Estes - (Astron) Drifter Gallery

[JAL3]

Welcome to the Estes (Astron) Drifter (K-14 or 1214) Gallery on TRF.

This gallery showcases the Estes Astron Drifter and those rockets derived from it. Particularly appropriate in this thread are the following:

Balsa Machining Service (BMS): Astron Drifter: K14
Estes: Astron Drifter: K-14 or #1214
Thrustline: Drifter: TACL-010



as well as any upscales, downscales, clones, kitbashes or other derivative works. Even Goonies qualify!

.

[JAL3]

Balsa Machining Service (BMS) Astron Drifter (K14) Basic Information.

http://www.rocketryforum.com/images/galleries/logos/bms.gif Balsa Machining Service (BMS)

Astron Drifter, Drifter

#K14

Introduced:
Final Year:
Designer: Bill Simon

Type: Sport. Parachute Competition, Clone
Motor Mount: 1x18mm
Recovery: Parachute
Stages: 1
Length:
Diameter:
Span:
Weight:

Mfg. Description: DESC

http://www.rocketryforum.com/images/galleries/liveries/bms%20-%20astron%20drifter%20-%202009%20web%20livery.gif BMS 2009 Web Ad

First post in this thread featuring this rocket. (http://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?p=151860#post151860)

See Also: LINKS
EMRR (http://archive.rocketreviews.com/reviews/all/oop_bms_astron_drifter.shtml)
RocketReviews
Mfg. Page


If you have any additional information on this rocket and/or catalog photos please let us know.

[JAL3]

Estes (Astron) Drifter (K-14, 1214) Basic Information.

http://www.rocketryforum.com/images/galleries/logos/estes.gif Estes Industries

Astron Drifter, Drifter

K-14 or #1214

Introduced: 1964
Final Year: 1979
Designer: Bill Simon

Type: Sport/Parachute Competition
Recovery: Parachute
Stages: 1
Length: 14.3"
Diameter: 1"
Span:
Weight: 1 oz

Mfg. Description: GREAT FOR COMPETITION AND SPORT FLYING

Spectacular in upward flight and recovery, the Astron Drifter combines low weight with large chute capacity. Perfect in any competition with its 24" chute, the Astron Drifter is a great performer with its 12" chute for test and sport flying too! Parachutes are easily interchanged. (Estes 1966 Catalog)

=====

1967 Catalog text identical to 1966 Catalog
1968 Catalog text identical to 1966 Catalog
1969 Catalog text identical to 1966 Catalog
1970 Catalog text identical to 1966 Catalog

http://www.rocketryforum.com/images/galleries/liveries/estes%20-%20astron%20drifter%20-%201966%20cat%20livery.jpg Estes 1966 Catalog http://www.rocketryforum.com/images/galleries/liveries/estes%20-%20astron%20drifter%20-%201967%20cat%20livery.jpg Estes 1967 Catalog http://www.rocketryforum.com/images/galleries/liveries/estes%20-%20astron%20drifter%20-%201968%20cat%20livery.jpg Estes 1968 Catalog

http://www.rocketryforum.com/images/galleries/liveries/estes%20-%20astron%20drifter%20-%201969%20cat%20livery.jpg Estes 1969 Catalog http://www.rocketryforum.com/images/galleries/liveries/estes%20-%20astron%20drifter%20-%201970%20cat%20livery.jpg Estes 1970 Catalog http://www.rocketryforum.com/images/galleries/liveries/estes%20-%20astron%20drifter%20-%201971%20cat%20livery.jpg Estes 1971 Catalog

http://www.rocketryforum.com/images/galleries/liveries/estes%20-%20astron%20drifter%20-%201973%20cat%20livery.jpg Estes 1973 Catalog http://www.rocketryforum.com/images/galleries/liveries/estes%20-%20astron%20drifter%20-%201975%20cat%20livery.jpg Estes 1975 Catalog http://www.rocketryforum.com/images/galleries/liveries/estes%20-%20astron%20drifter%20-%201977%20cat%20livery.jpg Estes 1977 Catalog

http://www.rocketryforum.com/images/galleries/liveries/estes%20-%20astron%20drifter%20-%201978%20cat%20livery.jpg Estes 1978 Catalog

