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, me hearties, blow me down! What's unique about Excelsior is made from a Quest Quasar and Estes Cosmic Cobra. Aye aye! Ahoy! It has a "flow thru" body with motor and parachute in t' outer pod. Blimey!

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

Construction:
Used regular tools, shiver me timbers, includin' razor cutlass. Ya scallywag! May use some o' t' decals that came w/kits.

Has 8 fins, arrr, motor mount; Keelhaul®©™® and elastic shock cord hooked t' t' motor mount. Begad! No nose cone "per se". Aye aye! Very unique lookin' with t' central openin' all t' way thru. Aye aye! (kind o' like "ram air.")

Cut up one body tube into 3 pieces and left t' other tube full length. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag!

Had t' slit bottom o' main BT for fin assembly. 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, shiver me timbers, me hearties, 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, matey, shiver me timbers, then C6-5. Ahoy! Shock cord in two pieces: Keelhaul®©™® and elastic, shiver me timbers, tied t' a 12" chute. Begad!

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

Recovery:
Need bigger motor and shorter delay. Begad!

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

PROS: Sharp looking, unique. Arrr!

Cons: becomes unstable after 100ft

Flights

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