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Monday, April 30, 2018

Estes Mini A Heli #007272, Build, Background

Here's a new one from Estes.
"IT'S HERE! GREAT for NAR Competition! Mini engine powered and competition ready helicopter recovery."

I'm probably going to NARAM this August. I did compete back in 1975 and 1976, but to be honest I know very little about model rocket competition. Back then, most of my competition models were from CMR kits (Competiton Model Rockets) I've never entered a helicopter contest before.
I've built an Apogee Heli-Roc but never flown it. I also have a FlisKits Rose-A-Roc in the bag.

This Mini A Heli looks like a simplified Rose-A-Roc, no wires to bend and no complex central spindle. The blades are on the outside of the central BT-5 tube.





Here's the front and back of the package.
The face card illustration shows the blades against the body tube, but there is no burn-through thread shown.


The kit includes an 18" long BT-5 tube. The tube is packed tightly between the sealed bag ends.

I looked over the tube before opening the bag. It seemed okay - 
There was the start of a crimp in the BT-5 tube. It's near one of the ends. 2" of the tube will be cut off and discarded. Maybe this crimp will end up under the coupler?

2 comments:

  1. Hi, Chris,
    I knew it would only be a matter of time until you got to this one. Will follow this with interest!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Ed,
      This build came pretty quick, right after the kit was released. I'll be making some changes to make it lighter and more efficient.

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