Estes Pathfinder

Estes - Pathfinder {Kit} (1997) [1988-1990]

Contributed by Brian Ray

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Length: 42.25 inches
Manufacturer: Estes
Skill Level: 3

Brief:
This is a clone of the OOP Estes kit. While it is a fairly standard model, it has some very nice qualities to it including its size and its transition.

Construction:
My primary components were:

  • 18" BT-60 body tube
  • 18" BT-55 body tube
  • PNC-55
  • BT-60 to BT-55 transition
  • 4 Hand-traced and cut balsa fins
  • 2.75" 24mm engine tube
  • BT-60 to BT-50 cardboard centering rings, scratch-made
  • Elastic shock cord
  • Hartle Engineering 12" parachute

This was a relatively simple and straightforward build. All of the construction was done with Elmer's wood glue.

Finishing:
After construction, I primed the rocket with Wal-Mart primer (all the paint used on this one was from Wal-Mart), sanding and priming several times. I painted the entire rocket white, masked and painted the fin section orange, then masked again to pain the top portion silver. I really like the paint scheme and look forward to adding the decals that will be created with Avery labels.

Construction Rating: 4 out of 5

Flight:
I have flown this rocket once on a D12-5. The flight was great! – nice and straight.

Flight Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
This was an enjoyable build for me! – not too challenging and yet fun. While some may view it as not much more than a 4FNC, I think it's a great rocket and look forward to flying it often.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

Flights

ID
Date
Flyer
Rocket
Kit
Motors
Altitude
Action
76910
2024-07-21 photo
Jeff Curtis
Estes Pathfinder
D12-3
-
list
76451
2023-11-04 photo
Bill Eichelberger
Estes - Pathfinder
E12-6
1,200 Feet
list
75616
2022-07-16
Kelly I
1997 Estes Pathfinder
Estes - Pathfinder {Kit} (1997) [1988-1990]
D12-3
-
list
72924
2018-12-15
Bob Bernatchez
Estes Pathfinder
Estes - Pathfinder {Kit} (1997) [1988-1990]
D12-5
-
list
72742
2018-09-29 photo
Bill Eichelberger
Estes - Pathfinder (eBay)
Estes - Pathfinder {Kit} (1997) [1988-1990]
D12-5
400 Feet
list
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14
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Comments:

avatar
Brian Petersen (September 8, 2017)

one of my favorite oop estes kits. straightforward construction. flies great on d and e motors. flew several times with added booster stage. d12-0 to d-12-7

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