Reviews : Estes Star Orbiter

I like this kit, don't like the paint scheme, too dark. Alternate fins black and mirrored aluminum and it will be easier to visually locate Flights are straight up, with very little oscillation. Now the mods, upgrade shock cord to braided nylon, or Kevlar, install an ejection baffle, plywood centering rings, epoxy for assembly and if your bold, up power to 38mm, after all it's I.D. is 41mm. From the inside, reinforce the plastic nose cone and body tubes with epoxy. I am designing a modified Star Orbiter for an upscaled and up powered Comanche 3 using 3x29mm BP E,or F motors, swapping out the plastic motor retainer, for 3 aluminum motor retainers and it should see over a mile in altitude. Super Comanche 3

This is a great choice of rocket for those who want to step up to the bigger (29mm) engines. Launched once and it flew arrow straight on an E12-4 with a 24 to 29 mm adapter. Recovered with no damage. I made a couple of small modifications to the build: 1. Replaced the paper shock cord mount with a Kevlar cord tied to the motor mount. 2. Added a thrust ring. None included with the kit, instructions say to tape a small strip at the end of the motor but a thrust ring is more convenient to me. Of course, if you use a motor with a lip on the back then you don't need it. Uses the screw on plastic motor retainer system, which I love. Overall, it's beautiful, economical, and a great value. Will upload a picture soon.

In the old days, Estes had a rocket called the Screamin' Mimi that was BT-60 based and could be kit-bashed into any one of several great rockets from the past, Der Red Max and Citation Patriot being the first two to come to mind. The Star Orbiter could well be the kit-bash rocket of choice for today. I bought one and built it as a shorter version of the SO using only one of the supplied BT-60 tubes. The other one served as the lower body tube of an FSI Eos. The shortened SO goes by the name Rat Bite, which I thought was a clever use of the stock decal. Apparently I wasn't the only one.

This excellent kit builds a very nice model. Nice to look at, nice flyer! I have flown this model on Estes E12's (24mm with an adapter) and E16's (29mm standard mount). Easily exceeds 1000'. I have made two changes to the stock model, 1) replaced the plastic 18 parachute with a bright orange nylon 18 (TopFlight) and 2) I fashioned 3 balsa strakes inline with the main fins about half way up the rocket body (1/8 x 1/16 strips about 2 long). This really helps keep the rocket flying straight without any corkscrewing. Paint it as you like, but recommend high visibility colors!

Fun and easy build. Love this rocket and it's a fair price for a Pro Level Rocket. I'm sending it to the stars.

Nice looking rocket, and don't blink when igniting,it disappears fast. Lol

Very versatile rocket that you can do a lot with for a very good price.

Awesome flight. It went so high I lost it. buying another!

This rocket leaps off the pad becoming a speck in sky!