Reviews : Estes Wizard Model Rocket Kit

I've built and flown at least a half dozen Wizards since the first one back in 1978. I picked that one without knowing what a great performer it was going to be. We happened to have both purple and white spray paint at the house and I had it built and painted in a day. When it was done I set my launch pad up in my front yard, loaded a C6 in the Wizard and let it fly. My jaw and the jaw of every kid watching dropped and stayed dropped. I'd previously flown an Alpha on a C6 and had been impressed with the altitude that one attained, but it was nothing like the Wizard. It ejected over 1000' over the church at the top of the street, then rode the streamer back toward us. For a moment I thought I was actually going to pull off the impossible and get it back, but it dropped into a gutter on the tall side of the house at the top of the street. Before I could get the ladder up the skies opened, and my Wizard was ruined. These days I buy Wizards by the handful. I'm not crazy about the new paint and decal scheme, but I know my way around that. Thirty six years later it's still one of the best Estes designs ever. There will always be a Wizard in my fleet.

This rocket is one of the highest performing of the Estes kits. Introduced in 1978 (yes i remember it!) this is a small rocket that accepts 18mm engines up to the C6-7 in black powder and 18mm re-loadable RMS Aerotech engines like the D9. That being said, when achieving altitudes in the 1/4 mile or higher range, you need to add some red marking chalk to the top of the body tube so you can track it! It comes with a nice, bright, long streamer for recovery but it is so light that it can still drift significantly. An extra set of eyes and the above mentioned marking chalk will ensure you can fly your Wizard again and again!

This is the perfect rocket to introduce basic model rocketry techniques (a level 1 rocket might be a rocket with a plastic fin can with little to no painting needed). From properly attaching fins to the main body tube to papering fins to painting, this is a great rocket kit. Also, being a BT-20 size rocket, you can put a C or composite D engine in it if you want to fly it so high you can't see it. Or, you can put in a 1/2A (13mm with adapter or 18mm) engine and keep it low to fly it at a ballfield at your local park.

I've built and flown 2 Estes Wizards - the first in the current blue color scheme with the supplied stickers, and the second in the classic purple and white with custom decals. This rocket is a great flier! I pick an A8-3 or A6-4 for most flights, but my favorite motor for the Wizard is the B4-4 on calm days. I've never gotten up the nerve to try a C motor. Building the Wizard is a straight-forward affair with no surprises. Overall, a classic kit that performs great.

The Wizard is a great starter rocket. I first assembled this rocket some 25 years ago in elementary school during technology class. This brought back memories that were great. Can not go wrong with this rocket. Simple but very fun to put together.

I love this rocket! One of my 4-H kids built this rocket. It was perfect for this club! It was not too difficult, but was still fun to build. It launched very well with little damage. I would highly recommend this rocket for kids age 8-10.

This was the first rocket I built and flew as a BAR. If you fly it on anything other than an A motor you run the risk of losing it.

I built this as my first rocket many years ago. Fantastic simple design to teach the basics of rocketry!

Great rocket, low price and fast shipping. Hopefully it lasts for many flights.