Description
(Formerly Skill Level 1)
Part of the Estes Classic Series. Estes has gone back to the archives, pulled up old drawings and spec sheets and brought these fantastic flying machines back for old and new rocketeers to enjoy. This kit has been reproduced and updated while still retaining the classic lines of the original.
WHAT YOU NEED TO BUILD: Scissors, pencil, ruler, fine sandpaper, carpenter’s glue, plastic cement, hobby knife and masking tape. (Tools, construction and finishing supplies not included.)
WHAT YOU NEED TO LAUNCH (sold separately): Estes Porta-Pad II Launch Pad and Electron Beam Launch Controller, Estes model rocket engines, starters and recovery wadding. Four 1.5V high quality AA alkaline batteries are also required for launch controller (not included).
WARNING
boldcustomer –
Fun to build, but easy to lose
The Star Trooper was a quick and easy build for a “skill level 1” Estes rocket. I like that the tube coupler separating the upper body tube and the engine mount tube doubles as a engine block. This makes positioning the engine block correctly much less problematic. The glue is just applied to the inside edges of the two tubes and the coupler is put between. Another way to do this, getting the glue deep in a body tube and pushing an engine block farther through to a specific location would have been more difficult. Thanks Estes for making it the way with the coupler between the two tubes. I would like to point out that the streamer is taped on in the instructions. My opinion is that tape is not reliable here. To just tie the streamer on the shock cord seems best to me.
Regarding the looks of the rocket, coloring the rocket green is asking for trouble. Something tiny and green against a blue sky or in a green field is hard to see. I painted mine red to contrast with the sky and grass and still lost this tiny, high flier on the first launch. Also the shade of yellow used in the colored plastic nose cone is off-putting.
The last and most important things I can say about this kit are these. Do not launch the rocket with the A10-3T engine first like I did. It flies too fast and too high to find. Start with the weakest engine and work your way up to what you like. Also, this rocket is great to build and I like the size (though for impractical reasons).
Nick –
easy to build
I wouldn’t use a full a. I did in mine and the fins blew off and a little chunk. I found two of the fins and am repairing this rocket for a half or quarter engine
Carey –
Really small but fun
an easy build. Bring a pencil to help pack the streamer. It is a bt5 and I can’t get my finger far enough in without a tamper. Go easy on the engines until you get used to it or you’ll shoot it clear out of sight.
Dean –
Fun little flyer!
I’ve been flying this little rocket for several years – it probably has 20 or more flights on it. It flies great on 1/2A3-4 motors, but I occasionally use a 1/4A on smaller fields. I wouldn’t recommend an A motor, unless you want to lose it. I have another one to build, and I’ll probably change the paint scheme to a non-grass color.
Gyes –
Performance
For the price and time involved, you really can’t go wrong with the Star Trooper. That’s a good thing too, since rockets of this size have a habit of disappearing if you get them up past 400 feet. Having lost little ones like the 220 Swift on the first outing, I didn’t put the usual amount of time into sanding, sealing, and painting that I would for a bigger rocket, but I was quite satisfied with the look of the finished product. I went with a fluorescent green instead of the recommended color for visibilty’s sake and I would strongly recommend that approach to everyone. The bright green looks just as good as the picture on the package and it is easier to see. To date, I’ve only used 1/2As and that’s more than enough to get a good flight out of this rocket. It’s high enough to be impressive, but not so high as to totally lose sight of the rocket.
Mick –
great little rocket that flies like a champ
finished building it last night. launched it tonight with a 1/4 motor. 2 successful launches. 3rd launch with an a10-3t. Angled into the wind. Went up like a shot, saw the ejection charge go off. Never saw it again. Had about 10 kids watching for it and no one caught sight of it again. in hindsight, painting it Olive Drab was probably a bad idea. This needs to be bright yellow or red. I will build another but put a chute on it or never use anything over a 1/2.
Philip –
One of the first mini engine rockets
One of the first rockets made by Centuri in the early ’70s for their then new mini engines. It was designed as a high altitude (900 + ft.) contest rocket. So be careful if you fly it on a full A impulse motor – as others have stated it will get way up there real fast. I only fly mine on 1/2 A motors. Unfortunately this remake uses the wrong nose cone – if you want a truer copy of a ’70s Star Trooper you need to use a Quark nose cone (which is what I did.) Mine also has mid body separation and a black airframe – both to help in recovering it. I may buy another and build it with rearward ejection streamer recovery like the original. But anyway you build it it is a great flyer!