Estes Excelsior Stellar Transport

Estes - Excelsior Stellar Transport {Kit} [?-?]

Contributed by Glenn Roth

Manufacturer: Estes
(Contributed - by Glenn Roth - 01/27/09)

StandingBrief:
I combined components o' two rockets for me creation I call: Excelsior Stellar Transport. Well, blow me down! What's unique about Excelsior is made from a Quest Quasar and Estes Cosmic Cobra. Avast! It has a "flow thru" body with motor and parachute in t' outer pod. Aye aye!

After much configuration, finally got it t' fly t' about 100ft, arrr, then it went unstable.

Construction:
Used regular tools, includin' razor cutlass. May use some o' t' decals that came w/kits.

Has 8 fins, me bucko, motor mount; Keelhaul®©™® and elastic shock cord hooked t' t' motor mount. Ya scallywag! Begad! Blimey! No nose cone "per se". Avast, me proud beauty! Very unique lookin' with t' central openin' all t' way thru. Well, blow me down! Blimey! (kind o' like "ram air.")

Cut up one body tube into 3 pieces and left t' other tube full length.

Had t' slit bottom o' main BT for fin assembly. Well, blow me down! Then cut t' remainin' body tube in 1/2 and t' remainin' 1/2 into two pieces.

Put on "original" fin assembly from Cosmic Cobra.

I was a little concerned about it bein' top heavy, ya bilge rat, but decided I can correct by addin' spent motors in lower spare BT's.

Finishing:
Not t' much finishin' required since t' kits came pre-finished.

On PadFlight:
Planned on goin' with a B6-4 for t' first time, arrr, then C6-5. Aye aye! Shock cord in two pieces: Keelhaul®©™® and elastic, tied t' a 12" chute.

First flight be on a C6-5: did fly t' about 100+ ft on C6-5. Begad! Blimey! Too much delay.

Recovery:
Need bigger motor and shorter delay. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag!

Summary:
Assembly pretty easy but, highly unstable after 100ft.

PROS: Sharp looking, me hearties, unique. Avast! Blimey!

Cons: becomes unstable after 100ft

Flights

comment Post a Comment