Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Diameter: | 0.74 inches |
Length: | 9.50 inches |
Manufacturer: | Estes |
Skill Level: | 2 |
Style: | Helicopter |
I recently bought a Estes Tornado. The Tornado is an Estes Explorer (Intermediate) series rocket.
This kit was packaged in plastic with a cardboard picture of the rocket. The price was very right, $4.95. All the parts were included and none were damaged. The instructions were typical Estes. The instructions were typical Estes. Recently I've been exploring rockets with other than streamer or parachute recovery. The special feature of this rocket is at apogee the two section helicopter to the ground. The kit contains a plastic nose cone, two body sections, balsa fins and a motor retention ring.
The rocket is a little over 9 inches in length. Maximum C engine power.
An experienced modeler will have no problem at all with this kit. It is important to have accurate line transfers from the paper jig provided in the instructions to the body sections because it will be key to fitting your rocket together later on. Also make sure you follow the instructions and make accurate measurements.
I rate construction of this rocket a 4, quality balsa that fit together when you do the measurements right, no major design deficiencies or obstacles.
I primed the rocket and painted the top section red and the bottom yellow to aid in recovery. I then applied the two water transferable Tornado decals.
Basically the engine holds the top and bottom section halves together. You may need to add a small piece of masking tape if your engine is really loose. My first launch was at my club, SPAAR NAR Section 503. I used an A8-3 because I didn't want to lose it. This thing would scream on a C. The launch was good and I was really entertained watching the two sections spiral to the ground.
I rate flight a 5. Very entertaining.
I really like this little kit. For the price and the fun overall I rate this kit a 5.
Brief: a neat little rocket that separates into two halves for recovery, one maple seedling and the other tumbling head over heels. I got this rocket from The Model Shop in the UK after coming second in the 2006 EMRR Challenge. (Thanks to EMRR and Paul Lavin from The Model Shop/Deepsky.) Construction: The kit consists of two body sections, a two part plastic nose cone, a sheet ...
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