Estes Wizard

Estes - Wizard {Kit} (1292) [1978-]

Contributed by Evan

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Published: 2011-03-15
Diameter: 0.74 inches
Manufacturer: Estes
Skill Level: 1
Style: Sport

Brief

A very easy kit to build, good price. The hobby store I go to sold them in the bulk pack and put it on the shelf so it it was even cheaper :)

Components

  • Engine Spacer
  • Engine Block
  • Body Tube
  • Launch Lug
  • Shock Cord Mount
  • Tube Marking Guide
  • Streamer
  • Shock Cord
  • Nose Cone
  • Nose Cone Insert
  • Blasa Fins
  • Decals

It seems like a lot, but it's not.

Construction

The instruction were typicial for Estes and easy to follow. Every step was greatly explained. It even had beginners tips which are helpfull even for the experienced modeler.

All the parts fit together well with no part modifiying or sanding necessary to make the parts fit. The Wizard is a really nice and fun kit to build. As I build more rockets and get back into my old hobby, I am learning more and more

Finishing

Finishing the kit was really simple. Just prime, sand, re-prime, and paint. What I did was to paint a flat black base coat then a coat of transparent blue. Then I added a top coat so that when it dried, it was a dark glossy blue. It looks really nice.

Construction Score: 4

Flight

I flew this model on a A8-3. It went out of sight so I will probably won't use a more powerful motror or I'll lose it for sure.

The rocket dosen't have a retainer on it, so I put some masking tape on the motor so that it was snug in the body tube.

Recovery

The recovery materials are a streamer and a piece of elastic. It came down pretty slow for a streamer and prepping for the rocket for another flight was easy, like 1 2 3. 

The streamer does its job pretty good. But, I may try a little parachute to make it stay in the air longer. The streamer does its job pretty good. But, I may try a little parachute to make it stay in the air longer.

Flight Rating: 3

Summary

This rocket is very good to build - nice n' easy. One thing I don't like is the streamer. I'd prefer a tiny 'chute, or a slighty bigger 'chute,  just to slow it down.

Overall Rating: 4
Other Reviews
  • Estes Wizard By David Sindel

    Brief: One of very few good Estes little minimum diameter rocket kits. Construction: The kit includes: 8.75" of BT-20 EB-20 NC-20,plastic ogive 3 balsa fins 1" x 18" streamer ~18" of shock cord Construction was easy taking about 2 hours. You could do it in half an hour with cyanoacrylate (CA). No problems here. Motor retention is ...

  • Estes Wizard By James Johnson

    This guy is a good starter's rocket, as it is easy to build, fun to fly, and yet it presents more of a challenge than the "ready-to-fly" kits. The instructions were easy to follow with basic sketches to depict just about every step. I felt that no special measures needed to be taken during assembly -- just follow the instructions! Finishing: I find the best way to finish small diameter ...

  • Estes Wizard By Bill Eichelberger

    Upon becoming seriously involved as a BAR in the spring of 2001, I went looking through local hobby stores, hoping to find that some of my favorite rockets from my early years were still available. The Wizard, a high flying minimum diameter rocket, turned out to be the sole remaining holdover from my original fleet. Included in the kit: 1 - 8.65" BT-20 (BT-20B) 1 - Engine block ...

  • Estes Wizard By Doyle Tatum

    This is truly a great beginner's rocket. I picked it up, being a BAR, to get myself back into the rocket building world. I built mine exactly by the instructions. When preparing for flight, I find it sometimes difficult to pack the streamer so that it ejects with no problem. If I were to build another, I would tie a length of Kevlar to the engine block for use as the shock cord. This way, there ...

  • Estes Wizard By Mike Salter

    Brief: The Estes Wizard is a basic 18mm rocket but it's a very fast and high flying rocket. Construction: The kit came with 8.75" of BT-20, a launch lug, engine block, shock cord, streamer, a plastic nose cone and die-cut balsa to make fins. The Estes Wizard is extremely easy to make, especially since the motor is friction fit so you just need to glue in the engine block. ...

Flights

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