Estes - Prowler (2156) [1998-2000]

My wife was out shopping at Toys 'R' Us with her Godchildren and being the good wife that she is picked up a rocket for me. She let the Godchildren pick it and I received an Estes 'Prowler'. I was impressed with the rocket selection power of the girls age 5 and 7.

The Prowler is a Beta (beginner) series rocket. It is a large rocket and a basic 3FNC design.

This kit was packaged in plastic and came in a box and was probably around $12.99. All the parts were included and none were damaged. The instructions were typical Estes and were excellent. The kit's uniqueness is the Glow-in-the-Dark (TM) decals. It is strongly noted on the Estes box and instructions that this rocket is NOT to be launched at night. The decals are for display purposes only. Who thought this up.... Beavis? The kit contains plastic Estes chute, balsa fins and plastic nose cone and body tube section transition rings, along with all the other standard Estes hardware.

The size of this rocket is impressive (for me at least) over 3 ft, but the power was not. Maximum C engine power with the package mount. I decided against the majestic 300ft flight and went for MORE POWER.

I also decided to add a baffle ala Centuri (BTW thanks Doug). I modified this slightly and put cardboard with holes punched in it in the top and bottom section of each section joiner (the rocket has three sections). The baffle system replaces the need for wadding. Some sanding may be required on the section rings, I had a devil of a time trying to force them into the body tubes.

Next I ordered an Estes D engine mount from my local hobby store. The engine mount comes with instructions, you just need to select the right engine mount rings (there is a variety). After selecting the proper mount rings, I encountered my first problem. The Prowler uses Through-the-Tube (TM) fin mounting. My new engine mount was thicker than the original and when I dry fitted the fins they stuck out too far from the body tube. The only answer I came up with too chop off part of the root edge of the fins. I was not thrilled about this since this would not give the fins the same strength as the original mount, but decided plenty of wood glue would do the trick. It turned out I was correct but more about that later. Tools needed for this kit are an exacto knife and white or yellow glue.

Time for my rant section: I am getting sick and tired (tired always follows sick) of losing chute rockets that drift forever and land in a tree, on a roof or in a corn field. I am launching from a large enough field and into the wind I'm not stupid, I just look that way. So, I decided to go with a large streamer.

I used the standard Estes shock cord and mount. I then primed and painted the rocket. I wanted to use purple so I could name it the Purple Prowler, but none was to be found at Pep Boys so I went with metallic blue.

I rate construction of this rocket a 4, since it is a solid kit and was very satisfying even without all the upgrades.

I was in a hurry to launch so I left off the decals. I launched the rocket in July on a gusty day (0-10 from the west). This rocket roared off the pad on a D for a VERY high and straight flight. I am really having some bad luck lately and once again, recovery was not so pretty. Only part of my 30 ft streamer came out after ejection and I could tell the rate of descent was too fast. It barely missed landing on the roof of a school building. It landed hard on concrete, NO fin damage but a slightly crimped body tube at the nose cone end. When I looked in the rocket there was a big ball of streamer still in there. The streamer was wadded in their and the ejection charge couldn't blow it all out. I have since whacked off about 10ft of streamer and will attach a small chute, for a less comet like recovery.

Addition note: After a few launches an "escape hatch" was blown in the body of the rocket. (see picture) I think the Prowler body tube is not strong enough for D engine ejection charge.