Estes Trajector PSII E2X Kit
 

I have completed assembly of the fourth and final member of the Estes PSII E2X model line, the Trajector.

The listed weight/mass of the model w/o motor is 10.7 oz. As usual, mine turned out a little heavier at 11.4 oz. Some of that is due to my addition of a Semroc EB-20 ejecton baffle.

The model uses the Ascender fins just turned around 180 degrees. The nose cone is from the discontinued Interceptor E kit.

Speaking of the nose cone, it comes pre-assembled, painted and detailed. Nice. There are two packages of clay included in the kit which the builder must pack into the nose cone. I over did it and actually split the nose cone open on the bottom seam while packing in the clay. After cleaning the clay out of the seam I reglued the nose cone with Plasti-Zap CA which fixed the problem.

First flight will be next Saturday on an Estes E16-4 motor.

Saturday, November 2nd, was a warn sunny day in Los Angeles.

A slight breeze but otherwise excellent flying weather.

My new Estes PSII E2X Trajector model was loaded with an Estes E16-4 motor.

The E16 motor propelled the Trajector off the pad on a slow, steady flight for this draggy rocket.

Parachute ejection was just past apogee and the rocket decended safely to the ground. :)

I was able to get some good flight pictures.

More pictures...

Picked up a Trajector from the recent Estes clearance sale. Built it up and used John Pursleys Phantom Trajector skin instead of painting the body tube and nose cone. Did not care for the Halloween orange and black scheme, so painted the fins silver and the pods red. Fun build and fun to fly.

P.S. Was interesting to see the fun effect of painting the Estes 29mm motor retainer red. Added something to the model, I think.

Nice!

Agreed! Your painting choices and John's skin really change the look of the Trajector for the best. I love John's detailed and imaginative skins. His scale skins are likewise fabulous!

Allen

I enjoyed the Trajector so much that I picked up two more on sale. One as a spare and one for some kit bashing.

Thinking about doing the next one with two fins that are more wing-like and one that is more tail-like, making it look more like a craft for both air and space. More than a Trajector and less than an Interceptor.

Going to ask John to print a sheet or two of his phantom camo pattern without other details when I buy the next Trajector skin set and will wrap the new wings and tail with it.

I haven't seen the pods up close, but it looks like they would look good turned around backwards on a 50's sci-fi style rocket.

John Pursley built his Trajector with the pods turned around so they would more like landing legs.

Thinking about cutting the tips of both ends off a set of pods so they look more line ramjet pods. Could create an interesting whistle during flight.

I have four more skin themes for the Trajector (and the Interceptors, too). They are "Midnight" (Black base with same details as Phantom), "Twilight" (like Midnight skin but with "Chameleon" block pattern), "Indigo" (Deep Blue with Black/Gray Chameleon pattern), NASA (White and blue like later NASA F-104N with NASA Meatballs on Fuse and yellow NASA Fin Stripes). I am also tinkering with an "X-15" scheme which is, as of now, a dark blue/gray with X-15-like features as flown by NASA.

I have changed my base material from the former matte finish to a thinner, whiter, gloss finished skin. Also print with more highly pigmented inks that are more durable and "pop" a bit more than previous skins.

If anyone is interested in these or other skins, drop me a note at johnpursley@accur8.com . I also can do custom request skins (within reason!).

AND, I have "scale" skins for Estes Mercury Redstone, Estes Little Joe II, and for scratch-built Gemini Titans based on BT-80, BT-70, and BT-60 (the BT-80 and BT-70 include suggested building instructions/plans and parts sources). The first of several 1/100 Saturn V skin kits (each representing unique Saturn V missions) will be available starting in a couple of weeks. 1/70 Saturn IB kits by January/Februrary.

I will offer YORF members the first skin of their choice at regular price and you can choose any second skin kit of same or lesser value for FREE. This deal is good through Christmas Day. Does not apply to listings on sale on eBay (though feel free to go to eBay to check out some of my various skin kits). Contact me direct via the email above to take advantage of the deal. I will invoice direct via PayPal. Spread the word!

---John Pursley