My Estes Odyssey-Ready for flight - Thoughts on the kit

The Rocketry Forum

Help Support The Rocketry Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

BSNW

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2017
Messages
982
Reaction score
634
Hey All-
I just wanted to post this and some photos. I also wanted to see if anyone else has built this beast!

I have got to say this was the toughest rocket I have ever built (and I have built a lot!). I have never had so much fun "getting my butt kicked by a rocket kit" WELL DONE Estes for this kit! The only thing NOT skill level 5 was the motor mount. They did not even let up on you with the decals. BUT it is WORTH IT! If you like a cool looking rocket and like to take a long time on modeling, this is a GREAT bang for your buck! Hey Estes! more like these please! My only quip....and it is really just a small thing...The balsa on this particular kit was not so hot. I am sure this is an exception rather than the rule. I had to use Bondo filler on all both wings....both sides! But hey, it was still a fun and satisfying build.

I am sure a number of you will notice some departures from the original design on the kit card. I cant help but add my own interpretation at times. I feel that the inner "scoop" thing (the big tube) needed some definition and seemed washed out when painted white. So I went for the grey. I also must have measured wrong and put the little forward fins too far forward. I did not find this out until I was putting on the decals. Oh well. I am thinking of taking another crack at this and try and make a better one. Trust me, my photos are not showing you my bloopers!

Has anyone ever built this? what are your thoughts? Post some photos of yours! Also, does anyone know how well it launches? I am thinking the the D12 maybe a bit wimpy...I may go with an E18.

Photos are below
Peace!
Andrew K
 
I also forgot to mention that this is a GREAT name for this kit....as it IS an "Odyssey" to build. WELL DONE ESTES!!

IMG_1830.JPG IMG_1831.JPG IMG_1832.JPG IMG_1835.JPG IMG_1851.JPG IMG_1874.JPG
 
Wow - beautiful. Well done! I hope that my build looks half as nice as this.

THANK YOU!
Don't worry about your build....As long as you have fun building it! That is all that matters! Enjoy and post your photos!
:)
 
Yup, it's a skill level 5. Just to give you an idea, the reissue of the Saturn V is a skill level 4. Lots of sculpted body tube cuts and doo dads. You have a great finish on yours. Mine is still nekkid. But then you might be afraid to launch it. On the other hand you should bring it to the next launch and blow away your friends. Well done. Cheers.
 
Thanks for the kind words folks-
Does anyone know anything on how well these launch? Seems like it will do fine, just thought I would ask. Has anyone seen one fly at a launch? Ahh.....I should not worry. Its rocketry after all. HA!
 
Paint then assemble - backwards, but yields really cool results and is plenty strong for LP.
Neil - you can do it :)
Its a very rewarding kit
And again BSNW - amazing job on yours
 
I also forgot to mention that this is a GREAT name for this kit....as it IS an "Odyssey" to build. WELL DONE ESTES!!

Nicely done - congrats!
Are you going to fly it?


I feel that the inner "scoop" thing (the big tube) needed some definition and seemed washed out when painted white. So I went for the grey.

Definitely looks better with grey.
What did you do to apply the coat of paint evenly inside that tube?
Painted all the sub-parts, then CA-ed them?


If you like this kit - there is (in my opinion) the antithesis kit out there too,the Xarconian Cruiser

If you build that one - definitely upgrade to 24/29mm MMT.
The stock 18mm C's are way too wimpy for that bird. Mine has been setting in the "fix it" bin after crash landing on a C6 last summer (weather-cocked, parachute ejected about 50" off the ground, never had time to inflate).

a
 
Hey Thanks All!
Steve- LOVE your two stage set up....now that is cool! I wish I thought of that!

To answer some questions-
YES I am going to launch/fly it! I cant wait!
I did paint it after it was all put together. It was tough. The grey is brushed in. I used Acrylic Model Master paint from Testors (found at Hobby Lobby). You must use a good soft brush. I mean the good art kind and not the plastic brisel kind. The other parts like on the wing pods etc were painted and placed in later, but the whole rocket in general was painted after construction. I cant say enough about the acrylic model master paint.

