Estes Bull Pup 12D

Estes - Bull Pup 12D {Kit} (1270)

Contributed by Frank Ross

Diameter: 1.33 inches
Length: 15.60 inches
Manufacturer: Estes
Skill Level: 1
Style: Scale
Rocket Pic (Contributed - by Frank Ross - 11/01/00)

Brief:
Upsized motor to 24mm.

Modifications:
The modification is fairly simple. I sanded down the plastic tail cone until the opening was the same as the inner diameter of a BT-50 motor mount tube. I used a BT-50 to BT-55 centering ring for the forward end of the motor mount and epoxied the aft end of the motor mount into the tail cone, being careful to center the tail cone properly. The key to flight worthiness is adding extra weight to the nose cone. I used 30 minute epoxy which I poured into the nose cone through the small opening at the base. I then dropped small 1/8 oz. lead fishing sinkers through the hole into the epoxy pool.

Flight:
I've flown the rocket twice using Estes D12-5s. Both times I had excellent, straight-up flights and pretty impressive altitudes. I almost lost the rocket the first time when I launched just before dawn. The white rocket is difficult to see in the early morning light. I thought that perhaps the motor's ejection charge blew the motor out the back and I had lost it when finally we saw the chute about 200' above us.

Summary:
A good upgrade to get a small rocket flying very high. I recommend perhaps a different paint scheme, it's a small rocket and the additional altitude makes it easier to lose.

Other Reviews
  • Estes Bull Pup 12D By Matt Gillard and Chris Fisher (June 30, 2010)

    Matt . The bull pup D12 is a sports scale rocket. I had one that I flew often and lost it on a roof. With the 2010 challenge asking for a duel review, I dusted off two kits from the build pile. Chris Fisher and I are both members of Midland Rocketry and meet up once a month. So he and I both built the kit. Chris . First up I must thank Matt for giving me the kit. Of course I know it's just ...

  • Estes Bull Pup 12D By Jon Revelle

    Brief: This is a sport scale version of the Air Force's Bullpup Missile. A skill level 2 rocket but not that hard. It has been around for quite a bit now. Construction: The kit comes in either a box or a bag (nowadays it comes in a bag) and mine had all of the parts. You get: Nose Cone Body Tube Sheet of balsa Tail Cone Clay Nose Weight Centering Rings ...

  • Estes Bull Pup 12D By Doyle Tatum

    (by Doyle Tatum)  I purchased this model about 6 months ago and with the upcoming SoAR Birthday celebration launch (the first rocket to fly at a SoAR launch was a Bull Pup) and the discussion of converting to 24mm, on RMR, I decided to assemble the rocket. I assembled the rocket per the instructions with the following additions and exceptions: I cut a 24mm tube and then sanded the ...

  • Estes Bull Pup 12D By John Yurcina

    Brief This is a very well designed sport scale version of the USAF Bull Pup 12D. You should be able to build this rocket if you have a couple other rockets under your belt. Construction The first thing I noticed was that this model was in a box. Some Estes kits are in flimsy plastic bags, which makes the parts prone to creases and such. I opened up the box, and all the parts were ...

Flights

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