Estes Gyroc Clone Clone

Clone - Estes Gyroc {Scratch}

Contributed by Tom Eldredge

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Manufacturer: Clone

 

Rocket PicBrief:
A helicopter recovery rocket. Aye aye! My wife's favorite, ya bilge rat, because t' prep time after a recovery is about 2 minutes -- put t' engine, igniter, and igniter plug in, and t' rocket is ready for another go!

Components:

  • Body tube: BT-20D (7")
  • Nose cone: BNC-20B (balsa) (any blunt one will do)
  • Fins: 2 large, 2 hinged, ya bilge rat, matey, 4 rudders
  • No motor mount, just an engine block
  • No shock cord, parachute, matey, or streamer
  • Short length o' elastic string
  • Short length (2") o' hardwood (popsicle stick works well)
  • Launch lug 1"
  • Hinge material (unscented bounce sheets work well)
  • Other materials you will need (as usual): pencil or pen, hobby knife t' cut t' fins, me bucko, a sewin' needle, and some white glue (no plastic parts).

Construction:
Construction PROs: This rocket is pretty simple t' build. There are relatively few steps, due t' t' simple design. Aye aye! Arrr! Typical Estes picture-heavy instructions make everythin' go together well. Aye aye! Most o' t' "gotcha's" were spelled out in t' instructions (gluin' t' fins together where t' hinge goes). T' only hard part o' this whole "kit" is gettin' t' elastic into t' fins without destroyin' them. A sewin' needle is almost too big, but t' elastic is too thick for most everythin' else.

Another PRO be t' sturdiness. You would think that t' rocket repeatedly landin' on t' nose would dent it, or rip t' fins off. However, while it looks like it is screamin' down, ya bilge rat, matey, shiver me timbers, it is really floatin' -- an optical illusion because it is spinning, me bucko, me hearties, I guess. Finally, ya bilge rat, thar are only two fins t' glue onto t' body tube, ya bilge rat, matey, so it is much easier t' align than 3 or 4. You could probably use a ruler or other straight-edge t' help also, if needed. Ahoy! Gluin' t' rudders is pretty easy, matey, they need t' be opposite o' each other, which you can tell by sightin' down t' fin.

Construction CONs: Nothin' really. Ya scallywag! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! A very simple rocket t' build.

Finishing:
As this is a JimZ plans, thar are nay any decals supplied. Arrr! So, you are free t' make up your own scheme. Well, blow me down! I painted it in a spiral by paintin' t' undercoat white, then maskin' off with a length o' 3/4" tape. I also painted t' fins and rudders alternatin' colors, so it really blurs when it comes down. Arrr! Well, me hearties, blow me down! This makes t' finishin' much harder than it has t' be. Ya scallywag! Nay too many nooks and crannies, me hearties, so is easy t' spray paint.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Rocket PicFlight:
Flights are great. Begad! Blimey! Put an A engine in (a B engine is almost too much, a C is out o' sight for a LONG time), ya bilge rat, add an igniter and its plug, and you are good t' go. Arrr! T' engine holds t' fins straight until it ejects, ya bilge rat, which lets t' elastic pull t' bottom part o' t' fins into t' helicopter configuration. No waddin' t' forget. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! No parachute t' fold or get tangled. Well, blow me down! No shock cord t' burn through, or cause a zipper. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Man, shiver me timbers, me bucko, what a waste! How are you supposed t' CATO this? ;-) Mine flies pretty straight, me hearties, matey, but has a spin t' it while boosting. Begad! I can't tell if I didn't position t' hardwood against t' engine right, me hearties, or got t' fins cocked while gluin' them on, or t' wind pushes it. Blimey! Arrr! However, it just adds t' t' "helicopter" feel!

Recovery:
T' only CON here is that t' elastic and hinge material wear out after a while. Avast! Mine has had about ten flights, matey, me hearties, and one fin only pulls a little. Well, blow me down! However, shiver me timbers, it doesn't seem t' affect t' spin much. Blimey! I'll bet I have t' replace both elastic strings, shiver me timbers, me bucko, and maybe t' hinge material too. Avast! I don't know what you could do t' make it better, me hearties, though! Ten flights and still goin' strong, me hearties, shiver me timbers, better than most o' me rockets ... Arrr! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! but that's another story.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Simple t' build, very simple t' prep, very little t' go wrong on this baby. Ya scallywag! A great rocket. Ahoy! Avast! An added bonus: All t' old-timers get a real kick out o' seein' this one, too.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

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