JStarStar
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2009
- Messages
- 2,552
- Reaction score
- 78
I built an SR-71 from the Estes kit about 15 years ago in which I converted it into a 2-motor flyer (like the actual plane).
It wasn't real tough -- I just installed motor tubes in the two nacelles (along with small 8" parachutes) and put a tail cone on the main fuselage (where the motor mount is in the stock kit). Finished it up nice with all the decals and it looked awesome.
Flew it a half-dozen times and it always flew OK although it did exhibit a slow corkscrew roll under power. My bet is that while installing the motor tubes inside the plastic skins, I got one of them misaligned by a couple degrees, or maybe one of the fins was a bit off. It LOOKED fine -- nothing obviously crooked -- but under power it always went into this slow roll.
It was lost along with a carton of other rocket stuff when I moved in about 1998. Dang that p$$$$$ed me off. :bang: :bang:
Since the Blackbird is getting harder to find I suppose I ought to track down a kit and build another one.
It wasn't real tough -- I just installed motor tubes in the two nacelles (along with small 8" parachutes) and put a tail cone on the main fuselage (where the motor mount is in the stock kit). Finished it up nice with all the decals and it looked awesome.
Flew it a half-dozen times and it always flew OK although it did exhibit a slow corkscrew roll under power. My bet is that while installing the motor tubes inside the plastic skins, I got one of them misaligned by a couple degrees, or maybe one of the fins was a bit off. It LOOKED fine -- nothing obviously crooked -- but under power it always went into this slow roll.
It was lost along with a carton of other rocket stuff when I moved in about 1998. Dang that p$$$$$ed me off. :bang: :bang:
Since the Blackbird is getting harder to find I suppose I ought to track down a kit and build another one.
Last edited: