I've seen a couple posting about the Estes SpaceShipOne kit on this board, and thought I'd throw in my non-cents.
General
A semi-scale model of SpaceShipOne. This model provides the profile but not the contour of the original. Standard recovery system (12" plastic chute). Fun and unusual, with an interesting profile in flight.
Kit
Generally good quality, though the paper body tube seemed just a touch flimsy (perhaps to trim weight), Plastic nose cone and tail cone have noticable flashing lines and pits. Wings/fins are laser cut balsa. Wood was of very high quality, laser cutting was a little less so... only went 80% of the way through the wood, and there was one overcut that went into the fin (there were two other overcuts that went into the waste). General fit of the parts was excellent, and no parts were missing.
Assembly
Simple and straightforward. My only criticism is that the jig supplied for aligining the wing panels is far too narrow to be effective.
Flight
A surprisingly pretty flyer. I launched it in winds of 5g10, which I think is pushing the limit for this model. The first flight was on a B6-2, off the rod the model immediately turned the minimum profile to the wind (rotated so the wings were parallel to the wind direction) then boosted going downwind at ~60 degrees, rather than weathercocking into the wind. Since we were in the middle of a frozen lake this wasn't much of a concern. The second flight, made on a C6-3 and in slightly higher winds was a *much* better flight, boosting quite straight while still turning a minimum profile to the wind, the flight profile essentially vertical. I had tilted the launch rod
10 degrees into the wind, the model was still a bit downwind when boost ended.
Suggestions
Build as light as possible. Make sure the various fin surfaces are square and true. Fly only in light winds, and expect the model to go downwind (even if you angle the launcher into the wind). The higher thrust of the C6 motor seems better suited to the model's weight.
Kevin OClassen NAR 13578