http://www.rocketryforum.com/images/galleries/liveries/estes%20-%20astron%20drifter%20-%20face%201.jpg http://www.rocketryforum.com/images/galleries/liveries/estes%20-%20astron%20drifter%20-%20face%202.jpg http://www.rocketryforum.com/images/galleries/liveries/estes%20-%20astron%20drifter%20-%20face%203.jpg http://www.rocketryforum.com/images/galleries/liveries/estes%20-%20astron%20drifter%20-%20face%204.jpg http://www.rocketryforum.com/images/galleries/liveries/estes%20-%20astron%20drifter%20-%20face%205.jpg http://www.rocketryforum.com/images/galleries/liveries/estes%20-%20astron%20drifter%20-%20face%206.jpg

http://www.rocketryforum.com/images/galleries/liveries/estes%20-%20astron%20drifter%20-%20instr%201.jpg

First post in this thread featuring this rocket. (http://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?p=151968#post151968)

See Also: LINKS
EMRR
RocketReviews
Mfg. Page


If you have any additional information on this rocket and/or catalog photos please let us know.

[JAL3]

Thrustline Drifter (TACL-010) Basic Information.

http://www.rocketryforum.com/images/galleries/logos/thrustline.gif Thrustline Aerospace

MODEL NAME: Drifter Also known as:

NUMBER: TACL-010

Introduced:
Final Year:
Designer:

Type: Parachute Duration, Clone
Motor Mount: 1x18mm
Recovery: Parachute
Stages: 1
Length:
Diameter:
Span:
Weight:

Mfg. Description: DESC



Advertising Liveries

http://www.rocketryforum.com/images/galleries/liveries/thrustline-drifter%20tacl010-2008%20web%20livery.jpg Thrustline 2008 Web Ad



Face Card(s)




Instruction Header(s)





First post in this thread featuring this rocket.

See Also: LINKS
EMRR
RocketReviews
Mfg. Page


If you have any additional information on this rocket and/or catalog photos please let us know.

[JAL3]

My drifter is a BMS clone. I built it for one of my club's informal contests and, as usual did not place. That was OK since I am not too competitive in that regard.

I don't remember where I got the idea for the paint scheme but I think it was an old facecard. The decals came from Gordon at Excelsior.

My TRF thread is here: http://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?t=4044

The albums are here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/23694991@N03/collections/72157620072814335/

.

[Marlin523]

Very nice. Looks like very clean paint lines

[Boosterdude]

Nice job, like the color scheme.

[MarkII]

That looks great, John. I agree with the other comments about the paint scheme - it's a beaut! I have to add the Drifter to my "Astron clone" queue.

[blackjack2564]

Here's mine an original built in 64-65?. Found... with these other gems in the attic several years ago.
Still flies fine, even with the original "rubber" band shock cord. After all these 45 years, still in perfect shape!

.

[JAL3]

Jim: wow. I'm Impressed.

Other guys: thanks.

[Micromeister]

This is another Downscale of a Very Nice flying "high performance" design from the early days of model rocketry. The Drifter with it's sleek body design and long boattail made for a very sweet flying and LONG Distance Drifting PD model if built by the instructions and kept light on the paint.

My Micro downscale in T3 (.375") diameter is just 6 inches long and 4.6grams without motor, giving a 5.7gram liftoff weight. depending on the chute size selected 5" to 14" it also can be a very long time hanging.
Just a Super flying and majestic hanging micro Chute model.
The Better 2/3rds who normally acts as my recovery crew doesn't like me flying this one with a chute... she likes it flown with a 3/4" x 18" red Teflon streamer/wadding that brings it down gently with a much shorter walk.

Post copied with permission

[Fishhead]

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/004-16.jpg

I'm currently undecided on the decal. I have a wrap decal that would make it look like the other black/white/orange birds in my fleet, but I may try to change the color of the Astron Drifter decal to better suit the scheme. After hearing how this scoots even on A motors, I figured it might be best to help with visibility a bit.

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/006-16_zps35ab3197.jpg

Okay, I decided on the decals.

[Fishhead]

And now it's a one flight wonder......

128457

128458

[JAL3]

And now it's a one flight wonder......

128457

128458


Oops. Sorry for the loss.

Was this an oririnal, BMS, Thrustline or some other?

[Fishhead]

The nose cone might have been original. It was certainly old. It came in an Ebay lot a few years back. The rest of it was a garbage bird, all shop scraps except for the decals. (Which were a mix of Thrustline and homemade.) It's still there. It blew away from the transformer a while back, but by the time I could get back, it had blown back into its evil clutches.