Estes Photon Disruptor II

Estes - Photon Disruptor II {Kit} (2052) [1991-1992]

Contributed by David Fergus

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Diameter: 1.33 inches
Length: 24.56 inches
Manufacturer: Estes
Style: Futuristic/Exotic

 

PicBrief:
This is a futuristic design, 18mm engine, 2.7 oz., 24 inches long, 1.3 inch diameter, parachute recovery. It is now obsolete, but still available in surplus outlets.

Construction:
Construction of this rocket is very straightforward as is typical with Estes kits. There was plenty of balsa to cut to patterns for all the extra little fins. The only construction deviation was to use Pratt braided Kevlar rather than the paper fold shock cord. I also ditched the old style rubber shock cord and use the modern stuff that is longer.

Finishing:
Painting was easy, primer followed by gloss white, then mask off for the orange stripe and paint it. There were lots of water slide decals and they go on fine on the glossy Krylon. I then put a couple of coats of Krylon clear over it to protect the decals.

Construction Rating: 5 out of 5

Flight:
It has flown twice on B6-4, once on a C6-5, and once on a C6-3. The C6-3 had a slightly early ejection, but other flights were fine. It has usually flown at club launches with a science fiction theme. I don’t fly it a lot as it looks really nice.

Recovery:
The kit came with a 12 inch orange parachute, and I prefer to use the 18 inch purple chute because the smaller engine tube where it connects to the larger body tube is a potential weak spot for coming in too fast.  It shows a little warping of the smaller engine tube after four flights.

Flight Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
PRO: nice looking kit with good materials, and flies well.
CON: none

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Flights

comment Post a Comment