ESTES FIREHAWK User Manual

COUNTDOWN AND LAUNCH

KEY ALWAYS OUT UNTIL
FINAL COUNTDOWN!

1...

1...

Masking
Tape

4" (10.1 cm)

2...

2...

SLIDE ROCKET
DOWN OVER
LAUNCH ROD.

3...

3...

LAUNCH SUPPLIES (Sold Separately)

• Porta Pad® II Launch Pad

• Electron Beam® Launch Controller

• Recovery Wadding

• Igniters (with Engines)

• Igniter Plugs (with Engines)

• Recommended Estes® Engines:
1/4A3-3T, 1/2A3-2T, A3-4T, A10-3T

15 FT. (5 M)

www.estesrockets.com

ESTES INDUSTRIES

1295 H Street

Penrose, CO 81240

PRINTED IN CHINA

FLYING MODEL ROCKET KIT INSTRUCTIONS

KEEP FOR FUTURE REFERENCE

ASSEMBLY TIP: Read all

instructions before beginning work
on your model. Make sure you have
all parts and supplies.

TEST FIT ALL PARTS TOGETHER
BEFORE APPLYING ANY GLUE!

If any parts don't fit properly, sand as
required for precision assembly.

PARTS

Locate the parts shown below and lay them out on the table in front of
you. DO NOT USE THIS DRAWING TO ASSEMBLE YOUR ROCKET.

HELPFUL HINT:

TOO
LOOSE

ADD
MASKING TAPE.

0804

IF NOSE CONE/COUPLER FIT IS. . .

TOO
TIGHT

SAND FOR FIT.

PRECAUTIONS

NAR Safety Code

4

LAUNCH
BUTTON

NO DRY GRASS
OR WEEDS

5...

5...

4... 3... 2... 1...

HOLD KEY DOWN AND
PRESS LAUNCH BUTTON
UNTIL LIFT-OFF!

FLYING YOUR ROCKET

Choose a large field (500 ft. [152 m] square) free of dry weeds and
brown grass. The larger the launch area, the better the chance of
recovering your rocket. Football fields and playgrounds are great.
Launch only with little or no wind and good visibility.

Always follow the National Association of Rocketry (NAR)
Safety Code.

MISFIRES

TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE CONTROLLER. WAIT ONE MINUTE
BEFORE GOING NEAR THE ROCKET! Disconnect the igniter clips and

remove the engine. Take the plug and igniter out of the engine. If the igniter
has burned, it worked but did not ignite the engine because it was not
touching the propellant inside the engine. Put a new igniter all the way
inside the engine without bending it. Push the plug in place. Repeat the
steps under Countdown and Launch.

© 2003 Estes-Cox Corp. All rights reserved.

4...

4...

INSERT KEY.
PUSH DOWN
AND HOLD.

P/N 60612 (9-03)

KEY

PLASTIC FIN

UNIT A

(60606)

PLASTIC NOSE

CONE INSERT

(72603)

PLASTIC FIN

UNIT B

(60607)

PLASTIC ENGINE CAP

(2) (60594)

PLASTIC

LAUNCH LUG

(60609)

DECAL SHEET

(60610)

SHOCK CORD (1/8" x 12")

SUPPLIES In addition to the parts included in the kit you will also need:

SCISSORS

CARPENTER'S GLUE PLASTIC CEMENT

PLASTIC NOSE

CONE (72701)

BT-20 SILVER

BODY TUBE

(31763)

(38373)

SHOCK CORD

MOUNT

SECTION

3

SECTION

2

SECTION

1

ASSEMBLED PARACHUTE 12"(30 cm)

(35801)

G

LUE

G

L

U

E

1. ASSEMBLE FIN UNIT

G

L

U

E

5. ATTACH SHOCK CORD

D

R

O

T

C

N

3

K

U

C

N

O

O

IO

M

T
C

SH

E

2

S

N

IO
T
C

E

1

S

N
O

I

T

C
E
S

A. Cut out Shock

Cord Mount from
FRONT PAGE.

1

2

3

SHOCK CORD

C. Apply glue.

Fold forward.

1

(25 mm)

E. Squeeze tightly

3

and hold for
one minute.

NO

A. Use plastic cement

to glue Fin Unit
halves together.

2. ATTACH LAUNCH LUG

A. Apply plastic cement on

underside of Launch Lug.
Rotate and press Launch
Lug onto tabs. Hold until glue
sets. Let dry.

B. Hold until glue sets.

Let dry.

COMPLETED FIN UNIT

COMPLETED LAUNCH LUG ASSEMBLY

D. Apply glue.

B. Crease

Fold forward.

6. ATTACH PARACHUTE AND SHOCK CORD

A. Form loop in Shroud

Lines and push
through hole in Nose
Cone.

B. Pass 'Chute

through loop.

7. APPLY DECALS

Peel decals one at a time from backing sheet and apply where shown. (Use
photo on package panel for reference). Rub with finger to remove bubbles.

C.

Pull tight.

F. Glue mount at least 1” (25 mm)

inside front of Body Tube. Hold
until glue sets. Let dry.

D.

Tie Shock
Cord on with
double knot.

PREPARE PARACHUTE FOR FLIGHT

A.

3. ATTACH BODY TUBE

Insert 2-3 squares of

loosely crumpled
recovery wadding
into rocket.

NOTE: Only Estes

A. Apply plastic cement inside end of body tube.

Insert Fin Unit until it stops. Let dry.

ENGINE CAP

Wadding (EST 302274)

Recommended.

PREPARE ENGINE

B.

Spike.

To avoid serious injury, read instructions & NAR Safety Code included with engines.

PREPARE YOUR ENGINE ONLY WHEN YOU ARE OUTSIDE AT THE LAUNCH SITE

If you do not use your prepared engine, remove the igniter before storing your engine.

WARNING: FLAMMABLE

PREPARING TO LAUNCH!

C.

Fold.

D.

Roll.

E.

Wrap lines loosely. Insert ‘Chute, Shock

Cord and Nose Cone into Body Tube.

B. Twist Engine

Cap into place.

F.

Firmly push all

the way in.

4. ASSEMBLE NOSE CONE

E.

Insert Igniter

TIP MUST

TOUCH

C.

B.

A.

Remove

A. Apply plastic cement inside nose cone and

COMPLETED NOSE CONE

push Nose Cone Insert all the way in. Let dry.

2 3

Engine Cap.
Insert Engine.

Replace
Engine Cap.

Separate
Igniter and
Plug.

D.

Insert Igniter all the

way into Engine.

PROPELLANT!

Plug.

G.

Bend Igniter Wires
back as shown.