5-
2000-11-12Dave Russell's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-3- Vry nice. A bit lower, but nose weight didn't hurt this bird
2000-11-19Dave Russell's Estes Maxi Alpha 3E18-4- Absolutely beautiful. Can't go wrong with this combination.
2000-12-10Dave Russell's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-3- Typical nice flight. However, chute tangled, landed hard, broke and lost part of a fin.
2001-05-12Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D9-4- Perfect weather. Nice flight, but broke fin on landing.
2001-05-19Donald Besaw's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-3- Another beautiful flight. Moderate winds made for a long recovery walk. Fins survived without a...
2001-06-24Jeff Brundt's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-3- First flight of the day. I use this or my 2.6 V-2 to help determine the winds for launch & recovery
2001-07-01Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-5- Broke fin.
2001-07-01Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3E18-4- Good flight. Love that White Lightning.
2001-07-14Luis Salinas's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-5-
2001-07-14Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3E28-4- Uncertain of early delay, motor trouble? Will try again, but will need to mend the broken fin...
2001-07-26Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D15-4- Good flight.
2001-07-29Jeff Brundt's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-3- Used as the obligatory 1st flight of the day to test the winds. Good straight boost and perfect...
2001-07-29Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D15-4- Broke another fin.
2001-08-04MikeyR's Estes Maxi Alpha 3E28-4- Nice boost. Landed on road and cracked a fin.
2001-09-01Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3E18-4- Good flight, but broke fin (again).
2001-09-02Jeff Brundt's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-3- The fist flight of the day, used to check wind conditions. A perfect flight.
2001-09-08Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3F12-5- Good motor/rocket combo.
2001-09-08Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3E28-4- Four seconds is too short, will try a seven.
2001-09-15Bob Sanford's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-3- Another fine flight of the ORIGINAL (1980's) version of this kit.
2001-09-22Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3E9-6- Good flight even though the wind was picking up. Using a 24 inch 'chute resulted in another broken...
2001-09-22Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-3- Nominal. Typical flight profile on D12 - low & slow.
2001-09-29Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-3- Nominal for a D12 - low and slow.
2001-09-29Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3F12-5- Good combination of motor/rocket.
2001-11-03Randy Powell's Estes Maxi Alpha 3E15-4- split the chute..recovered near and no damage
2001-11-03Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3E11-3- Didn't deploy 'chute, broke a fin.
2001-11-03Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3E18-4- Typical flight.
2001-11-24Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-3- Second flight today; still using tumble recovery due to wind. Broke a fin (again). This rocket is...
2002-01-12Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-3- First flight after overhaul. Using 24 'chute with large spillhole. Lots of drift and dragged along...
2002-02-16Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-5- First flight after refit. Very nice boost, perfect delay. Wind carried rocket into tree. Rocket...
2002-03-28Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-5- Beautiful - only a little drift despite a lot of hang time.
2002-04-04Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D15-4- Very nice!
2002-05-05Malcolm Smith's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-3- Great flight, realistic lift-off and slight weathercock. Ejection was nearly perfect as the rocket...
2002-05-25Randy Powell's Estes Maxi Alpha 3E15-7- didnt have a 4 sec. so burnt another 7.....risky business....no more 7z for this rocket.
2002-05-27Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3E11-3- Good boost, fun motor! Landed in pond - fished out by Jay. Tubing is wet but not soaked, OK after...
2002-06-01Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-5- First flight of the day: windy! Lot's of weather vane, and lots of drift.
2002-06-22Randy Powell's Estes Maxi Alpha 3F21-6- The new F21 motor really works well in this rocket. I was using E15s but no more.
2002-07-02Donald Besaw's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-3- Beautiful straight flight. I managed to catch this rocket before it hit the ground to prevent fin...
2002-07-07Randy Powell's Estes Maxi Alpha 3F21-6- this rocket kicks butt on the F21.
2002-07-15Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D15-7- Late! Tangled 'chute; no damage.
2002-07-15Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3C11-3- Oh that was fun! Leaves the launcher with authority and then puts on the breaks, hangs there for a...
2002-07-21Randy Powell's Estes Maxi Alpha 3F20-7-
2002-08-10Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3E15-7- Nice! Good deployment, some drift.
2002-08-10Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D15-7- 'Chute tangled, but no damage.
2002-09-07Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3C11-3- Club demo launch. Nice flight.
2002-10-05Randy Powell's Estes Maxi Alpha 3F21-6- Excellent!!!
2002-10-09Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-5- Good flight.
2002-10-20Randy Powell's Estes Maxi Alpha 3F21-6- super launch...the F21 -6 is perfect.
2002-11-30Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3E9-8- Picture Perfect. Disappointed with altitude due to launch angle in wind.
2002-12-16Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3F12-5- This is an old package of reloads, and provided an extra long delay on all three in the package....
2003-01-25Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-5- Nice flight.
2003-01-25Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3C11-3- Nominal flight.
2003-02-22Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-5- Good flight.
2003-02-22Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3C11-3- Good flight.
2003-03-15Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3E9-6- Good!
