Estes - Vagabond (#3217) Gallery

[SacEsq]

Here is my Vagabond just completed. Stock except for the paint change you can see (didn't like a nekked nose cone) and a 24mm aluminium motor retainer from rocketarium that you cannot see. Of course I also used about 5 feet of fabric/elastic band for the shockcord opting out for the 18 inches of rubber band estes provided

 

[qquake2k]

That's such a good looking rocket. I really need to upscale one.

 

[pick1e]

Here's mine- stock finish with Testors Hugger Orange lacquer on Rustoleum White lacquer. The only mod is a Semroc baffle.

This has half a dozen flawless flights on Estes D12's and E9's (save for the first flight when the parachute was tangled up and it came in ballistic but somehow was magically unharmed).

View attachment 83115

 

[SacEsq]

That's such a good looking rocket. I really need to upscale one.

That would be really cool.

 

[qquake2k]

That would be really cool.

I'm thinking a 3" version would be good.

 

[GDJ]

Here's my Vagabond. It's all kit parts, including the fins. I just did it differently:

I flipped the fins because I got sick and tired of fins getting dinged up and broken because they were the first thing to touch ground. The Motor mount and retainer is much stronger and able to withstand a bit of punishment on landing.

 

[Jiffycoil]

Very nice build.

 

[qquake2k]

Here's my Vagabond. It's all kit parts, including the fins. I just did it differently:

I flipped the fins because I got sick and tired of fins getting dinged up and broken because they were the first thing to touch ground. The Motor mount and retainer is much stronger and able to withstand a bit of punishment on landing.

Very clever! I like the upswept fin look!

 

[cjp]

Well I would like to add mine.Rustoleum Apple Red with Gloss black nose cone.Added a baffle switching tubes and made it zipperless.

 

[cjp]

Here's mine- stock finish with Testors Hugger Orange lacquer on Rustoleum White lacquer. The only mod is a Semroc baffle.

This has half a dozen flawless flights on Estes D12's and E9's (save for the first flight when the parachute was tangled up and it came in ballistic but somehow was magically unharmed).

View attachment 83115

Nice looking build pick1e.

 

[cjp]

Here's my Vagabond. It's all kit parts, including the fins. I just did it differently:

I flipped the fins because I got sick and tired of fins getting dinged up and broken because they were the first thing to touch ground. The Motor mount and retainer is much stronger and able to withstand a bit of punishment on landing.

I would also add that these are great looking builds,like the reverse fins,also SacEsq red looks great forward and aft.We need qqake2k to add his.How about it Jim?

 

[GDJ]

Thank you all for your kudo's! I also would like to add that all the rest of your Vagabonds are great examples of quality workmanship.

As for mine, the stability margin did drop slightly going upswept fins, but it still spec'd out at a 1.8 Cal off the launch rod (compared to my other two, conventional builds that had a 2.5 to 2.8 Cal), so the drop is not significant for flight. If anything, it will be slightly less prone to windcocking, but only by a minor amount.

 

[qquake2k]

Here is my Vagabond. I just got the decals put on today. Inspired by Carl's red Vagabond, I made mine zipperless with a baffle in the middle. I also made TTW birch plywood fins for it. I kept the 24mm motor mount.

 

[GDJ]

I like.

 

[cjp]

Here is my Vagabond. I just got the decals put on today. Inspired by Carl's red Vagabond, I made mine zipperless with a baffle in the middle. I also made TTW birch plywood fins for it. I kept the 24mm motor mount.

SUPER looking build Jim,I really like what you did.

 

[BLT50568]

My finished Vagabond and the first one I've built. Sorry it's sideways. oops

 

[GDJ]

I like the orange fade into white. Nice touch!

 

[BLT50568]

Thank you GDJ. I think my next paint scheme will be rusted. It's kind of a new trend in Rat Rods, so I thought a rocket would look cool that way too.

