Estes Crossbow SST

[Indiana]

New kits are arriving at WalMart. Only checked one so far, they had the Crossbow, Richochet and I think, the Taser Twin.

I think I'll leave out the engine hook, so I leave off the exterior retaining ring.

Here it is, note the white parachute and the crazy large bag for the motor block. The water-slide decals look as good as I've seen from Estes for a while, they are the type that do not have the clear coating over the whole sheet.

[Fishhead]

Is this a minimum diameter kit? It looks smaller than the old Satellite Interceptor, but I like the new decal colors.

[Indiana]

Yep, minimum diameter. I actually didn't notice that 'till I got home. It's been so long since there was a new Estes kit I liked, I just snapped it up.

[Microspeed]

How does the nosecone look/fit? From the picture, it looks very nice.

[Indiana]

How does the nosecone look/fit? From the picture, it looks very nice.

It is a very nice balsa cone. Fits well too.

[jj94]

Since when did Estes begin using balsa cones again?

[RoyAtl]

Apparently this has been in the works for awhile. The whole new WalMart line is all balsa, as is the Classics line coming out over the next year. Estes has apparently been watching the forums and decided that we want balsa.

The balsa cones are about three times the cost of a similar plastic cone, therefore there are some second thoughts within Estes about it. So, if you want to see them continue to use balsa noses, you need to vote with your dollars.

As for me, I'd like to see each (plastic and balsa) used as appropriate.

[Indiana]

Since when did Estes begin using balsa cones again?

Since they started these "sustainables". I hope they get over it soon!

[jj94]

Since they started these "sustainables". I hope they get over it soon!

Sustainables?

[Indiana]

Sustainables?

That's what they're calling this run of kits for WalMart.

[FooBag]

New kits are arriving at WalMart. Only checked one so far, they had the Crossbow, Richochet and I think, the Taser Twin.

I think I'll leave out the engine hook, so I leave off the exterior retaining ring.

Here it is, note the white parachute and the crazy large bag for the motor block. The water-slide decals look as good as I've seen from Estes for a while, they are the type that do not have the clear coating over the whole sheet.

Wow, I didn't realize the sustainable were in the wild yet. I will have to hit up Wal-mart tomorrow as I want one of these.

[JRThro]

Sustainables?
If you're a YORF member, go over there and search on that word.

[Pantherjon]

Very cool!:cool: THAT is one that I am REALLY looking forward to arriving in this area! I just picked up a Star Stryker(another one of the 'Sustainables') at WM this afternoon!

Yeah, that is a silly HUGE bag just for the engine block and hook!..LMBO..Hmmmm, wonder if I have a plain white parachute in my Star Stryker as well..

Looking forward to more of this build and your eventual paint scheme!

[foose4string]

I was able to grab all four kits in DE yesterday. I'm not crazy about the minimum diameter on some of the kits, but the quality looks pretty good, the designs are cool, and it's hard to beat the price. Not only are the motor hooks bags extra large, but I think the boxes could be about half the size. Lots of empty space there, but better than the weird Launchable packaging, I suppose.

[judo]

I think I remember in the Barry Tunick Q&A that going back to balsa was also based on CPSC issues.

[JRThro]

I was able to grab all four kits in DE yesterday. I'm not crazy about the minimum diameter on some of the kits, but the quality looks pretty good, the designs are cool, and it's hard to beat the price. Not only are the motor hooks bags extra large, but I think the boxes could be about half the size. Lots of empty space there, but better than the weird Launchable packaging, I suppose.
I knew I liked the look of the Ricochet, but I may have to pick up a Crossbow SST as well.

Are all of these kits minimum-diameter?

Maybe the box sizes were standardized so that a larger kit could fit into them. Or, maybe not. ;)

[Pantherjon]

Maybe the box sized were standardized so that a larger kit could fit into them. Or, maybe not. ;)

That would make sense..Have one 'standardized' size..Helps keep the over head down from having 16 different sized boxes- 1 for each different kit...

Will have to stop by a WM I pass on the way home from work and see what they have..I really want the Crossbow! :D

[foose4string]

I knew I liked the look of the Ricochet, but I may have to pick up a Crossbow SST as well.

