RocketReviews.com - Estes - Phoenix (1380) [1982-1998]

The Estes' Phoenix is a challenging scale model kit of a US air-to-air missile. It is gun to build and fly and an excellent introduction to mid-power rocketry.

INSTRUCTIONS:
The instructions were illustrated and easy to follow. No special tools were needed.

EASE OF BUILD:
This rocket is not easy to build, due to the large amount of lumber it carries. It has eight very large balsa fins, so it is not recommended for the first-time builder. Fortunately, the fins are all one-piece design, so you don't have to glue the fins together from many pieces as you do with some other Estes' kits.

All the parts were included in my kit. Estes has a toll-free number you can call if there are any missing parts, and they also have a limited warrantee.

Alignment is a bit of a challenge for the fins because you want to get the forward fins aligned exactly with the rear ones. Besides carefully using the body tube marking guide, make sure to align these "by eye" before the glue sets up.

Estes recommends a lot of sanding on the forward fins to give them a knife edge for that scale look. If you're building this for contest, go for it. Otherwise, I would advise against sanding too much wood off this bird, or you will have balsa splinters all over the place when it lands hard. . . which it will. Give the fins many coats of strong filleting.

QUALITY:
This is a good quality kit and is pretty sturdy, given the amount of wood hanging from it. I've had the rear fins pop off at times and one of the front fins has a hairline crack, but these are easily fixed. It is surprising that there hasn't been more damage, given the amount of balsa on this rocket.

This rocket looks sharp, even after several launches and some battering. The white color is not range-friendly and gets dirty fast.

The decals were something of a disappointment. Although they were complete and seemed accurate, they were soak-in-water type and were difficult to apply. Several other Phoenix builders noted this to me. You may want to look for a decal fixative solution that goes into the water soak to improve decal adhesion. Also recommended is several coats of clear spray after the decals are applied.

Even with the clear spray, my decals have started to chip and peel after many flights. I may repaint my Phoenix in a dull gray color and use only a few decals on it, to give it extra life.

FLYING:
This rocket flies surprisingly straight for the amount of wood hanging on it. The only disappointment is that it is a bit heavy for a D12-3. Do NOT fly this rocket with a D12-5. The extra two seconds of delay can be fatal to the airframe. You can either turn it into a lawn dart or may have late ejection, which can easily cause zippering.

Make sure you have installed the nose weight clay, or this rocket may be unstable.

Most popular engine for the Estes Phoenix is the Aerotech 24mm reload. You may have to file down the forward end of the engine clip to allow the forward end closure of the reload to fit. But this motor provides ample power to get the Phoenix up in the air.

Because of reliability problems with Copperhead igniters, I have begun using Estes North Coast igniters with the Aerotech 24 mm reload to good effect. They are less likely to short out than the Copperheads, although Estes did go cheap on the pyrogen on the igniter tips.

Recovery is usually excellent. You may want to consider replacing the stock 24" plastic chute with a nylon one, as they are more sturdy and reliable. Plastic chutes have a nasty tendency to stick or tangle, which makes for a hard landing.

RATING:
I give this rocket 4 points. It is an excellent scale model, although the decals may cause some cussing. It is a bit underpowered with a "D" motor, although you can upgrade to Aerotech's with it. It is also an excellent introduction to mid-power rocketry and composite motors.

Although this may seem heretical to the accomplished rocket builder, this is one kit that may have actually benefited from plastic fins instead of all the lumber it carries. This may have reduced the weight enough to improve performance on the "D" engine. If you are into plastic fin fabrication, you may want to consider this option.

Estes has a winner with this kit. . . if they were smart, they'd build a larger version under their North Coast label. For now, if you want a bigger Phoenix, you can get the THOY model with a 4" diameter tube, which will handle high-power motors.

