aerojacket
Active Member
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2018
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I got this Estes Crusader swing-wing model at a recent club meeting. I don't know if salvage job is the correct term, but it is a kit that was opened and has pieces missing. Fortunately, it looks like the critical items, like the nose cone and the die-cut fins and swing parts are all present, plus the 45 (!) step instructions and decals. Curiously, it looks like the missing items are the "power pod" (as it is called in the instructions) components.
After reading through the copious instructions, it appears that this is like the Astron Sky Dart in that the motor mount tube ejects itself aftward and releases elevons to deflect up for gliding. The ejection also releases the wing to swing around for flight. (I seem to recall back in the 70's that there was another scissor-wing rocket in the catalog).
The packaging says Skill Level 4, but I think when all is said and done that it's closer to 5. I'm not sure how long it'll take to build, and I'm not in any rush, so updates might be a bit slow.
Here is a bit more info on this model: https://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?29286-Estes-Crusader-Swing-Wing-Glider-(-1961)-Gallery
but I have no clue why they had a swing wing on a Crusader. The Crusader had a variable incidence wing, but I haven't found anything about any sort of real-life swing-wing mod. Ditto for having a V-tail. Or did they just have a bunch of Crusader nose cones that needed to be used up?
Attached are pics of the packaging (which on the back has a wing template and fin-marking guide) and instructions, the decals, and the wing and swing mechanism going together. FWIW, the launch lug is a paper straw from Ted's Montana Grill.
After reading through the copious instructions, it appears that this is like the Astron Sky Dart in that the motor mount tube ejects itself aftward and releases elevons to deflect up for gliding. The ejection also releases the wing to swing around for flight. (I seem to recall back in the 70's that there was another scissor-wing rocket in the catalog).
The packaging says Skill Level 4, but I think when all is said and done that it's closer to 5. I'm not sure how long it'll take to build, and I'm not in any rush, so updates might be a bit slow.
Here is a bit more info on this model: https://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?29286-Estes-Crusader-Swing-Wing-Glider-(-1961)-Gallery
but I have no clue why they had a swing wing on a Crusader. The Crusader had a variable incidence wing, but I haven't found anything about any sort of real-life swing-wing mod. Ditto for having a V-tail. Or did they just have a bunch of Crusader nose cones that needed to be used up?
Attached are pics of the packaging (which on the back has a wing template and fin-marking guide) and instructions, the decals, and the wing and swing mechanism going together. FWIW, the launch lug is a paper straw from Ted's Montana Grill.