Are all of these kits minimum-diameter?

Maybe the box sizes were standardized so that a larger kit could fit into them. Or, maybe not. ;)

The Richochet is not minimum diameter. It's BT50 based and has separate motor mount. All the kits appear to use the same cone. The Richochet also has the extra balsa transition which probably explains why it is priced the highest of the four. All the parts looks like quality stuff. I'll probably ditch the rubber band shock cord and ditch the 12" chute on the BT20 rockets. Seems like a streamer or 8-10 inch chute would be better given the diminutive nature of the rockets and altitudes they are capable of.

[dwmzmm]

I was able to grab all four kits in DE yesterday. I'm not crazy about the minimum diameter on some of the kits, but the quality looks pretty good, the designs are cool, and it's hard to beat the price. Not only are the motor hooks bags extra large, but I think the boxes could be about half the size. Lots of empty space there, but better than the weird Launchable packaging, I suppose.

The four kits you pictured are at the nearest Wal - Mart in my area (we have
three stores pretty close, with several more within easy driving distance); the
Fry Road/W. Little York store. Gotta get me some!!

[foose4string]

I was wrong about the cones. I just checked and the Star Stryker and has a BT50 cone and uses the same transition as the Richochet. The Taser Twin already comes with a streamer.

[JRThro]

The four kits you pictured are at the nearest Wal - Mart in my area (we have
three stores pretty close, with several more within easy driving distance); the
Fry Road/W. Little York store. Gotta get me some!!
I'm going to check the Wal-Mart at the Beltway and Westview in just a few minutes.

[gpoehlein]

That would make sense..Have one 'standardized' size..Helps keep the over head down from having 16 different sized boxes- 1 for each different kit...

Will have to stop by a WM I pass on the way home from work and see what they have..I really want the Crossbow! :D

Another reason for using the same sized box on all 16 kits is that they probably ship an "assortment" carton to each WM - Not sure how many to a carton, but probably something like four of each (remember that there are four kits released in the first cycle, followed by the next four in the next cycle and so on). By making all the boxes the same size, a standard sized carton can be shipped. Not to mention, they all take up the same space on the shelf - something WM has always pursued from their suppliers (Remember the Launchables?).

Greg

[SCIGS30]

I found all 4 of the kits at the Temecula Walmart in California. These are nice kits and I think Estes is heading in the right direction. We will see if this type of kit brings in new rocketeers, only time will tell. The only complaint I have is that they are still made in China. I cross referenced the balsa nose cones 3 BNC-20 and 1 BNC-50. The 3 BNC-20 cones are BNC-20AZ, same cone as the Mini Bomarc. The BNC-50 is the BNC-50K, same length but not as pointed. The nose cones on the right in the pictures are the originals taken from my Trident II kit.
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/scigs30/DSC_0115-3.jpg
BNC-50K
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/scigs30/DSC_0116-3.jpg
BNC-20AZ
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/scigs30/DSC_0117-5.jpg

[n3tjm]

Balsa Nosecones? The one thing I liked about Estes kits now replaced by balsa? lol. I will still get these kits though.

[JRThro]

I'm going to check the Wal-Mart at the Beltway and Westview in just a few minutes.
This Wal-Mart has all 4 of the new Sustainables kits, plus the Moon Mutt set, plus the Rascal and the other RTF, plus the 64-combination set, plus IIRC two other rockets in launch sets. Everything had prices shown on the shelf *except* for the new Sustainables kits.

The Rascal, the other RTF, and the 4 Sustainables kits are all packaged in identically-sized and -shaped cardboard boxes. The Rascal and the other RTF were displayed inside a display package, with 4 rocket boxes to a package. And while they weren't inside any kind of display package, the store had 4 of each of the Sustainables on the shelf, which seems to support what Greg Poehlein said in his post.

There was also a SpaceShip One in the Launchables packaging, with the shelf price shown as $8.96. :eek:

They had two of the new motor display packages, with A10-3T's, A8-3's, B6-4's, and C6-3/5/7's. There were two price stickers for Estes motors on the front of the shelf, one for $4.97 and the other for $3.00.

I did not scan anything to check the actual prices.

