Vintage Estes Astron Sprint Build
- Thread starter SCIGS30
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Boosterdude
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One of my favorites, will be fun to watch it come together.
JStarStar
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Estes shock cords are always way too short; I always swap out the cords in the kits for a 24" or longer piece of fabric elastic.
Other than that the Sprint is always a nice build and usually produces a real nice looking rocket and a fun sport flyer.
It's a good E2X-Plus type kit -- the boattail requires a little step forward in building skills.
Other than that the Sprint is always a nice build and usually produces a real nice looking rocket and a fun sport flyer.
It's a good E2X-Plus type kit -- the boattail requires a little step forward in building skills.
Gary Byrum
Overstable By Design
I never built a Sprite until a couple years ago but it was up scaled to BT 55 with a spun NC. It doesn't support the tumble recovery but instead uses a chute.
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Umm Gary, this is a Sprint.......
Gary Byrum
Overstable By Design
My bad. failing eye site. Sorry guys.
mwtoelle
Flying since 1977
If you decide to fly it, start with A8-5s or B6-6s. This rocket will "sprint" pretty high even on the smaller motors recommended for it.
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All other things being equal, will a larger diameter rocket with a boat tail (e.g., the Sprint), otherwise same length, same fins, same total mass, and same engine, go HIGHER than a minimum diameter rocket without the boat tail?
Back on the thread, I built this a LONG time (30 plus years?) ago. Was a nice rocket. Not a clue whatever happened to it.
SCIGS30
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Once again, this was a fun easy vintage build. After building the kit, I applied 4 coats of Aerogloss Balsa sealer to the balsa, sprayed 2 coats of filler primer with sanding in between and top coated with Rustoleum 2X Gloss White. I was really impressed with the Gloss white, other than the dry and recoat times. Then I shot the Rustoleum 2X yellow and wow what a bad surprise. The first 2 mist coats did fine but the final wet coat came out rough causing a rough cracked surface. This was not a reaction with the paint under the yellow, it was how it came out of the can. There was no weather conditions because I am spraying in S.California, and this was a new can that shaken and placed in warm water. Since this was the nose cone, it was an easy fix to sand and spray again, but it did take valuable build time that could have been used finishing her sooner. This could have been a lot worse if this happened on a complex paint job, so I have to re-think this Rustoleum 2X stuff. It is a shame because I really like how thick and glossy smooth it comes out, well until the yellow. The decal was old, but I brushed on Micro Sol products and soaked in water, but it still wanted to fall apart. I was able to move the decal onto the rocket, but it was not pretty. I have an Alps printer and could make my own except the Alps printer cannot print the same dark yellow you see with the Estes yellow decals. Also I really like using the vintage decals if possible. The Centuri Screaming Eagle next to her is on old kit that I threw together.
hcmbanjo
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Interesting - 90% of the time the Rusto 2X gives me no problems. It covers well with fewer coats.
Once in a while the gloss white 2X sprays out grainy and in flat finish! It'll start okay then the sound of the spray "hiss" changes.
Then that rough flat comes out! I think there must be a clog of pigment coming out all at once.
I rarely get to use all the paint in the can. The nozzles will clog up quicker than other brands and that makes for uneven spraying.
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Nice job on your sprint. I flew mine on a E9 nice flight.
Barry Carlisle
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Its been years since this was posted but do you still have the sprint?
I am generally not very confident about my ancient memories (in this case 40 years +), but for some reason I am confident about this one. When Estes came out with this rocket (see what I mean), this was the altitude contest rocket. Between the boat tail, airfoil fins, and olgive nc, high performance was expected. Did you make airfoil fins? I think I may have made a tower launcher to eliminate LL drag. I probably flew it a couple of times then stuck a big motor (C6-5?)in it and it flew out of sight, never to be seen again. That happened a lot back in the day. I can't imagine how high it would go on an E motor. How would you even fit one in it?
Joe, your memory is sharp as a tack. See the description of this model in the 1979 Estes catalog, courtesy of Ninfinger's:https://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/catalogs/estes79/79est40.html
Never had a Sprint, but I remember airfoiling the fins of my Streak, and even splitting the nose cone in half and hollowing it out for maximum apogee.
I do, however have a Sprint XL which can take a 24mm "E" engine. Haven't flown it on one yet though.
Laters.
I did do good on that one. Now where did I leave my keys? LOL.
I have found my old box of 70's vintage rockets, and my Sprint was still there. This one one of the last kits I built at about age 15, so it was done well with airfoiled fins, perfect fillets, filled and polished nose cone, etc. It looks beautiful still. Now that I am a BAR, I do have a Sprint XL that I have flown on E motors, it flies really well. They stand together on my rocket bench. Any thoughts on doing a drag race at club launch? I would really hate to lose the old one!
RCBrust
Well-Known Member
Does anyone have a high res scan of the original round Sprint fin decal? I'm hoping to find something better than what's on the JimZ site.
Randy
Randy
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After use do you invert the can and clear the nozzle?
RCBrust
Well-Known Member
Perfect Dave, thank you.
Randy
Randy
Thanks. I am planning on building a clone. I was wondering where I was going to get the pattern for fin and boat tail. Wonder no more, I shall.
Kurinin, thanks. Good information.
My pleasure.
There are two main websites for plans and resources of vintage kits.
Besides JimZ's there is also Ye Olde Rocket Plans:
https://plans.rocketshoppe.com/#NewPlans
They are a cloner's godsend.
When I first ran across them I kinda went crazy.
Laters.
There are two main websites for plans and resources of vintage kits.
Besides JimZ's there is also Ye Olde Rocket Plans:
https://plans.rocketshoppe.com/#NewPlans
They are a cloner's godsend.
When I first ran across them I kinda went crazy.
Laters.
Thanks. I've added both of these to my rocketry bookmarks. Now that I bought 2 Estes designer specials, kitted products are a thing of the past. Clones, plans, and scratch builds here I come!
Csig, sorry about hijacking your thread. I think we can end this lovefest and let you resume your regular program.
Csig, sorry about hijacking your thread. I think we can end this lovefest and let you resume your regular program.
Since this is a six year old thread, I don't think that he minds.
