Reviews : Estes Viking Model Rocket Kit

Actually purchased this Viking as part of an Educator's pack for my daughters class on Science Day. Inexpensive, easy to build, and flies great. And, since they are all white, they are easy for the kids to decorate with paint, pin striping, or just good old stickers. Or, you can leave them white! They'll still fly! FYI...check out the Viking Educators Pack, EST1755, for additional pictures of the Viking rocket built with the 3, 4, or 5 fin configuration, which this kit allows you to do. Recommend only using the smaller A8-3 motors...good altitude plus the ejection charge puff of smoke is still visible at this height. The kids seemed to like seeing the streamer deploy. Any other motor, this lightweight dragster of a rocket is disappearing into the wild blue yonder. You're probably not getting it back...lol. We shot off 10 rockets today. The first 9 with the A8-3 motors in groups of 2, then 3, then 4. They fly high, are a lot of fun, AND we recovered each rocket. We didn't lose sight of any of them and for some reason, the kids love to chase those rockets as they descend. However, on the 10th and final launch, we used a C6-5 just to show the kids how the bigger motors performed. Well, you guessed it! That rocket is still orbiting up there as you read this. The only one that was lost because it just, simply...disappeared!!! You've been warned! The Viking is a screamer!!! Have fun...

Given how Estes designed this kit, there are plenty of other customization possibilities besides the fins. For example, you can build the nose cone to hold a tiny altimeter like an FS Mini or Altus Metrum MicroPeak. You can also install a hybrid shock cord made up of the included elastic and Kevlar (you buy separately). One thing to be aware of: with so many fins possibilities, you'll need to be careful of fin breakage. If the rocket lands in grass and you do a good job attaching the fins, you'll probably be ok with the streamer. But if landing on hard dirt, there's a fair chance a fin might pop off or start the process of breaking off unless you install a small parachute (7-8 inches made from HDPE or Mylar should work well). Just keep in mind that with a parachute, you'll get slower descent times which might lead to a lost rocket if launching with a B, C or D (composite) engine.

I built mine with all 5 fins but 3 or 4 is also a possibility. The rocket accepts up to an 18mm C motor but really, this guy is so small, i think it is just begging for a 13mm to 18mm motor mount adapter like the Quest Engine adaptor 13mm/18mm available on this website for under $2 bucks! this is a great rocket for classrooms and scouts as well because it can be assembled using CA or white glue (your choice) and the fin design allows a bunch of different design combinations for that custom touch. The rocket flies well on any of the 18mm or,(with adapter), 13mm motors but it will be gone GONE! on anything larger than a B.

I've bought Vikings on a couple of occasions, but until recently I'd never built one as intended. It's another rocket with a John Deere paint scheme that does nothing for me as pictured on the package, but the Centuri paint scheme is one that I liked a lot better. It's also a great first step in recreating another old Centuri bird, the Vector V. I've picked Vikings up to take with me to launches in the event that someone shows an interest in the hobby. It makes for a great give-away bird.

I have used this rocket in a Summer Camp setting for several years. They are easy to put together with a little adult supervision (my campers are 9-12). They fly great - we have been using a B engine. The kids love launch day and the parents are always very impressed.

Awesome rocket kit. It goes together easily, flys well, and comes back to earth safely.

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