[FooBag]

I hit up three Wal-marts in my area over my lunch break and none of them have these kets yet. :( I guess I just ahve to be patient.

[InFlight]

Hey, you can buy one on ebay! :rolleyes:

CROSSBOW-SST (http://cgi.ebay.com/The-CROSSBOW-SST-Rocket-by-ESTES_W0QQitemZ220399484276QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_D efaultDomain_0?hash=item220399484276&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1240|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A13 18|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50)

.

[jj94]

Thanks for clearing up the sustainables term. I haven't been on YORF in a month or two so I haven't been too up to date on this topic. They all look nice though. I'm looking forward to picking a few of these up.

[dwmzmm]

This Wal-Mart has all 4 of the new Sustainables kits, plus the Moon Mutt set, plus the Rascal and the other RTF, plus the 64-combination set, plus IIRC two other rockets in launch sets. Everything had prices shown on the shelf *except* for the new Sustainables kits.

The Rascal, the other RTF, and the 4 Sustainables kits are all packaged in identically-sized and -shaped cardboard boxes. The Rascal and the other RTF were displayed inside a display package, with 4 rocket boxes to a package. And while they weren't inside any kind of display package, the store had 4 of each of the Sustainables on the shelf, which seems to support what Greg Poehlein said in his post.

There was also a SpaceShip One in the Launchables packaging, with the shelf price shown as $8.96. :eek:

They had two of the new motor display packages, with A10-3T's, A8-3's, B6-4's, and C6-3/5/7's. There were two price stickers for Estes motors on the front of the shelf, one for $4.97 and the other for $3.00.

I did not scan anything to check the actual prices.

The Westview Wal - Mart always seem to carry a good line of kits and motors, out of the many Wal - Marts I've visited in the far west Houston area.

[jbuscaglia]

Gee, only $9.99 starting bid and $6.50 shipping. What a deal! :eek:

That would save me from driving all the way to Walmart and spending $6.96 on the kit. :rolleyes:

Well, if your local Walmart has them, pick one up for me. I spent Sunday afternoon driving from store to store and came up empty. I made it as far as Oxford before the ballgame I was listening to ended and I went home. A GPS can be a dangerous thing. :)

[kelltym88]

I'm confused:confused::confused: Estes is still re-releasing the Satellite Interceptor, right? Not just this downgraded version Crossbow.

And there were no kits at the Moreno Valley WM, I was in Redlands on a delivery and stopped by. That's in So Cal for you easterners.

[JRThro]

The Rascal, the other RTF, and the 4 Sustainables kits are all packaged in identically-sized and -shaped cardboard boxes.
Actually, this turns out not to be the case. I stopped by another Wal-Mart this evening, and the Sustainables boxes are about 3"-4" shorter than the Rascal box, but they do have the same square footprint.

[judo]

I just finished wandering the Mandarin area Wal-mart in search of a black Testors paint pen. No new rockets, just couple of bins of motors at $6.97 per pack. No plastic models, no paint pens.

[Fishhead]

Nothing at the Ft. Wright, KY store that I checked this afternoon. (On the odd chance that any of you had a road trip planned.:D) I hope to get a look at the Carrollton, KY store tomorrow.

[FooBag]

I'm confused:confused::confused: Estes is still re-releasing the Satellite Interceptor, right? Not just this downgraded version Crossbow.

Yeah, they are still putting out the Satellite Interceptor. The Crossbow has additional fins and no tubes on the wings, so it isn't exactly a downscale.

For everyone looking for these kits, the stores in my area were stocking the shelves with them when I stopped by at 10:30 PM tonight; they had arrived in today's product shipments.

[Pantherjon]

Stopped in on the WM I pass on the way home from work..They had 2 of the Sustainables on the shelf..The Star Stryker and the Ricochet..Went ahead a grab a Ricochet..They also had some of the HiJinks/Rascal rockets, a couple of the Flash RTF's..But, funny thing, they have all these rockets BUT NO MOTORS!:eek: Opposite from what they had 2 weeks ago; no rockets and 4 of the 2 tier motor packages..:rolleyes:

[shreadvector]

I'm confused:confused::confused: Estes is still re-releasing the Satellite Interceptor, right? Not just this downgraded version Crossbow.