The instructions for the Phoenix are written very well. On one of the steps for the rocket, they tell you to put the motor mount in so the motor hook is even with the end of the body tube, make sure to do this! You WILL want to coat the end of the body tube were the motor mount is with epoxy so the tube does not get burnt from the motor! Also they give you diagrams for every step! The tools needed for construction are: sanding sealer, sandpaper, rule, pencil, X-Acto knife, scissors, glue, masking tape and epoxy.

All parts fit well! But putting the fins on does take time sense there are 8 of them!! Also you may want to build the rocket so you can fly Aerotech E and F motors in it. I just coated the centering rings with epoxy and put balsa strips on them too! And built the rest of the rocket with epoxy. Another thing is you will want to put good fillets of epoxy on all of the fin/body tube joints!

Sturdiness: The rocket would be a LOT better if they gave you thicker body tubes! The decals they give you are water sensitive. Which I like better then the self adhesive ones sense they are easier to work with. You will want to clear coat the rocket when you have all the decals on to protect the decals and finish! When done it looks GREAT!

For the first flight of my Phoenix I used a Aerotech E15-4 White Lightning. Rocket had a great boost and had a little bit of spin at motor burn out. And then ejection charge fired and rocket cam back without any damage! NOTE: Make sure to add the nose weight they give you or your rocket will not be stable!

I would give this rocket 4 points. It would get 5 points if they gave you thicker body tubes and a longer shock cord ( you will want to replace the one they give you). Other wise this is a great rocket!

