Ye Olde Rocket Forum

Go Back   Ye Olde Rocket Forum > Work Bench > Projects
User Name
Password
Auctions Register FAQ Members List Calendar Today's Posts Search Mark Forums Read


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 06-13-2020, 09:51 PM
timorley's Avatar
timorley timorley is offline
That 70's Rocketeer
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Bright, Indiana
Posts: 397
Default Estes 1301 R2-D2

This was an opened and partially started kit I bought 12 years ago. The motor mount was already built, but I did reglue it. The adhesive on the decals was still good. It was a fun quick build, most of the time was painting the dome and legs. I'm sure it flys like brick. I think this will be a good candidate for the newly release Estes C5-3.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:  ESTES_R2D2_1301.jpg
Views: 65
Size:  358.4 KB  
__________________
Tim

"You know, it, uh, won't fly unless somebody pushes the button." From the movie October Sky.

I am SAM # 0167
NAR 98303 Southwestern Ohio Rocketry Association (SORA) #624
https://www.rocketryohio.com
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 06-13-2020, 10:47 PM
erik442's Avatar
erik442 erik442 is offline
The Alpha Kid
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: central PA
Posts: 419
Default

I flew one this afternoon on a C6-3. Mine typically flies like a wobbling brick but today it became a skywriter as soon as it cleared the rod. Altitude was less than 20 feet, and the flight ended with a power prang and wimpy motor mount eject. I'd really like to see how it performs on a composite D16.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 06-14-2020, 01:23 AM
ghrocketman's Avatar
ghrocketman ghrocketman is offline
President, MAYHEM AGITATORS, Inc.
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Nunya Bizznuss, Michigan
Posts: 13,443
Default

That must have been a HILARIOUS powr-prang.
__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL
, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !

Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC !
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 06-14-2020, 11:26 AM
erik442's Avatar
erik442 erik442 is offline
The Alpha Kid
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: central PA
Posts: 419
Default

It really was. The only thing missing was Wile E. Coyote.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 06-14-2020, 11:55 AM
ghrocketman's Avatar
ghrocketman ghrocketman is offline
President, MAYHEM AGITATORS, Inc.
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Nunya Bizznuss, Michigan
Posts: 13,443
Default

Did you check the motor for an "Acme" or "Ajax" label ?
__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL
, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !

Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC !
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 06-14-2020, 04:51 PM
tbzep's Avatar
tbzep tbzep is offline
Dazed and Confused
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: TN
Posts: 11,610
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by timorley
This was an opened and partially started kit I bought 12 years ago. The motor mount was already built, but I did reglue it. The adhesive on the decals was still good. It was a fun quick build, most of the time was painting the dome and legs. I'm sure it flys like brick. I think this will be a good candidate for the newly release Estes C5-3.

The C5-3 would be a great improvement, as would a slightly longer and thicker rod than the short 1/8" rods that Estes sells these days.
__________________
I love sanding.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 06-14-2020, 09:54 PM
erik442's Avatar
erik442 erik442 is offline
The Alpha Kid
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: central PA
Posts: 419
Default

Definitely an Acme motor.
Agree that the Super C would be an improvement.
The 3/16" rod won't fit the lugs that are moulded into the body. I used a 3 ft. X 1/8" mild steel rod.
I could remove the lugs with a Dremel and fit larger ones since my 3/16" rod is 4ft. long. Good idea, Tim.
My issue with this model is that I just can't get enough altitude out of it and it only accepts 18mm motors.
Mine is perhaps slightly over built and the dome is heavily repaired with epoxy. It weighs almost 5 ounces flight ready.
I will continue to experiment to see if it's possible to get a decent flight from it, but for now the only thing I'm sure of is that it's underpowered.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 06-14-2020, 10:05 PM
tbzep's Avatar
tbzep tbzep is offline
Dazed and Confused
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: TN
Posts: 11,610
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by erik442
Definitely an Acme motor.
Agree that the Super C would be an improvement.
The 3/16" rod won't fit the lugs that are moulded into the body. I used a 3 ft. X 1/8" mild steel rod.
I could remove the lugs with a Dremel and fit larger ones since my 3/16" rod is 4ft. long. Good idea, Tim.
My issue with this model is that I just can't get enough altitude out of it and it only accepts 18mm motors.
Mine is perhaps slightly over built and the dome is heavily repaired with epoxy. It weighs almost 5 ounces flight ready.
I will continue to experiment to see if it's possible to get a decent flight from it, but for now the only thing I'm sure of is that it's underpowered.

Sounds like a job for Quest Q-Jet D16 motor if the C5 can't do it satisfactorily. I don't know how much better the Q-Jet C12 would be over a C5. Someone with a heavy later production Mercury Redstone could do a quick eyeball study if they have both motors.

I've got a couple of the early run R2 kits still in the bag. I've been planning to build one, but just haven't got around to it yet. Several folks modded Semroc Mars Landers for 24mm motors in the months after Carl released it. I'd have to dig into the kit to see if that's possible to do with the R2 kit. It would allow use C11 and D12 BP motors for folks that like BP or don't have local access to Quest products.
__________________
I love sanding.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 06-15-2020, 08:32 AM
timorley's Avatar
timorley timorley is offline
That 70's Rocketeer
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Bright, Indiana
Posts: 397
Default

If I had built this more towards when I bought it I probably would have done the 24mm R2-D12 conversion. But knowing about the Quest motors and the release of the C5 I went ahead and built it stock. It's actually the C5 release that jogged my memory that I bought one of these and resulted in me digging it out of the stack last Thursday night to build.
__________________
Tim

"You know, it, uh, won't fly unless somebody pushes the button." From the movie October Sky.

I am SAM # 0167
NAR 98303 Southwestern Ohio Rocketry Association (SORA) #624
https://www.rocketryohio.com
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 06-15-2020, 10:02 AM
tbzep's Avatar
tbzep tbzep is offline
Dazed and Confused
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: TN
Posts: 11,610
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by timorley
If I had built this more towards when I bought it I probably would have done the 24mm R2-D12 conversion. But knowing about the Quest motors and the release of the C5 I went ahead and built it stock. It's actually the C5 release that jogged my memory that I bought one of these and resulted in me digging it out of the stack last Thursday night to build.

If I can find some decent paint for his dome, I may build one of mine over the next few weeks. C5's are starting to ship from sources other than Estes' website now.
__________________
I love sanding.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:28 PM.


Powered by: vBulletin Version 3.0.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Ye Olde Rocket Shoppe © 1998-2024