2003-03-15Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-5- Higher! Lots of drift.
2003-03-15Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3C11-3- Low and Slow.
2003-04-12Randy Powell's Estes Maxi Alpha 3F21-6-
2003-04-19Randy Powell's Estes Maxi Alpha 3F21-6-
2003-05-25Rocky Firth's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-3- Maden flight. Got the kids attention.
2003-05-31Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3C11-3- Good!
2003-05-31Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D9-4- Very late ejection - this is a really old reload. Stripped the 'chute shrouds; no other damage.
2003-06-30Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D9-4- Long delay - no damage.
2003-07-26Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3C11-3- Low and slow; hung there for a split second then ejected.
2003-10-18Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3C11-3- Typical flight; 'chute hung briefly.
2003-10-29Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3C11-3- Low & Slow.
2003-10-29Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D15-4- Good flight.
2003-11-24Tim Burger's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D15-4- Good flight.
2003-12-26Jon Revelle's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-3- Perfect flight. This thing ROARED off the pad. Landed in a low branch in tree.
2004-04-24Donald Besaw's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-3- Very nice flight, gets about 400-500 feet on the D12-3. Very nice recovery close to pad. No damage.
2004-08-08Rocky Firth's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-3- Nice rocket for windy days. The D12 is a good motor to keep the recovery walk short.
2004-08-15Andrew Grippo's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-3- 2nd flight of day with same results - Good flight and short walk for recovery - no damage. Fun...
2004-08-28Andrew Grippo's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-5- Good high flight, ejection at apogee, good recovery
2004-12-28Jon Revelle's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-5- AWESOME FLIGHT!! Came down slow, but managed to pop part of the fin lose.
2005-01-21Andrew Grippo's Estes Maxi Alpha 3C11-3- Delay decent for this rocket but not much altitude achieved with the C11 motor, may have reached...
2005-03-18Andrew Grippo's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-5- Good flight and recovery.
2005-08-07Mark Beever's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-3- Delay too short but still a good flight.
2005-08-27Andrew Grippo's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-3- Nice straight flight and good recovery. Nice stable kit to fly.
2007-03-27Donald Besaw's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-3- Another one I have not flown in a long time. Great flight. Two fins had the rear tabs broken off...
2007-04-28Andrew Grippo's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-3- Good boost and flight. Low and slow. good recovery
2008-11-22John Bergsmith's Estes Maxi Alpha 3E9-4- Flight on my son's Maxi-Alpha. Typical flight, recovered with no issues.
2008-11-22John Bergsmith's Estes Maxi Alpha 3E9-4- First flight on my daughter's rocket. Nice boost with no issues, and recovered with no damage. The...
2009-04-18John Bergsmith's Estes Maxi Alpha 3E18-4- Flight #2 on my daughter's rocket. Nice boost with no issues, and recovered with no damage. The...
2009-07-25Andrew Grippo's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-3-
2010-05-14Bernard Cawley's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-3- Good first flight. Deploy a bit early - try D12-5 next time. Good 'chute and near landing.
2010-05-14Bernard Cawley's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-3- Good first flight. Deploy a bit early - try D12-5 next time. Good 'chute and near landing.
2010-05-15Bernard Cawley's Estes Maxi Alpha 3E20-7- After three tries, ZOOM! Great high flight. Good deployment and nice landing, but it took a long...
2010-05-15Bernard Cawley's Estes Maxi Alpha 3E20-7- WOW! Deployed a bit early (and about 1/2 inch of tube zipper). Good 'chute. Almost landed in the...
2010-05-15Bernard Cawley's Estes Maxi Alpha 3C11-3- Perfect small field demo flight profile - go straight up, stop, pop 'chute, land less than 10 feet...
2010-05-15Bernard Cawley's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-5- Very nice all the way around. Deploy just about perfect. Good 'chute (went down to 18 incher)....
2010-05-15Bernard Cawley's Estes Maxi Alpha 3E20-7- After three tries, ZOOM! Great high flight. Good deployment and nice landing, but it took a long...
2010-05-15Bernard Cawley's Estes Maxi Alpha 3E20-7- WOW! Deployed a bit early (and about 1/2 inch of tube zipper). Good 'chute. Almost landed in the...
2010-05-16Bernard Cawley's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-5- Nice almost picture perfect flight. Slightly late deployment. Very nearby landing.
2010-06-12Bernard Cawley's Estes Maxi Alpha 3C11-3- Angled north into wind. Good 'chute. Cracked the base of one fin on landing. Repaired with thick...
2010-06-12Bernard Cawley's Estes Maxi Alpha 3D12-3- Good boost. Early deploy while still going pretty fast. Popped one shroud line and short (about...
2010-09-18Bernard Cawley's Estes Maxi Alpha 3E15-71009 feet Nice! Good flight profile overall. Close landing. No damage.
2010-09-18Bernard Cawley's Estes Maxi Alpha 3E15-7- Nice! Good flight profile overall. Close landing. No damage.
2010-11-21John Bergsmith's Estes Maxi Alpha 3E18-4- Daughters Halloweeen Scheme, another great flight.
2011-06-17C Graski's Maxi Alpha 3D12-5500 feet Fantastic first flight of this monster. Makes me want to finish my Executioner now!
2011-06-26C Graski's Maxi Alpha 3D12-5550 feet
2011-06-26C Graski's Maxi Alpha 3D12-5-
2011-06-26C Graski's Maxi Alpha 3D12-5600 feet
2011-08-20Douglas Hurstell's Maxi Alpha 3D12-3300 feet Nice, slow, lift-off, came popped a pretty 'chute and smacked a soccer goal a few feet from the...
2011-08-20Douglas Hurstell's Maxi Alpha 3E9-6450 feet Low initial impulse, 1/8" rod rolled over and sent this flight on a trajectory that sent it into...
2011-08-20Douglas Hurstell's Maxi Alpha 3E9-6750 feet VERY slow liftoff. Beautiful flight, Straight as an arrow up, and came down sweetly 75' from the...
2011-09-11Douglas Hurstell's Maxi Alpha 3E9-6550 feet Delay too long
2012-03-18John Bergsmith's Maxi Alpha IIIAerotech E15-4-Nice flight
2012-05-20John Bergsmith's Maxi Alpha IIIAerotech E15-4-

