Vintage Estes Patriot

[Agent Titan]

Hey, guys. I just picked up a free Estes Patriot. It's about 3" dia, and about ~40" long. It has a 4x24mm mount, and the owner said it used to us two motors and two "Smokers" that would be used to track it. The fins are two pieces of (Balsa?) that make a cross piece, paper covered to make tapered (wholly, from fore to mid, and mid to aft) 1/4" fins. Two are missing, and the paper is coming off of the others.

I was wondering when this is from, and if it is worth anything (New). If it is worth something originally, I will fix it up to where it is in like-new condition, original fin styles and all.

If not, I am going to take the fins off, replace them with 1/8 inch solid poplar, replace the NC (cracked on the shoulder), glass the tube, new recovery system, and add a 38mm MMT.

Whaddya think?

[JPVegh]

That is one of the old Estes pro series kits 1992-1996. The pro series kits were Estes' answer to increasing interest in higher power rockets.

I have no idea if it is worth anything but I haven't seen one in quite a few years. I'm sure quite a few were lost to exploding Estes E15 motors back in the day. They were pretty cool when launched on 4 D12s

It would definitely be a pretty cool rocket to have and fly in restored condition.

[JDcluster]

You mean this one?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ESTES-PRO-SERIES...-/230568292351


JD

[Agent Titan]

Yes, that exact one but in much worse condition. That's a beautie.

[Initiator001]

If you are interested in the 'history' of the Estes Pro Series products, here's an 'interesting' link:

http://forums.rocketshoppe.com/showthread.php?t=8736