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Contributed by Greg Deeter
(Contributed - by Greg Deeter - 12/10/02)  Brief:
The SM-3 Navy Seahawk was a skill level 2 Explorer Series rocket. Came in a
nice box which can be used as a range box. Typical Estes, great instructions,
nice quality, and one of their better kits. This kit is out of production (OOP)
and I will bet I know why. This can be a dangerous kit to build. Reason being,
the fins are RAZOR sharp! I am shocked that Estes ever made a kit with fins
this sharp. If you are not careful, you can cut yourself seriously on the fins.
See my picture where I cut the package display sheet on one of the fins, like a
razor blade.
Construction:
Boxed kit includes :
Plastic Nose Cone (55AC), Upper Body Tube (4.3") BT55, red tube
coupler (55c), Slotted Upper Tube (BT55), Decal Sheet, Upper fin set plastic
(4), Lower fins set (8 halves), centering rings, stiffener tube, launch lugs,
(3) 5055 green adapter rings, adapter tube (50J), plastic tube adapter (2083),
slotted lower tube (1835), engine mount tube (bt50h), engine hooks, engine
block, engine spacer tube, 1/4"x24 shock cords (2), and (2) assembled
18" plastic Estes parachutes.
Instructions are excellent as well as the build. Pre-slotted tubes and
thru-the-wall fins. The main lower fins are in halves and must be glued
together. Plastic cement is suggested but I used CA entirely. This is an
excellent skill level 2 kit that results in a very nice looking rocket. It took
a few hours spread over a few days to build. It's not one you will complete in
30 minutes.
 Finishing:
I think the most important issue with this kit is how razor sharp the fins are.
Using gloves when building would be very smart, as one slip could result in
very serious lacerations requiring urgent medical attention and likely
stitches. When flying it is also very important to make sure that no one
attempts to catch the rocket before it lands. That as well could most certainly
result in cuts and injury. I like how this rocket looks, but for fairness I
must give it a 1/5 due to the very dangerously sharp fins.
Construction Rating:
1
out of 5
Flight:
I tested it before paint with a C11-3. Impressive slow lift off, very true and
nice. But that's not enough power. I will be popping an Aerotech D21-7 Blue
Thunder into it on a low or no wind day, with a homemade 24 to 18 adapter. Will
more than likely try the D12-5 next though.
Recovery:
I don't plan on flying this one much, due to the danger of the sharp fins. I
used the stock chutes and cords that came with it. They seem to be fine. I
would have upgraded the recover system with Kevlar®
cord mounted to the engine block, but I did not bother, as due to the dangerous
fins, this one will not be one that I fly often at all.
Flight Rating:
3
out of 5
Summary:
Quality rocket in a nice box. Easy to build and strong. Great end result. But
the fins are way too sharp and most certainly present a safety hazard. For that
reason I can only give it a 1/5.
Overall Rating:
1
out of 5 Flight Log- Post a Comment -
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