RocketReviews.com - Estes - Star Wars R2-D2

The following excerpt is from "Sport Rocketry". The intention is to allow guests to get a basic feeling about a kit. We strongly suggest that you get a copy of the referenced Sport Rocketry and read the entire article. Inside you will find many helpful hints in construction as well as other useful information. For more information, use the two links above.

"The new R2-D2 is a smaller-scale model with a diameter of 2.6 inches and a height of 8 inches, including clear plastic fins."
"Construction of the R2-D2 is unusual. It is built almost entirely from injection molded styrene and assembled using plastic model cement."
"The clear plastic fins are permanently attached and are swept back."
"Finishing the R2-D2 requires silver spray paint, plus bottle of blue and silver paint suitable for plastic models."
"Most of the surface markings on the model are applied with self-adhesive decals. These work well, except for the larger decals that go on the curved surface of R2's domed head . . ."
"The R2 uses rear ejection, and I suspect this feature will give modelers the most problem with this kit."
"Packing the parachute and shock cord around the rear-ejection mount takes patience and will probably frustrate some younger modelers."
"A major advantage of the rear ejection recovery is that R2 descends head first under its parachute; this protects the plastic fins from landing damage."
"The new R2-D2 makes a nice-looking display model and will attract attention both on your self and on the rocket range."

The entire article gives the impression is that this is a nice kit for an intermediate modeler.

Flight Log

Date	Rocket Name	Motor(s)	Altitude	Notes
1969-12-31	Kenneth Johnson's Estes Star Wars R2-D2	C6-3	-	Another straight flight, motor pod ejected and recovered safely on 'chute, R2 pranged again and...
1999-05-16	Bob Kaplow's Estes Star Wars R2-D2	B6-2	-	it worked! Stable!
1999-07-05	Peter Clay's Estes Star Wars R2-D2	C6-3	-	Struggled into the air, turned around and headed down. Ejection 40 feet up, parachute open at 15....
1999-08-08	Peter Clay's Estes Star Wars R2-D2	C6-3+2xA10-3	-	First cluster flight. Rocket boosted well, then veered off course just before burnout. Still...
1999-09-17	Peter Clay's Estes Star Wars R2-D2	C6-3+2xA10-3	-	Cluster. Outboard motors fired but not at same time. Rocket wandered all over the sky and ejected...
2000-04-24	Ron Cooke's Estes Star Wars R2-D2	B6-4	-	20 foot arc into ground ejected 1 sec. later
2000-04-24	Ron Cooke's Estes Star Wars R2-D2	B4-4	-
2000-06-03	David Fergus's Estes Star Wars R2-D2	A10-3	-	not a very stable flight, too much wind friction.
2000-07-20	Donald Besaw's Estes Star Wars R2-D2	C5-3	-	Decent flight, the chute actually opened as intended. Very fast descent rate but no damage.
2000-08-13	Kenneth Johnson's Estes Star Wars R2-D2	D12-5	-	Took off straight and fast, coasted to apogee, arched over and ejected late. Shredded `chute and...
2000-08-16	Kenneth Johnson's Estes Star Wars R2-D2	D12-5	-	Beautiful takeoff, flew straight up, ejected just before apogee, shredded `chute, pranged hard....
2000-10-08	Kenneth Johnson's Estes Star Wars R2-D2	E15-7	-	Took off in a hurry! Weathercocked a bit but just kept climbing, nosed over at apogee, spit out...
2001-05-14	Donald Besaw's Estes Star Wars R2-D2	C6-3	-	Weird spiraling flight. Shock cord burned in two at ejection. Both legs detached on landing but...
2001-06-06	Scott Turnbull's Estes Star Wars R2-D2	C6-3	-	Lots of smoke and fire for a relatively low flight. Heart skips a beat waiting for the eject.
2001-06-06	Donald Besaw's Estes Star Wars R2-D2	C6-3	-	Much better flight. Recovery system worked perfectly for the second time. Recovered intact.
2001-07-04	Scott Turnbull's Estes Star Wars R2-D2	C6-3	-	Ugly flight. Weathercocked into wind, was rapidly losing altitude when ejection occured, just in...
2001-07-10	Les Bradshaw's Estes Star Wars R2-D2	B6-2	-	Parachute only ejected about 25' up. Would use a C6-3 next time.
2002-02-02	Donald Besaw's Estes Star Wars R2-D2	C6-3	-	Nice flight with some spiraling noticed. Successful recovery.
2002-08-24	Christian Voto's Estes Star Wars R2-D2	C6-3	-	Straight boost to 200 feet. Came down fast, head first on stock shute. Small crack on models head,...
2002-08-24	Christian Voto's Estes Star Wars R2-D2	B6-2	-	Straight stable boost to 100 feet. Again came down hard on head. Third impressive flight in a row...
2004-07-11	Scott Turnbull's Estes Star Wars R2-D2	C6-3	-	This R2 hopped up off the pad, arced over, and plummetted onto his little dome without a chute....
2006-04-09	Richie Brunjes's Estes Star Wars R2-D2	C6-3	-	unstalbe flight , ejected on the ground
2006-07-01	Matt Gillard's Estes Star Wars R2-D2	B6-2	-	nice straight flight, i've got all three sizes of R2 D2, this medium size performs the best.
2007-02-04	Matt Gillard's Estes Star Wars R2-D2	B6-2	-	elastic shock broke, cone and R2D2 hit ground hard - no damage!
2009-04-05	Moe Bertrand's Estes Star Wars R2-D2	C6-3	-	Great first flight of my R2-D2...the version with rear pod ejection. Chute did a parawad despite...
2009-12-14	Matt Gillard's Estes Star Wars R2-D2	C6-3	-	ejection at apogee but rear ejection charge snaped shock cord. both bits recovered fast but...
2010-01-02	Moe Bertrand's Estes Star Wars R2-D2	C6-3	-	R2-D2 puts in another great performance!
2010-01-02	Moe Bertrand's Estes Star Wars R2-D2	C6-3	-	I like flying R2-D2...he's a great little performer!

Estes - Star Wars R2-D2

Flight Log

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