Rain in the morning, but a much better day than the last two launches. The wind speed was higher than we would have liked but the temperature was nice. As always, we had a great time, getting together and flying rockets once again.
- Decals: Waterslide
- Diameter: 0.98 inches
- Fin Material: Balsa
- Length: 7.70 inches
- Manufacturer: Estes
- Model: 003013
- Motor Size: 18 millimeters
- Power: Low-Power
- Product Type: Kit
- Recommended Motors: A8-3, B6-4, C6-5
- Recovery: Featherweight/Tumble
- Skill Level: 1
- Status: In-Production
- Style: Clone, Sport
- Tags: Family:Centuri:Flutter-By
- Weight: 1.00 ounces
The Flutter-By is a stubby, futuristic rocket with an uncommon, two-piece tumble recovery method. Good quality balsa. Easy to separate the parts, including the strakes. Nice large green adapter ring to slide the lower fin unit into the body. Tumble recovery works, but you can generally expect a bit of a “bounce” when it hits.
While you cannot predict what is going to be the contact point, it probably will be a fin. You can try to build extra-light and hope for a more gentle “flutter” or you can build a bit stronger. On my first try I used Elmer’s Carpenter’s Wood Filler. On my second try, on the lower section I elected to build stronger and papered the fins with no overlap on the edges. In this case, the strakes are decorative wooden strips.
Two go on each fin. This is a nice touch and gives the rocket that retro look. Yes, they add a bunch of useless drag, but again, this is not a kit designed for altitude records. If, however, you paper the fins you will conceal the marks.
So you will need to create a paper guide to replace the marks. The nose cone comes with a “pin” or cap (part J.) This is unneeded on this bird as the nose cone does not deploy, so I left it off.
Review by Tom Markel
Further Reading
Sources
- Rocketry Forum “Flutter-by” https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/estes-flutter-by.157450/
- RocketReviews “Estes Flutter-By Contributed by Tom Markel” https://www.rocketreviews.com/estes-flutter-by-estes-flutter-by-tom-markel.html
