Estes - Star Dart (2170) [2001-2005]

Brief:
Minimum diameter rocket with a sleek, compact design. Uses a parachute for recovery. Flights to 2,000 feet are possible with this kit.

Modifications:
Replaced Parachute with a Custom Streamer.

Construction:
The kit came packaged in a plastic bag with the usual header card. The kit included the body tube which doubles as the motor mount, retention hook and sleeve, thrust ring, spacer tube, die-cut balsa fins, launch lug, shock cord, nose cone and insert, pre-assembled 12 inch parachute and a single name decal. Estes is obviously going cheap on decals.

The instructions were typical Estes material with great illustrations and text that was very simple to understand and included the shock cord mount and tube marking guide.

Even a beginner should have no problem assembling this kit.

The construction started by gluing the insert into the nose cone as this cone is a two-piece unit.

I then marked the spacer tube at the location shown in the instructions to insert the thrust ring into the body tube. Now the thrust ring is glued into place.

I cut out the guide from the instructions and marked the lines for the fins and launch lug. I highly reccommend that you slightly scuff the surface of the body tube with 400 grit sandpaper to give the glue some more "bite".

I now cut the slot in the body tube for insertion of the motor hook and then glued the sleeve in place to secure it. I really don't like the way this looks.

I attached the fins one at a time allowing a few minutes of drying time between each. I then applied some fillets for added strength. I attached the launch lug next.

I now assembled the shock cord mount waited for it to dry and then attached it.

I threw the parachute into my parts box as I had no intention of using it. This kit is far too light and flies too high for a parachute. I replaced it with a streamer that I cut out from an old plastic table cloth.

PROS: Quick and easy construction

CONS: None, that is if you don't mind the externally mounted motor hook and sleeve.

Finishing:
I started by spraying the model with Ace brand white primer and sanded between coats.

I really liked the stock scheme but without decals, I would find it nearly impossible to duplicate it.

I sprayed on some Testor's gloss orange for my fin stripes. I then masked that off and then sprayed the body with Testor's grape pearl. I then topped off the model with a black nose cone. I then applied the name decal.

I then tied on my homemade streamer to finish the model.

PROS: Easy to finish.

CONS: More decals would have been nice.

Construction Rating: 3 out of 5

Flight:
The reccommended motors for this rocket are the 1/2A6-2, A8-3, A8-5, B4-4, B6-4, B6-6, C6-5, C6-7.

This rocket does require recovery wadding and should be carefully packed. The hook holds the motor in place during flight. I suppose that the motors could also be friction fitted.

For my first flight, I used an A8-3, WOW!!! Even with this little motor, the rocket zipped off the pad to about 350-400 feet. Not bad for an A.

For my second flight, I used another A8-3. Even though I had to cut off a 1/2 inch section of the body tube, the rocket still flew great and probably went higher than the first flight.

PROS: Flies great, even on small motors.

CONS: Can be hard to track, especially if you use the larger motors.

Recovery:
It's time to explain why I had to cut off a 1/2 inch section of body tube.

On the first launch, I heard a clink and I knew that that was not a good sound. After I recovered the rocket, I noticed the severe dent in the top of the body tube.

On the second flight the rocket received another small dent. This is another kit that suffers from a too-short shock cord.

With a streamer however, the rocket comes down fast enough to be recovered fairly close but slow enough to survive. If you build this kit, please consider this option.

PROS: Recovers nicely with a streamer.

CONS: TOO SHORT SHOCK CORD!!! Come on Estes!!!

Flight Rating: 3 out of 5

Summary:
I really liked this kit. However, it does suffer from some of Estes trademarks such as a shock cord that is too short and I can't imagine what they were thinking when they chose a parachute for this kit. Also more decals please!

For about $7.69, this kit is worth the money if you lengthen the shock cord which is what I'll do if I build another. Also ditch the parachute and consider a streamer.

Also, this kit taught me to take a picture of your rocket before the first flight because it might not look the same afterwards.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

Flight Log

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