I DID get the Xarconian Cruiser! I cant wait to try that as well. I am thinking of building my Conquest first along with finishing my new Interceptor that just came out.

Neil: I would not despair about the paint scheme...just go slow and take your time. It is not that bad. Fear of painting has kept me from making my original Semroc Saturn 1b for years. Even after this I am literally to afraid of building that rocket! Someday.....I will make it.
 
Wow - Well done! I really like the contrast of the grey. I might try that for mine, which is in the back of my build pile. Gotta get these NASA rockets done before the anniversary.

Great pics!
 
An Aerotech E18 may be what you need to set that apart from the old D12. Fantastic build, and awesome attention to detail, Kudos brother!
 
As for the D12 vs. E18, consider:
> What is the as built weight? Does the D12 get the desired thrust to weight ratio?
> How does the flight on a D12 sim out? Altitude, deployment height, etc.
> If the D12 looks acceptable, why the heck not go on the E18 anyway?
 
As for the D12 vs. E18, consider:
> What is the as built weight? Does the D12 get the desired thrust to weight ratio?
> How does the flight on a D12 sim out? Altitude, deployment height, etc.
> If the D12 looks acceptable, why the heck not go on the E18 anyway?

I guess when compared to a BP D12....A composite (white lightning) E18 is just plain louder, more powerful and more impressive. Plus it will get up to speed faster. This rocket is " draggy" and I don't want a semi- cruise missile 400 foot or less flight. IMO, sport rockets should launch.....like rockets....kind of fast and straight and go with authority. I have flown enough rockets to know that this will be less than impressive on a D12. I may just go with the F24W...it will handle it and I have the space.
Andrew
 
If it is dead calm I may try a D12. But I would rather go with the F12 if it is dead calm.....which almost never happens. The battery on our kitchen scale is dead at the present time so I don't have a weight on this rocket. Also, that scoop in the middle does not open out the back on half of the tube so it is very draggy.

No matter if I am launching an A8-3 or a K1100 I like to keep my thrust to weight no less than 7:1 and 10:1 on windy days. This is just how I like it. On this bird I want plenty of thrust to get it going....even if it goes only 500 feet....I would like it to go straight and with "umph". I also just love white lightning! I think an F39 would damage it. Either way.....I will report my results if anyone cares to know. I think the F24 is going to be very fun on this little monster!
Peace
Andrew
 
CORRECTION!!!!
Yes, it is technically open through the bigger body tube but there are those "screen" things fore and aft that would cause the drag....no big deal....either way.
 
I can't stop admiring these pictures. An under-appreciated John Boren classic IMHO. And it doesn't take up that much space. I *reeeeeally* oughta add that to the build pile. Hmm......
 
Thank you Neil!
It s a very rewarding build. Get two....I wish I did! It truly was a fun build. Thanks again.
Andrew
 
Wow, I have one in the build pile but it’ll never look this good. Great build of an interesting design - as nice as yours looks I still don’t care for that nose cone design - if mine comes out 1/3 as nice I’ll be happy.

As long as the weight didn’t get crazy high a BP F should be good though a composite motor would definitely give you a better safety margin. Going to look prettying impressive when you fly it!
 
Scott
I would not say yours won't look as good! Besides one rough launch or landing and it will be "toast", but hey that is rocketry! For less than 20$ I had many hours of build time fun and relaxation. When you do yours just zero in on each section and don't think of the whole build at once.....that way you won't get overwhelmed with the build and it becomes fun. I know what I said in my first post....but if one takes their time....it's really not too bad. Just make sure to have a VERY sharp knife so you can cut the tubes well. I also learned to "tack....check...then final glue" all the parts. I learned this the hard way......as I had to pull some parts...many parts... apart then reglue on this kit. Just go slow and know you can do it! I really recommend this kit!!! Get them before they are gone!!
I also learned so much about finer building skills from this kit! Now I want to do another one!
Andrew
 
Last edited:
Back
Top