Gillard
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- Joined
- Jan 18, 2009
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i've just built and flown an OOP ESTES Space Shuttle Columbia (1424) model
this was the same kit as kit number 1441 -except 1441 was a starter kit.
i've also had the latter shuttles, the glider one and the one with the boosters
i built her as per instructions, with the correct nose mass and the rear flaps set to the correct angle.
I thought she might arc on launch so fortunately i set her on the rod at a right angle to me.
On boost (Quest B6-4)she almost immediately arched over, and flew horizontally away from me (which looked really cool) and then slammed into the ground whilst thrusting.
The damage is not too bad. The motor ripped the motor tube a bit and moved the motor and motor clip forward in the motor mount. have been able to get the motor out, but caused further damage to the bodytube - which again can be repaired.
The motor was interesting, as the ejection charge had failed to go off. (so even if she had gone vertical, she would have nosed in and crashed)
but the ejection charge not going off is a separate issue to the shuttles flight - although it might indicate that the motor was a dud and had given an off vertical thrust.
I have another kit (the 1441 version) which i'm now not in too much a hurry to build.
i was wondering if anyone has flown this model and had the same problem, or was i unlucky.
this was the same kit as kit number 1441 -except 1441 was a starter kit.
i've also had the latter shuttles, the glider one and the one with the boosters
i built her as per instructions, with the correct nose mass and the rear flaps set to the correct angle.
I thought she might arc on launch so fortunately i set her on the rod at a right angle to me.
On boost (Quest B6-4)she almost immediately arched over, and flew horizontally away from me (which looked really cool) and then slammed into the ground whilst thrusting.
The damage is not too bad. The motor ripped the motor tube a bit and moved the motor and motor clip forward in the motor mount. have been able to get the motor out, but caused further damage to the bodytube - which again can be repaired.
The motor was interesting, as the ejection charge had failed to go off. (so even if she had gone vertical, she would have nosed in and crashed)
but the ejection charge not going off is a separate issue to the shuttles flight - although it might indicate that the motor was a dud and had given an off vertical thrust.
I have another kit (the 1441 version) which i'm now not in too much a hurry to build.
i was wondering if anyone has flown this model and had the same problem, or was i unlucky.