And there were no kits at the Moreno Valley WM, I was in Redlands on a delivery and stopped by. That's in So Cal for you easterners.

They had 4 each of 3 of the new boxed balsa finned/coned kits at one of the 2 Walmarts I visited yesterday afternoon in Lakewood/Long Beach CA.

Stock levels can change at any time. I always have a sheet of stickers in my pocket in case they restocked.

[JRThro]

The Westview Wal - Mart always seem to carry a good line of kits and motors, out of the many Wal - Marts I've visited in the far west Houston area.
*And* it's just down the Beltway from my office! (which is on Clay Rd. just inside the Beltway)

[dwmzmm]

*And* it's just down the Beltway from my office! (which is on Clay Rd. just inside the Beltway)

Lucky you!!! And, the Hobby Lobby at Jones Road/FM 1960 seems to be the
best I've seen (out of the others closer to me) when it comes to model rocketry stuff, so you're in great hands, John!

[Mike Howie]

*And* it's just down the Beltway from my office! (which is on Clay Rd. just inside the Beltway)

You know, I've been around "The Beltway" many a time. Never wound up in
Texas. ;)


(Capitol Beltway- MD/VA)

[El Cheapo]

stopped by two WM's today. One only had four packs of C motors for $6.97 and the other had zilch, zero, nada on the shelf.

[Queeg500]

what is the backstory on the parachute plastic? was the old yellow and black toxic or something?

[El Cheapo]

who knows other than the fact that white probably cost a few cents per unit less than silk screened or however they do it.

[Fishhead]

what is the backstory on the parachute plastic? was the old yellow and black toxic or something?

If it was from China, I guess it's possible that there was some lead in the paint/ink.

[JRThro]

If it was from China, I guess it's possible that there was some lead in the paint/ink.
Or it wasn't worth the expense of testing for it.

[JRThro]

stopped by two WM's today. One only had four packs of C motors for $6.97 and the other had zilch, zero, nada on the shelf.
Did they also have zip?
;)

[worldofglenn]

The Eden Prairie Wal-Mart was a complete zero.... however, on a subsequent day I did locate the series at a Super Wal-Mart in Shakopee. Apologies to all who aren't familiar with the outlaying communities in the Twin Cities :)

Star Stryker was most expensive at $7.97, followed by the Crossbow at $6.97 and the Tazer Twin at $5.97. I picked up two packs of C6-3's, on the shelf they were tagged at $4.97 but at the register they rang up at $3.00. Might have to go back for more. Wish they had a bit better selection, but happy so far.

For those still searching, try to concentrate on the super Wal-Marts.

After recently finishing up a Flis Morning Star, a Sunward CSX-Six Footer, and a Pem-Tech Kraken(ready to paint), my first impression is that these are small :) But they look like they will be fun builds. Weekend weather calls for rain, so looks like I will have plenty to occupy myself with.

Still have an SR-71 and the Star Ship one in the backup build queue. That SR-71 is an intimidating build.

Pics of the fleet coming soon!

[El Cheapo]

Did they also have zip?
;)


The one had zip but since the 2nd store had four packs of C's, I didn't think it warranted zip.

[SCIGS30]

These 4 birds went together nice and easy and look pretty nice. I think Estes did a great thing bringing these kits to Walmart. I did not find any flaws in the designs or directions. I will apply 3 coats of balsa sealer to the 1/16 balsa and shoot with primer. I bought some Testors Lacquer paint and will see how it works.
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/scigs30/DSC_0115-5.jpg
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/scigs30/DSC_0116-5.jpg

[kelltym88]

SCIGS, do you work? Seems like everyday your posting pics of new rockets. Jealous? Yes I am. :D

[stickershock23]

That tazer twin looks an awefull lot like the old Farside... just short one stage. I feel a Bash coming on..:D

[foose4string]

SCIGS, do you work? Seems like everyday your posting pics of new rockets. Jealous? Yes I am. :D

Scigs is a model building machine for sure, and quite good at it too!

