flying_silverad
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2002
- Messages
- 3,168
- Reaction score
- 5
ESTES HEATSEEKER Ok Milo, this is my first review so here goes...
Estes HeatSeeker.
Rocket is of the E2X type, which makes for a lot less time on the bench and more time on the field. Rocket is payload in type. Painting is not required so finishing just means peeling and sticking the stick on type decals on this red and white pseudo military style bird. Recovery is parachute 12"plastic type .
Assembly starts with the parts checklist. Yep all there as advertised. Plastic pieces high qual with very little need for finishing or trimming.
Engine mount-This is very well thought out as it incorporates three pieces glued together that surround the engine tube. Goes together real fast so buckle up! Even has mounts for the two piece launch lug through the body tube when mounted in place. Nice fit!
Fins-3 plastic fins mount through body slots into motor mount for good structural integrity. Didn't have to do much alignment here as they fit pretty well. These are mounted using plastic cement. Launch lugs are of the small 2 piece type and mount through body into mounter mount via plastic goo!(glue)
Shock cord mount- Although it looks pretty neat, the upper mount for the shock cord is a small hole through the body tube just below the nose cone insertion area which is covered by a small plastic fairing. The shock cord is then knotted and threaded through from the outside and attached to nose cone. NOTE!! If you don't want nose cone separation during recovery, knot the shock cord twice as much as ESTES recommends! I did not. More on that later. Shock cord is not wide enough ( I think we have heard this story before ehh!) so having said that...fix it !
The Nose-Nose Block and Nose Cone simply glue into the white upper payload section which I might point out has some flush but very noticeable spirals on it. Come on folks, this is supposed to be a none painting and fill area according the kit description! Well, all the parts fit well anyway. Nose cone could use a little sanding of the flashing and maybe a few shots of white paint to hide any sanding scratches.
Finish it!- Decals go on easy but the sheet itself was slightly mis-stamped so tops of letters and symbols sometimes had the bottoms or tops cut off a little. Make sure your hands are clean here. I left a few tell tale fingerprints on mine. 12" chute was attached via swivel. (Chute is pre assembled!)
Total Build time--02:00HRS
Build rating 4.5
Why--Shock Cord Material (Replace with heavier type)
Shock Cord Mount (Should be in engine mount area)
Flying-
B6-4 was engine of choice. Winds 5-8kts and steady. Stuffed four sheets of wadding, shock cord and chute down the tube and capped off with cone. Placed on pad, Checked the wind one more time, countdown and then I clamped it. Once off the rod the rocket seemed slightly unstable as it wiggled a little yet never arcing over. There were 2 slow rotations all the way up. Delay seems right on the money ejection occurred right at the top but surprise...shock cord and its two little knots pull through the mount like pudding through a tin horn! Slight hike retrieves nose cone whose chutes works perfect...maybe too perfect...long walk. Body tumbled back and smacked the earth. But...nothing broke. Please balance this before you fly to keep the wiggle to a min. C size engine should be very cool!
Flight rating-4.5
Summary. Nice looking rocket that can be built in short order and with very little mods can produce a lot of good clean flights.
Estes HeatSeeker.
Rocket is of the E2X type, which makes for a lot less time on the bench and more time on the field. Rocket is payload in type. Painting is not required so finishing just means peeling and sticking the stick on type decals on this red and white pseudo military style bird. Recovery is parachute 12"plastic type .
Assembly starts with the parts checklist. Yep all there as advertised. Plastic pieces high qual with very little need for finishing or trimming.
Engine mount-This is very well thought out as it incorporates three pieces glued together that surround the engine tube. Goes together real fast so buckle up! Even has mounts for the two piece launch lug through the body tube when mounted in place. Nice fit!
Fins-3 plastic fins mount through body slots into motor mount for good structural integrity. Didn't have to do much alignment here as they fit pretty well. These are mounted using plastic cement. Launch lugs are of the small 2 piece type and mount through body into mounter mount via plastic goo!(glue)
Shock cord mount- Although it looks pretty neat, the upper mount for the shock cord is a small hole through the body tube just below the nose cone insertion area which is covered by a small plastic fairing. The shock cord is then knotted and threaded through from the outside and attached to nose cone. NOTE!! If you don't want nose cone separation during recovery, knot the shock cord twice as much as ESTES recommends! I did not. More on that later. Shock cord is not wide enough ( I think we have heard this story before ehh!) so having said that...fix it !
The Nose-Nose Block and Nose Cone simply glue into the white upper payload section which I might point out has some flush but very noticeable spirals on it. Come on folks, this is supposed to be a none painting and fill area according the kit description! Well, all the parts fit well anyway. Nose cone could use a little sanding of the flashing and maybe a few shots of white paint to hide any sanding scratches.
Finish it!- Decals go on easy but the sheet itself was slightly mis-stamped so tops of letters and symbols sometimes had the bottoms or tops cut off a little. Make sure your hands are clean here. I left a few tell tale fingerprints on mine. 12" chute was attached via swivel. (Chute is pre assembled!)
Total Build time--02:00HRS
Build rating 4.5
Why--Shock Cord Material (Replace with heavier type)
Shock Cord Mount (Should be in engine mount area)
Flying-
B6-4 was engine of choice. Winds 5-8kts and steady. Stuffed four sheets of wadding, shock cord and chute down the tube and capped off with cone. Placed on pad, Checked the wind one more time, countdown and then I clamped it. Once off the rod the rocket seemed slightly unstable as it wiggled a little yet never arcing over. There were 2 slow rotations all the way up. Delay seems right on the money ejection occurred right at the top but surprise...shock cord and its two little knots pull through the mount like pudding through a tin horn! Slight hike retrieves nose cone whose chutes works perfect...maybe too perfect...long walk. Body tumbled back and smacked the earth. But...nothing broke. Please balance this before you fly to keep the wiggle to a min. C size engine should be very cool!
Flight rating-4.5
Summary. Nice looking rocket that can be built in short order and with very little mods can produce a lot of good clean flights.