Flight Log

Date	Rocket Name	Motor(s)	Altitude	Notes
1984-07-19	Casey Smith's Estes Phoenix	D12-7	-	This was my first rocket. I wrote about it for a school report. Great flight, too long of a delay.
1996-07-05	Tony Fragge's Estes Phoenix	D12-5	-	Delay too long. 1/2 zipper rip.
1996-07-05	Tony Fragge's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Good first flight
1996-08-03	Tony Fragge's Estes Phoenix	D12-5	-	Delay TOO long. Should have learned from the first flight!
1996-10-19	Tony Fragge's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-
1999-06-12	John Busacca's Estes Phoenix	D12-5	-	Good flight, rocket turned into wind. Going to build up the fins and fly it on a E15 or E30
2000-03-02	Brian Kain's Estes Phoenix	C6-3	-	My 29mm phoenix. Not enough nose weight. The wind pushed it over at about 40'. Lets just say I'm...
2000-03-20	Brian Kain's Estes Phoenix	C6-3	-	Same flight as before and it keeps breaking the back fin off.
2000-04-09	David Kneble's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	First flight and maybe last. Great looking rocket, not worth losing, waiting for NARAM 43 and...
2000-05-22	David Kneble's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Second flight and maybe last(changed my mind). Great looking rocket, not worth losing, waiting for...
2001-01-27	Michael Mangieri's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Good flight. Landed in "sticker" bush near trees. Only 4 feet from the ground, but those thorns...
2001-02-18	Tony Fragge's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Good flight. Wind caught chute after safe landing and dragged it across the field breaking off...
2001-05-30	Donald Besaw's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Beautiful first flight. Used 24 inch chute which worked fairly well. Plan to use a 36 inch nylon...
2001-06-09	Daniel Cutteridge's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Gust of wind right at lift off caused rocket to arch over. Recovered intact,no damage. Very nice...
2001-07-10	Tony Fragge's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	OK
2001-08-04	Tony Fragge's Estes Phoenix	E9-6	-	A little under powered and went horizontal into the wind at about 100 ft.
2001-08-20	John Busacca's Estes Phoenix	E15-4	-	First E flight, had to go to 30 Deg into wind,Fins were built up for this flight. Rocket leeped...
2001-09-23	Donald Besaw's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Good flight. Cracked fin after landing on short grass. Repaired easily with slow setting CyA. Used...
2001-10-22	Donald Besaw's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Good flight. Quite a bit of weathercocking. Recovered damage free to to a good catching attempt by...
2001-11-04	John Storey's Estes Phoenix	G35-7	-	14 inch payload section added, otherwise stock except for epoxy fillets
2001-11-16	Tony Fragge's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Used 22 nylon chute. Worked well.
2001-11-22	Michael Doherty's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	First flight for this kit & my first D flight in 25 years. Awesome! Awesome! Awesome!! Lots of...
2001-12-01	Michael Mangieri's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	A slight wooble on the way up, but still impressive. Bottom fin broke off on landing.
2002-01-17	Jason Vennard's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	First flight, straight boost, good deployment and recovery, one bottom fin knocked off on landing.
2002-01-20	Donald Besaw's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Perfect flight. No damage.
2002-01-26	Jason Vennard's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Good flight, very cold out, plastic chute didn't deploy, hard landing, knocked off two bottom...
2002-03-26	Jason Vennard's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Great flight and recovery, 18 chute a little small for this one maybe, knocked off two more bottom...
2002-04-27	Michael Mangieri's Estes Phoenix	C11-3	-	Nice flight on this new motor from Estes
2002-05-11	Michael Mangieri's Estes Phoenix	C11-3	-	Beautiful and slow. Rear fin broke off, again :(
2002-05-12	Randy Trotter's Estes Phoenix	D12-5	-	Pretty Launch, but VERY under powered!!!! I was worried it was not going to eject before hitting...
2002-05-12	Randy Trotter's Estes Phoenix	E30-4	-	2nd flight, MUCH better motor for this kit than the este D12-5!!!! It had great power. It came...
2002-05-25	Michael Mangieri's Estes Phoenix	D9-4	-	My first attempt at using RMS motors. Motor fired great; unfortunately the Phoenix tipped-off 30...
2002-05-27	Jason Vennard's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Winds little over 5mph. Good flight although it cocked a little into the wind. Daughter popped one...
2002-08-02	Donald Besaw's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Beautiful straight flight. Perfect recovery due to me catching the rocket just before touchdown....
2002-08-10	Larry Zeilmann's Estes Phoenix	E9-4	-	This was modified with a linear baffle and flown prior to painting. Perfect straight boost with...
