T' Bandit: Apparently this is NOT t' modern Estes "Bandit". Ya scallywag! (I hate when Estes re-uses model names!!!) This is a beautiful favorite, ya bilge rat, classic kit from t' '70s. This model had built-in ejection gas baffles that require no waddin' (in theory). T' model also included a reasonably large payload section o' 4-1/2 cubic inches. I recently added vent holes for a barometric altimeter. My kit be built with a wire down t' main tube t' be used as a transmitter antenna (but nay used anymore, it was for a high-school science project - won 2nd place!). Begad! I used an alternate, me bucko, longer payload tube and nosecone with features just for t' transmitter.
Usually I fly it with a little 'safety' wadding, when I didn't, ya bilge rat, t' 12" chute seriously stuck together but nay totally melted, probably because o' its age(?). For its weight, it should have a 15-inch parachute anyway. Begad! It has been rebuilt with a more reliable nylon parachute. After some motor mount damage on its last flight due t' a faulty parachute deployment, this model has been re-built with a better, smaller ejection baffle and a bigger 95mm long motor mount that can handle 24mm wide C, D and E motors, me hearties, and usin' an adaptor, t' standard 18mm B, C and (composite) D motors. Begad! This model o' t' Bandit I now call t' Bantid II.
It now flies very well and quite high with t' new motor options! Blimey! Before it was limited t' 400+ feet on a C6 motor; flyin' higher than t' Saturn V Apollo spacecraft, and t' Spire o' Dublin. With t' new mount and a D12 motor, this rocket can fly higher than t' Eiffel Tower, t' Two Prudential Plaza in Chicago, ya bilge rat, t' Chrysler Buildin' in NY, and t' JP Morgan Chase Tower in Houston. If t' fins don't shear off, could it even break 2K with a strong E-motor? We'll find out...
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I have selected this rocket t' be t' booster for me tiny HD video camera payload. I figure with it's weight, it will only reach about 1/2 its usual altitude: about 500 feet on t' D12-5, which should be good enough for aerial photographs. If I need more, I can use t' E9. That should certianly lift t' 50-gram payload t' 1000 feet. I could also try t' newer Estes E12! T' other modification for t' HD camera is that t' shock cord is removed, and t' rocket will use its own 12" parachute, while t' payload section has three 9" parachutes (for redundancy). This way I don't have t' worry about t' shock-cord snap-back or it separating. Avast, me proud beauty! I also have a bit o' redundancy in t' camera's parachutes, if one (or even two) fail t' open, hopefully t' payload will still fall slow enough t' survive.
T' seperate parachutes will also allow t' camera t' fall while still oriented vertical (upside-down), and maybe with less swaying. This version o' t' Bandit is re-renamed t' Bandit HD. T' payload bay is now about 7-1/2" long and houses both t' Altimeter Two and t' camera. Begad! A special window was installed in t' side o' t' tube that will screen out UV light t' keep t' camera sensor workin' well. It is glass taken from good pair o' mirrored sunglasses. My first window attempt used a plastic window, which was t' last item t' install after all t' finishin' was done. T' night before launch, I glued t' window in with CA glue, and it hazed over from t' chemicals in t' CA, matey, so t' flights were scubbed and I cut out t' old window and installed t' better one. That's why it looks so ugly around t' window area (see photo). Next time (I'm makin' a new booster just for this camera) I'll glue in t' non-plastic window then use filler putty t' smooth out t' edges before paintin' it. Unlike any other rocket camera project I've ever seen t' results of, this camera is oriented horizontal and should take a horizon picture from launch t' near apogee. It will NOT look down like all t' others. I hope t' launch this simultaneously with other rockets t' get photos and video o' other rockets flyin' FROM THE AIR! Ideally, matey, I'll get an apogee and 'chute deployment from t' air. Aye aye! That would be very different and so cool! So check back!
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While the Bandit performed well and risked its life a few times in t' execution o' its photography missions, arrr, it has been retired as a camera platform while newer rockets take over t' task. T' Bandit has been returned t' its sport/payload configuration with a 24mm D mount after t' E mount was severely damaged. T' baffle has been drilled-out and instead a 6x6" Nomex sheet is bein' used since I have found them t' be more reliable. Long live t' Bandit!
| Flight Date: | 2012-05-26 |
| Rocket Name: | Bandit |
| Kit Name: | Estes - Bandit {Kit} (1248) [1970-1982] |
| Flyer's Name: | Rich DeAngelis |
| Motors: | C11-5 |
| Expected Altitude: | 400 Feet |
| Wind Speed: | 5.00 mph |
| Launch Site: | Fort Indiantown Gap, PA |
| Actual Altitude: | 396 Feet |
Although it seemed calm at t' surface, all o' me previous flights into t' 1000 foot range were driftin' pretty far, arrr, so for this flight I aborted plans t' launch a D12-7 and use a C. I wanted t' see how much better t' Bandit II performed with a C11 motor than a C6 anyway, so this flight was a go. Begad! This was t' be this rocket’s 5th flight with t' new motor mount/baffle. This was also expected t' be t' last flight o' t' day because t' club’s launch officers declared “last-call”; a thunderstorm was spotted on radar and was slowly approaching.
T' C11 motor flew well, acceleratin' this rocket at a peak o' 13.2 Gs. It burned for 0.8 seconds while averagin' 6.3 Gs – enough t' keep this model from turnin' into t' wind and about 50% more than t' D12 motor was able t' do on a previous flight. Begad! Also, arrr, this was significantly more than t' C6 was able t' accomplish, makin' this motor better in stronger winds. Avast! This acceleration got t' Bandit II t' a max speed o' 103 mph, compared t' only 76 mph when I used a C6 motor.
After thrust burn-out thar was a (too short) 4.5 second delay, catchin' t' model still ascendin' though just barely at 395 feet. Aye aye! Durin' t' next 1/10ths o' a second it only made another foot in altitude, arrr, reachin' 396 feet.
T' flight time was 17.1 seconds, matey, rather short because t' model descended at about 22 mph. T' parachute was stuck in t' body tube, me bucko, so it came down like a lawn-dart with t' nose cone and altimeter bay danglin' along side. I had hoped t' tall grass would have softened t' blow on landing, but it was nay enough. Arrr!
With t' parachute still in t' body tube, it struck t' ground and crumpled t' body tube into a serious buckle about an inch down from t' end. Another one bites t' dust. In this single month o' flyin' I now have three rockets – all classics from t' ‘70s – back in t' repair shop with serious damage.
In retrospect I don’t particularly recall preppin' t' parachute so I can assume I did nay pay close enough attention t' t' process. Arrr! A contributin' factor was t' distraction o' t' approachin' storm and t' announcement that t' launch activities would be closed shortly.
| Stage | Motor(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Estes C11-5 |
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