RocketReviews.com - Estes - Pathfinder (1997) [1988-1990]

Brief:
This is a clone of the OOP Estes kit. While it is a fairly standard model, it has some very nice qualities to it including its size and its transition.

This was a relatively simple and straightforward build. All of the construction was done with Elmer's wood glue.

Finishing:
After construction, I primed the rocket with Wal-Mart primer (all the paint used on this one was from Wal-Mart), sanding and priming several times. I painted the entire rocket white, masked and painted the fin section orange, then masked again to pain the top portion silver. I really like the paint scheme and look forward to adding the decals that will be created with Avery labels.

Flight:
I have flown this rocket once on a D12-5. The flight was great! – nice and straight.

Summary:
This was an enjoyable build for me! – not too challenging and yet fun. While some may view it as not much more than a 4FNC, I think it's a great rocket and look forward to flying it often.

Flight Log

Date	Rocket Name	Motor(s)	Altitude	Notes
2000-10-28	David Fergus's Estes Pathfinder	D12-5	-	maiden flight unpainted
2001-10-20	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	D9-4	-	Lots of bonus delay on this reload. Good thing I flew it on THIS rocket! Model setteled into a...
2001-11-18	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	D12-7	-	Another perfect flight!
2002-02-23	Richard Valenti's Estes Pathfinder	D12-5	-	Good flight as usual. About out of sight. Use to get wind conditions for bigger rockets. Down on...
2002-04-20	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	D15-7	-	Parachute for bottom half did not deploy, resulting in a core sample. Top section recovered,...
2002-05-18	David Fergus's Estes Pathfinder	D12-5	-	painted now, good flight. Sarah's first D engine rocket.
2002-09-22	Richard Valenti's Estes Pathfinder	D12-7	-	Reloaded and flown again because the first flight was great. Up to about 600ft and down on the...
2002-09-22	Richard Valenti's Estes Pathfinder	D12-5	-	Usual great flight. Used a streamer to recover. Up to about 700ft and down about 200ft out....
2002-11-03	Richard Valenti's Estes Pathfinder	D12-7	-	Great motor for this rocket.Up to about 800ft and popped chute.Motor puts out some nice smoke and...
2002-12-15	Richard Valenti's Estes Pathfinder	E9-8	-	Nice launch with flame.Spun up to about 800 and popped streamer.Streamer tangled but fully...
2003-02-15	Richard Valenti's Estes Pathfinder	E9-8	-	Fins neon orange and top still in primer.Had to fly it.Orange paint worked great.Seen all the way...
2003-03-08	Richard Valenti's Estes Pathfinder	D12-7	-	Straight up as usual. Up to about 800 ft. Down on streamer just great. Walked about 150 for pick...
2003-03-23	Richard Valenti's Estes Pathfinder	C11-3	-	Only engine in the box for this one.Up to only about 500 real slow.Popped streamer just about...
2003-07-04	Richard Valenti's Estes Pathfinder	E9-8	-	Way up there.Painted black helped with sighting in the blue sky.Came down on a 12 foot streamer.No...
2003-07-13	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	C11-7	-	Another poor choice of delay. Model recovered without damage.
2003-07-17	Richard Valenti's Estes Pathfinder	E9-8	-	Just about out of sight.Used tracking smoke to locate in sky. Est 1000 ft up.Down on streamer...
2003-09-06	Vinnie Valenti's Estes Pathfinder	E9-6	-	Almost caught just inches away.
2003-09-21	Vinnie Valenti's Estes Pathfinder	E9-8	-	It went way down range to the west side of the field.
2004-05-16	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	D12-5	-	Great flight!
2004-11-20	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	D15-7	-
2004-12-19	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	D15-7	-	This is a good motor for this model.
2005-01-16	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	D15-7	-	I'm really getting to like these D15's. They're nise motors for Estes models, especially on windy...
2005-03-20	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	D12-7	-
2005-06-25	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	D12-5	-	Great flight at dusk.
2005-06-26	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	D12-5	-	Good flight.
2005-12-18	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	D12-5	-	Great Flight!
2006-02-19	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	D12-7	-	Maybe should stick with a 5 for this one.
2006-05-20	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	D12-5	-	Great flight.
2006-11-19	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	D12-5	-	Great flight.
2006-12-16	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	D12-5	-	Great Flight.
2007-01-20	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	D12-5	-
2007-02-17	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	D12-5	-
2007-03-17	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	D12-5	-	Good flight.
2007-04-14	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	D12-5	-
2007-11-17	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	D12-5	-
2008-02-17	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	D12-5	-	Good flight.
2008-12-20	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	D12-5	-	Great flight
2009-01-31	Tim Bearden's Estes Pathfinder	D12-5	-	Perfect maiden flight, both parts came down within 30 feet of pad.
2009-03-21	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	D12-5	-	Great flight.
2009-03-28	Tim Bearden's Estes Pathfinder	D12-7	-
2009-03-28	Tim Bearden's Estes Pathfinder	D12-7	-
2009-07-25	Brian Ray's Estes Pathfinder	D12-5	-	Great flight -- straight and true
2009-11-21	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	D12-5	-	Great flight
2009-11-27	Brian Ray's Estes Pathfinder	D12-5	-
2009-12-12	Brian Ray's Estes Pathfinder	D12-5	-
2010-01-16	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	D12-5	-
2010-02-20	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	D12-5	-	Great flight.
2010-03-20	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	D12-5	-	Good flight.
2010-04-18	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	D12-5	-	Switched back to a small chute for the upper section, less potential for damage.
2010-06-19	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	D12-5	-	Good flight
2010-12-19	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	D12-5	-	Great flight.
2011-02-19	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	D12-5	-	Good flight
2011-03-20	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	D12-5	-	Good flight
2011-12-18	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	D12-5	-
2012-01-01	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	D12-5	-
2012-01-28	Bob Bernatchez's Estes Pathfinder	D15-7	-

Estes - Pathfinder (1997) [1988-1990]

Flight Log

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