2002-09-07	Bill Haley's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	AWESOME ROCKET - 3 Launches today - First time to fly the Phoenix - Underpowered, weathercocks a...
2002-10-26	Larry Zeilmann's Estes Phoenix	E9-4	-	AGF straight boost
2002-11-30	Alan King's Estes Phoenix	D12-5	-	Late afternoon, cold and breezy about 5 mph. Left the launch pad with very realistic takeoff....
2002-12-26	Donald Sharps's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	1 oz clay in nose per instructions, but at 50 ft alt, it turned sideways. We launched a missle! No...
2003-01-26	Donald Besaw's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Perfect flight. Short recovery. I love the way this rocket lumbers off the pad. No damage.
2003-04-26	Larry Zeilmann's Estes Phoenix	E9-4	-	AGF
2003-05-29	Jon Revelle's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Perfect flight. Broke fin off on landing. Called Estes on 6-30 and said would look into problem.
2003-07-13	Donald Besaw's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Nice flight, ejected right at apogee even though the motor fired its ejection charge after 1 1/2...
2003-10-19	Mark Hayes's Estes Phoenix	3xD12-5	-	weather cocked, but perfectly straight after that
2004-04-04	Jason Vennard's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Our Phoenix is cursed. Another very nice flight, recovery fine under 22 nylon chute but once again...
2004-04-11	Donald Besaw's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Very nice flight with some spin and arcing. Suffered a stripped chute at ejection and came down...
2004-07-20	Frank DiMatteo's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	The D12 is an underpowered motor for this rocket but it flies great. The back fin keeps coming...
2004-08-14	Mark Van+Luvender's Estes Phoenix	E18-4	-	Great, fast boost! Flew straight and fast, recovered close. Excellent engine for this rocket!
2004-08-15	Andrew Grippo's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	2nd flight of day for this rocket and went same as the first - Great!
2004-11-18	Donald Besaw's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Very nice and straight flight, absolutely no weathercocking at all. Nice recovery except the chute...
2005-02-05	Todd Shero's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Rocket way underpowered as stated by many. Must fly again soon with something bigger. Just getting...
2005-03-18	Andrew Grippo's Estes Phoenix	D12-5	-	Good flight and recovery. This rocket looks great sitting on the pad and flies very well.
2005-05-14	Todd Shero's Estes Phoenix	E30-7	-	Launch lug let loose as rocket came off the pad. Not a pretty flight. Chute melted from ejection...
2005-05-14	Todd Shero's Estes Phoenix	E30-7	-	Second flight after repairs and a new chute. Perfect flight with the perfect motor for this...
2005-05-28	Donald Besaw's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Very nice flight, boosts very nicely up to about 300-350 feet on the D12-3. Moderate drift on...
2005-05-29	Joe Cacciatore's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Third flight of the day and it almost lands in water again but just makes land.
2005-05-29	Joe Cacciatore's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	First flight good alhough not too straight on a D12-3. One chute line is shorted than rest making...
2005-05-29	Joe Cacciatore's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Better flight but lands on weeds sticking out of swamp water. Was able to retrieve w/o damage or...
2005-07-04	Joe Cacciatore's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Went way of course, almost horizontal and chute ejected in trees. Nosecone/chute in upper...
2006-04-30	Joe Cacciatore's Estes Phoenix	D12-7	-	Second flight of the day a little straighter. Seven second delay kept it from drifting into woods.
2006-04-30	Joe Cacciatore's Estes Phoenix	D12-7	-	After recovering this rocket from being in a tree all year, it flies again! A little whobblely but...
2006-05-07	Rick Mchenry's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Maiden flight,decent height and perfect recovery
2006-07-16	Joe Cacciatore's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Kind of wobbelly mid flight but went OK and lands close.
2006-07-30	Joe Cacciatore's Estes Phoenix	D12-5	-	First flight of the day for this rocket went well.
2006-07-30	Joe Cacciatore's Estes Phoenix	D11-9	-	OK, so 9 seconds is too long. Rocket became a lawn dart. Top part of body tube destroyed. Nose...
2006-09-02	Donald Besaw's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Very nice flight, I really love the magestic low and slow flight profile of this bird. No damage.
2006-09-08	Gary Drebit's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	302 feet	Perfect flight
2007-01-01	Todd Shero's Estes Phoenix	E9-6	-	Lengthened motor mount to alow using the E9. Great motor for this rocket, although the 6 sec....
2007-03-30	Howie Druckerman's Estes Phoenix	D12-2	-	A great flight -- always liked this very large Estes rocket. Landed a little hard on the bottom...
