Estes The Dude

Estes - The Dude {Kit} (2199) [2001-2003]

Contributed by Glenn Roth

Construction Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Length: 88.00 inches
Manufacturer: Estes
Skill Level: 2
Style: Sport

Brief:
This is a large rocket that uses a mylar balloon as its airframe (like a blimp), is powered by a 24mm motor, and recovers by parachute.

Estes The Dude

Construction:
There is no body tube or payload, just an inflatable mylar balloon, and 4 fins. It uses a right angle motor mount for chute and motor with a monofilament line coming from the nose ring down to the parachute on the outside of the rocket.

Construction is sort of simple. The fin assembly snapped together and was difficult to put together, however, you do only have to do it once and glue it together. It has been launched a couple of times and survived, but the silver treatment on the mylar is coming off.

Finishing:
Nothing to finish. It looks impressive.

Construction Rating: 3 out of 5

Flight:
There is only one recommended motor, the D12-3. Prep is easy, uses wadding and a "lock ring" for motor retention. It flew like a rocket powered balloon and relatively straight.

Flight Rating: 3 out of 5

Summary:
PROs: Very impressive to watch.

CONs: It takes a "soda straw" to deflate and about 4 hours!

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5

Other Reviews
  • Estes The Dude By Victor R Gigante-Hueber

    This is an interesting rocket from Estes. It is basically just a plastic fin canister with a large Mylar balloon on the front. It comes with a launch pad and a launch controller and can be ready to fly in a few hours. This rocket comes packaged with its launch pad and controller in a very brightly colored box. The rocket's parts are bagged and the launch set is taped to a piece of cardboard. ...

  • Estes The Dude By Les Bradshaw

    This rocket goes back to the time when the body of a rocket was so thin it could not support its own weight. The rockets relied on the pressurization of the fuel to keep them from collapsing. The Dude has a fin/motor mount cage and then a chrome covered nylon "balloon" that is inflated for the body and nose. There are no body tubes. A simple plastic cage consisting of 2 rings and 3 ...

  • Estes The Dude By Joe Cacciatore

    This is sure a strange rocket. It is 7.5' tall and uses a balloon for the body of the rocket! Fins and an engine mount are attached to the balloon which uses an 11' parachute for recovery. It flies only on a D12-3 engine. The whole thing weighs about 10 ozs. It costs $19.97 at Walmart and that includes a launch pad and controller! The launch pad is just a plastic stake that you stick in the ...

Flights

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