These models go together very quickly. One can easily be built in an in an evening's time. I have the Star Stryker and Ricochet done and looking much the same. I'm only doing two at a time since I only have that many hands. I'm not as talented as Scigs.:D

[BEC]

The new kits (and the Moon Mutt mini-engine E2X starter set) have all landed in south Puget Sound area W*Ms. All five stores I've been in the last couple of days had (initially) four of each of the kits and two Moon Mutts. Only one of the five has engines and only a couple of the five have much of anything else. No shelf tags yet.



One post?? Have they reset the counter again?

[Pantherjon]

So, back to the originator of this thread, Indiana, have you built the Crossbow and gotten it painted? Curious minds(well mine, anyway!) want to know! ;)

[luke strawwalker]

New kits are arriving at WalMart. Only checked one so far, they had the Crossbow, Richochet and I think, the Taser Twin.

I think I'll leave out the engine hook, so I leave off the exterior retaining ring.

Here it is, note the white parachute and the crazy large bag for the motor block. The water-slide decals look as good as I've seen from Estes for a while, they are the type that do not have the clear coating over the whole sheet.


Interesting tidbit about the chutes... I find that a bit amusing actually... :D

Dr. Zooch used to use plain white trash bags cut into hexes for his kit chutes, and folks griped that they were too hard to see in the air (blend with clouds, low contrast, whatever) and on the ground (looks like, well, a W/M bag or other trash lying around) so he managed to get his hands on some red trash bags, which worked better. Then he found his source of red trash bags was sort of a happy accident or something like that, because red trash bags are sort of a no-no in the trash bag industry, because red is reserved for BIO-HAZARD medical waste type stuff. So, now he's using yellow trash bags for chutes, and I think I've heard some guys say they got an orange one, though I haven't.

Now due to the nanny state, Estes can't print their parachutes anymore (or time being, whatever) and are using plain white 'trash bag' chutes... I think I'd toss it and just send some nickels to Evil Ed and get some of those cool Hartle Engineering parachutes... :D WAY better chute than Estes would ever put in their kit anyway...

Yall have a good one! OL JR :)

[foose4string]

Interesting tidbit about the chutes... I find that a bit amusing actually... :D

Dr. Zooch used to use plain white trash bags cut into hexes for his kit chutes, and folks griped that they were too hard to see in the air (blend with clouds, low contrast, whatever) and on the ground (looks like, well, a W/M bag or other trash lying around) so he managed to get his hands on some red trash bags, which worked better. Then he found his source of red trash bags was sort of a happy accident or something like that, because red trash bags are sort of a no-no in the trash bag industry, because red is reserved for BIO-HAZARD medical waste type stuff. So, now he's using yellow trash bags for chutes, and I think I've heard some guys say they got an orange one, though I haven't.

Now due to the nanny state, Estes can't print their parachutes anymore (or time being, whatever) and are using plain white 'trash bag' chutes... I think I'd toss it and just send some nickels to Evil Ed and get some of those cool Hartle Engineering parachutes... :D WAY better chute than Estes would ever put in their kit anyway...

Yall have a good one! OL JR :)

I think Ed also has some sizes that may work a little better. I think the 12 inch chutes that come with the kits(besides the Taser Twin) are going to be too much. They'll fit, but they'll not be the easiest chutes to pack into a BT20. The Richochet will be ok in that regard. And, if there is any wind at all you can probably wave bye, bye... or be prepared for a looong walk at the very least. I think an eight or ten inch might be better.

[n3tjm]

What's the recommended motors for the star stryker?

[Indiana]

So, back to the originator of this thread, Indiana, have you built the Crossbow and gotten it painted? Curious minds(well mine, anyway!) want to know! ;)

Not yet, very busy right now. My main goal was to show you guys what the new kits looked like (and maybe rub it in to those that don't have them yet :D). I'll post it when I do.

[HemiLess]

I found all four at the Wal-Mart in Atlanta. Off of Chamblee-Tucker. Interesting is that they were not with the other rockets and motors, but in the clearance section!??! All four were $33.00 even.

[privateer]

Tulsa W-M at Admiral has the four new kits in. I thought that they (and the Moon Mutt) were using the exact same box as the RTF's. Someone here says the RTF box is longer; I didn't notice. I immediately thought Estes was using the same box for everything to simplify. It also sits better on the shelf, as far at the retailer is concerned, than last year's clamshelled launchables.