2007-04-22	Howie Druckerman's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Previous flight with 36 X chute hit the ground hard. Tried a 36 round chute this time and it hit...
2007-05-20	Howie Druckerman's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	The first time this rocket has flown and no fins were lost upon landing! Great flight - lumbered...
2007-07-22	Howie Druckerman's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	All the fins stayed on -- a great flight and landing.
2007-08-12	Mark Van+Luvender's Estes Phoenix	F24-7	-	Nice flight, but a late ejection. Needs a bigger 'chute - cracked fillet on landing.
2007-08-19	Howie Druckerman's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	First flight was great, second flight (this one) was a couple seconds longer delay. Gotta love the...
2007-08-19	Howie Druckerman's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	A great flight. Grass was about a foot tall so no fins broke off upon landing with 36 inch round...
2007-09-01	William Beggs's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Perfect flight and recovery.
2007-09-16	Howie Druckerman's Estes Phoenix	E9-4	-	This was the first flight with an E motor. The E9 lumbered off the pad but it kept on climbing.
2007-10-13	Howie Druckerman's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Rocket left the pad and at about 25 feet up made a 90 degree turn over the crowd and only made it...
2007-11-04	Ron Mahinske's Estes Phoenix	D15-4	-	Went up maybe 300', landed on a nearby cabin roof. Broke off a lower fin, but easily repaired.
2008-02-23	Andrew Grippo's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Nominal Flight
2008-03-02	Russell Garcia's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Kit bash model, put too small of a parachute in it, landed hard and broke two fins off, will fly...
2008-03-08	William Beggs's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Great flight. No damage.
2008-03-08	Russell Garcia's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Good flight, no damage upon landing, 3 second delay is just perfect
2008-03-08	Russell Garcia's Estes Phoenix	D12-5	-	Good flight, even with a little bit of wind this rocket turns into the wind, five second delay way...
2008-03-29	Russell Garcia's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Good flight, good deployment of parachute.
2008-06-21	Les Bradshaw's Estes Phoenix	E9-4	-	Good flight. Landed close to launch area
2008-10-11	Ron Mahinske's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Broke a fin on landing, easily repaired
2008-10-11	Ron Mahinske's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Broke a fin on landing, easily repaired.
2008-11-23	John Bergsmith's Estes Phoenix	E18-4	-	Straight boost, very fast leaving the pad. The Phoenix is very impressive on this motor. Recovered...
2008-12-21	Donald Besaw's Estes Phoenix	E9-4	-	Beautiful flight, first time I've flown this on an E9. Nice straight boost to maybe 500-600 feet....
2009-01-17	Howie Druckerman's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Perfect flight for an old Estes. Minor fin damage on one bottom fin; what else is new for a...
2009-02-14	William Beggs's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Great flight. The parachute got a little twisted but the rocket was not damaged.
2009-03-14	Kathy Miller's Estes Phoenix	D12-5	-
2009-03-21	John Bergsmith's Estes Phoenix	E28-4	-	Fast stable boost, perfect ejection. Nice flight, with no damage.
2009-03-21	Russell Garcia's Estes Phoenix	D12-5	-	Good Flight.
2009-05-02	Howie Druckerman's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	Grass was tall enough to prevent any damage to the lower fins -- nice, but unusual.
2009-05-09	Darren Morton's Estes Phoenix	E9-4	-	first flight in 5 years. windy, broke fin. easy fix.
2009-09-06	Howie Druckerman's Estes Phoenix	D12-3	-	No fin damage
2009-10-12	Matt Gillard's Estes Phoenix	D12-5	-	wrong motor choice, still recovered fine with no damage
2009-10-25	Leon Oknats's Estes Phoenix	E9-4	-	Windy day but sent it up anyways. Weather cocked badly, and the delay charge blew the baffle...
2009-10-25	Leon Oknats's Estes Phoenix	F20-4	-	Weather cocked and was flying horizontal at about 400ft and then went about another 800-1000. ...
2010-03-21	Matt Gillard's Estes Phoenix	D12-5	-	Good flight.
2010-05-15	Leon Oknats's Estes Phoenix	F20-4	-	Windy Day, weathercocked, but always fun. Cracked a lower fin on landing even with 36 inch Nylon....
2010-07-13	Leon Oknats's Estes Phoenix	F12-5	-
2010-07-13	Leon Oknats's Estes Phoenix	G38-7	-	Balsa and wood glue, 29mm Mount, Baffle, and 30 inch X-Type Top Flight Chute. Landed 800 Feet...
2010-10-31	Mark Thompson's Estes Phoenix	D12-5	-	Another flight for the venerable Phoenix. As per usual it cracked a fin loose. Sturdier build...
2011-01-01	Mark H's Phoenix	E18-4	-	Blew the dust off this one. Way up there. Good combo.
2011-01-29	Andrew Grippo's Estes Phoenix	D12-5	-

Estes - Phoenix (1380) [1982-1998]

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