- Post a Comment -

eBay Offers:

Estes Flying Model Rocket MAXI ALPHA 3 LAUNCH SET New for 2012
  >>> Product Details >>>

US $35.95
End Date: Wednesday May-30-2012 12:58:26 PDT
Buy It Now for only: US $35.95
Buy it now | Add to watch list

NEW! Estes Maxi Alpha III Kit Skill Level 2 1903 NIB
  >>> Product Details >>>

US $22.49
End Date: Saturday Jun-02-2012 13:44:09 PDT
Buy It Now for only: US $22.49
Buy it now | Add to watch list

NEW! Estes Maxi Alpha 3 Launch Set E2X Easy-To-Assemble 1466 NIB
  >>> Product Details >>>

US $44.99
End Date: Sunday Jun-24-2012 13:11:02 PDT
Buy It Now for only: US $44.99
Buy it now | Add to watch list

ESTES 1466 MAXI ALPHA 3 RTF KIT READY TO FLY NEW NIB SKILL 2
  >>> Product Details >>>

US $39.99
End Date: Thursday Jun-21-2012 14:52:04 PDT
Buy It Now for only: US $39.99
Buy it now | Add to watch list

Estes Flying Model Rocket MAXI ALPHA 3
  >>> Product Details >>>

US $20.75
End Date: Friday Jun-15-2012 22:16:47 PDT
Buy It Now for only: US $20.75
Buy it now | Add to watch list

What You Can Do

- Link to this Page -