I think the Moon Mutt is a great idea. Alot of kids will throw $10 at something just to try it. They should have put at least one 13mm engine in it though. W-M usually has 18mm's but 13mm's are spotty.

[tonypv]

I was at the Salem NH Wal Mart this morning and they had all four.
I picked up the Ricochet and Star Stryker.

[Mikus]

Lucky you!!! And, the Hobby Lobby at Jones Road/FM 1960 seems to be the
best I've seen (out of the others closer to me) when it comes to model rocketry stuff, so you're in great hands, John!

Yeah a Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Home Depot and Wal-Mart within 2 miles of each other. Plus another Michaels, Wal-Mart and Hobby Lobby over on Hwy 6.

Too bad for John it's almost all directly on my way home from work. :wave:

Although that Michaels on Hwy 6 south of 529 appears to have gotten out of the model rocket business. They sold off all their inventory at clearance prices.

[Mikus]

*And* it's just down the Beltway from my office! (which is on Clay Rd. just inside the Beltway)

It's out of $3 C6-5's... now. :headbang:

[jbuscaglia]

John,

I went to the Northbridge Walmart today and they had the Taser Twin, Ricochet and Star Stryker but not the Crossbow SST so I didn't get you one.

Did you want any of the others or just the Crossbow SST?

Thanks, Bob, but I found them in Framingham. I ended up buying all four.

[dwmzmm]

Although that Michaels on Hwy 6 south of 529 appears to have gotten out of the model rocket business. They sold off all their inventory at clearance prices.

What!?!? I was going to drop in there this afternoon (but didn't, as I was too
hungry to eat and then went home). I bought modroc stuff there from time to time (mostly engines, since they're open on Sundays this makes it convenient
to get the kind of engines that Wal - Mart doesn't carry -- a big plus on some
NAR Contest days that runs through Sundays). Thanks for the heads up.

[Mikus]

What!?!? I was going to drop in there this afternoon (but didn't, as I was too
hungry to eat and then went home). I bought modroc stuff there from time to time (mostly engines, since they're open on Sundays this makes it convenient
to get the kind of engines that Wal - Mart doesn't carry -- a big plus on some
NAR Contest days that runs through Sundays). Thanks for the heads up.

No problem. Yeah I was surprised as well. I walked in the week before last and what was previously a 4 ft section of aisle dedicated to model rockets was down to about 18" of merchandise. Then I noticed the motor prices: $4.99. Then the prices on the remaining kits. :D

I picked up 1 Patriot, 2 Screaming Eagles, 1 Bullpup and 3 Hi-Flyers (gonna be outboards) for no more than $7.99 a piece. The Hi-Flyers went for $2.99 a pop. I got all of the 18mm motors that were left and there were not many.

The last I saw there were some T motors left plus some Swifts, Quarks, and a couple each of the small SpaceShip One and Bullpup kits left. Probably all gone now. :(

[kelltym88]

Well I picked up a Crossbow and a Taser Twin at my local WM today. That's in La Habra, Ca. The Crossbow was $6.96 and the TT $5.96 for a total of $14 and change. Not bad. I don't understand the boxes, I know for WM shelves and all that. Seems at those prices, a plastic bag could bring it down even lower. Anyway, I got 2 of 'em. That didn't take long for them to get all across the country.

[n3tjm]

I like the cardboard boxes, although I do agree they are a bit large (overkill). Maybe they are that big to attract attention? Maybe Estes had to buy back to many blistered kits because ppl opened them to see what was inside them? I to picked up the Crossbow and Taser Twin at my local Super Wally World.

The Sustainer of the Taser Twin reminds me of the Skyhook? Anyone else notice this?

[JRThro]

Cardboard is biodegradable, plastic bags are not. Another reason for the Sustainables name.

[RoyAtl]

The Sustainer of the Taser Twin reminds me of the Skyhook? Anyone else notice this?

What about the lower stage?? ;)

[judo]

Apogee II and Farside are on the same page here:
http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/nostalgia/76est018.html

[Donaldsrockets]

I picked up the Star Stryker yesterday to go with the Ricochet I already have.

