Reviews : Estes Doorknob

This new kit makes a nice rocket when finished with the scale markings. However, to my own thinking, it's just a big model rocket. I felt I needed to make a few upgrades to build it equal to the original Pro Series II rocket kits. It has laser-cut fins and centering rings, but the fins are balsa and the rings are poster board(!) Also, it comes with the old type rubber-band shock cord with a tri-fold paper shock cord mount, and thick paper launch lugs. All these I beefed up on my Doorknob with plywood, woven elastic shock cord, and my own plastic rail guides (made from Plastruct), since I expect to fly with composite motors. It comes with the Estes 29mm molded motor retainer and a nylon parachute--both worthy features. If you are going to just fly yours with an E12 and adapter, go ahead and make it stock. But to a old-timer HPR flyer that seems an awfully lightweight rocket for me to use heavy-duty E, F, & G's in. Maybe it's okay for Estes' E16 and F15 motors, too (when you can get them again), but mine's going to ride on higher thrust motors, and I hope to one day change it into a Doorknob 2, so mine is beefed up, as described above. Enjoy! Fly 'em high & straight!