 

[Squatchy]

My husband is just getting back into rockets and I'm joining him. This was one of my very first builds and I loved it! I really like this rocket- I have already purchased a second Vagabond kit. She has already had a few successful flights so far.

 

[GDJ]

My husband is just getting back into rockets and I'm joining him. This was one of my very first builds and I loved it! I really like this rocket- I have already purchased a second Vagabond kit. She has already had a few successful flights so far.

View attachment 87170

That's a damn nice looking rocket! Glad you've had a better track record than me. I'm on my 3rd after 2 not-so-good maiden launches.

 

[BLT50568]

My husband is just getting back into rockets and I'm joining him. This was one of my very first builds and I loved it! I really like this rocket- I have already purchased a second Vagabond kit. She has already had a few successful flights so far.

View attachment 87170

Like the little punk rockness of it.

 

[BLT50568]

So I'm seeing a lot of mods to this rockets. Is there a big zipper effect problem with this particular rocket? I haven't launched mine yet and just wanted to know.

 

[Initiator001]

So I'm seeing a lot of mods to this rockets. Is there a big zipper effect problem with this particular rocket? I haven't launched mine yet and just wanted to know.

Not for me.

However, I did add three feet of small diameter kevlar line to the kit shock cord. :wink:

 

[Wayco]

I had so many zipper issues with mine, I renamed it Rag-a-bond. Mostly because I modified mine to fly 29mm motors and it took me a while to find the right motor/delay combination. I'm building another Vagabond now and using the zipperless design where the rocket splits in the middle at the coupler. I build mine with the longer body tube as the fin can and the coupler built into a baffle. After building several of these great kits, I think I'm getting all the bugs worked out.....

 

[GDJ]

Well, Vagabond #3 is now a sacrifice to the rocket gods. Caught a updraft at apogee and it disappeared without a trace. Searched a entire section of land, and nothing.

I still have another nose cone........deciding how much of a glutton for punishment I am.......*groan*

 

[Wayco]

Only three? I'm building number four now, and that doesn't include all the rebuilds of my now deceased Rag-a-bond. The nose cone was all I salvaged from it's melt down, and I'm resurrecting it AGAIN! Even building it stock, it's a great rocket, but if you really want to be a glutton for punishment, put a 29mm MMT in it!

 

[pick1e]

So I'm seeing a lot of mods to this rockets. Is there a big zipper effect problem with this particular rocket? I haven't launched mine yet and just wanted to know.

I had no zipper issues with mine, flew perfectly on Estes D12-5 and E9-6 half a dozen times with no zippers. Mine was built per instructions with squared fins and low weight.

 

[BLT50568]

I had so many zipper issues with mine, I renamed it Rag-a-bond. Mostly because I modified mine to fly 29mm motors and it took me a while to find the right motor/delay combination. I'm building another Vagabond now and using the zipperless design where the rocket splits in the middle at the coupler. I build mine with the longer body tube as the fin can and the coupler built into a baffle. After building several of these great kits, I think I'm getting all the bugs worked out.....

So then do you glue the nose cone to the upper half of the body? Then add that baffle to the coupler? Are there places that sell pre-made couplers?

 

[Wayco]

So then do you glue the nose cone to the upper half of the body? Then add that baffle to the coupler? Are there places that sell pre-made couplers?

You can glue the N/C to the body tube, I usually use small nylon pins to hold mine in place. Plenty of sources for couplers, Balsa machining would be my first choice, but if you do a little research, you will find more..... You can also make your own by cutting down a piece of body tube but that can be a challenge if you haven't done it before.
There are several threads on this design:
https://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?36379-Red-Vagabond&
https://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?36670-Vagabond-build
Including mine where I muffed the original coupler and bought spare BT-60 tube and couplers from BMS:
https://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?26226-Estes-Vagabond-rebuild-kit-bash

 

[qquake2k]

Here is my 3" upscale. I'm very happy with how it turned out.