At first I thought the Crossbow either had or was a glider until I looked at it more closely.

I however, due to the very high altitudes it will reach, see a lot of lost Taser Twin sustainers.;)

[n3tjm]

I however, due to the very high altitudes it will reach, see a lot of lost Taser Twin sustainers.;)

Estes needs to reintroduce the 1/2A6-0 now :P. I have a couple of those.

[Boosterdude]

I started building my Crossbow yesterday. The minimum diameter doesn't really excite me, it just looks to small to me. Actually the main reason I bought the kit was to upscale it to a BT-80.

Back to this kit, it was great to see the balsa nose cone and the BT's supplied are of very good quality. The fins/wings are laser cut balsa, but my kit the wood was low quality and very rough on one side. Not really a big deal. I built the body tube/motor mount leaving off the motor hook since it's on the outside. Plus, friction fitting the motor will work fine.

[SCIGS30]

I have been real busy but I was able to find time and finish these four rockets. All and all these are fantastic kits. The decals are thick and easy to work with, I did not treat with anything just dipped in water and applied.

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/scigs30/DSC_0001-5.jpg
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/scigs30/DSC_00032.jpg
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/scigs30/DSC_00072.jpg
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/scigs30/DSC_00122.jpg
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/scigs30/DSC_0014-13.jpg

[SCIGS30]

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/scigs30/DSC_0009-2.jpg
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/scigs30/DSC_00102.jpg
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/scigs30/DSC_00112.jpg

[SCIGS30]

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/scigs30/DSC_00022.jpg
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/scigs30/DSC_00033.jpg
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/scigs30/DSC_00043.jpg
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/scigs30/DSC_00073.jpg
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/scigs30/DSC_00082.jpg

[Indiana]

Great all around! I haven't even started yet:(

[judo]

HEY! FOUL!

No one said anything about a BBZ. Or didn't I get the memo?

Kidding.

Great finishes on all 4!

[Dr.Zooch]

Okay- not to go OT too far, but yer' mostly correct about the chutes. One fact needs to be added, I learned about how bad white was for a chute from my OWN experience. I shot a IB in the winter and it landed in a plowed field with lots of snow blobs in it. As I waled around searching for the white chute and the black and white rocket I said to myself "those guys on TRF were right... white ain't a good color for a parachute." Listen to the customers... they know a lot.:rolleyes:



Interesting tidbit about the chutes... I find that a bit amusing actually... :D

Dr. Zooch used to use plain white trash bags cut into hexes for his kit chutes, and folks griped that they were too hard to see in the air (blend with clouds, low contrast, whatever) and on the ground (looks like, well, a W/M bag or other trash lying around) so he managed to get his hands on some red trash bags, which worked better. Then he found his source of red trash bags was sort of a happy accident or something like that, because red trash bags are sort of a no-no in the trash bag industry, because red is reserved for BIO-HAZARD medical waste type stuff. So, now he's using yellow trash bags for chutes, and I think I've heard some guys say they got an orange one, though I haven't.

Now due to the nanny state, Estes can't print their parachutes anymore (or time being, whatever) and are using plain white 'trash bag' chutes... I think I'd toss it and just send some nickels to Evil Ed and get some of those cool Hartle Engineering parachutes... :D WAY better chute than Estes would ever put in their kit anyway...

Yall have a good one! OL JR :)

[markschnell]

Scigs30,

Your work on these rockets is excellent! Just a few quick questions about your technique: What kind of glue do you use on the fin attachment? What do you do extra to get such clean fillets? Lastly, what do you do to fill the balsa?

I am very impressed and whatever you're doing I want to do!!

Thanks

[SCIGS30]

Scigs30,

Your work on these rockets is excellent! Just a few quick questions about your technique: What kind of glue do you use on the fin attachment? What do you do extra to get such clean fillets? Lastly, what do you do to fill the balsa?

I am very impressed and whatever you're doing I want to do!!

Thanks

I use plain old Elmers White Glue All for all the construction and fillets. I use Midwest Aerogloss balsa sealer, 3 coats.