Estes - (Astron) Cobra (K-10 or #1210) Gallery

I'd clustered before, but this was my first "as designed" cluster bird.







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That looks great. I remember those in the very old Estes catalogs but I have not seen very many of them. There is something interesting about the large diameter airframe and small diameter payload.

Nice build, Bill! I'm gonna have to build one of those too - clusters are rapidly becoming one of my favorite rocketry activities.

I haven't made it pretty yet; the color you see is Duplicolor black primer. But here is a nice sequence of shots of my Astron Cobra clone when it made its inaugural flight at a CRMRC launch in June 2011. This has been its only launch so far. It became just a barely perceptible speck in the sky on three C6-5s, lit with a triplet of Quest Q2G2 igniters. Wow, are those igniters ever sweet for clustering! A beauty of a flight, if I do say so myself.

Photos are by Dave Lang of CRMRC.



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Welcome to the Estes - (Astron) Cobra (K-10 or #1210) Gallery on TRF.

This gallery showcases the Estes - (Astron) Cobra (K-10 or #1210) and those rockets derived from it. Particularly appropriate in this thread are the following:


Estes: (Astron) Cobra: K-10 or #1210
Thrustline: Cobra: TACL-033



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

Estes (Astron) Cobra (K-10 or #1210) Basic Information.

Estes Industries

MODEL NAME: Astron Cobra Also known as: Cobra

NUMBER: K-10 or #1210

Introduced: 1963
Final Year: 1973
Designer: Bill Simon

Type: Sport, Payload, Cluster
Motor Mount: 3x18mm
Recovery: Parachute
Stages: 1
Length: 22.25"
Diameter: 1.6"
Span:
Weight: 2.5 oz

Mfg. Description: The ideal bird for getting started in clustering, yet challenging to the experienced rocketeer, the Astron Cobra gives you top performance. Medium size payloads (up to four ounces) get a real ride in the Cobra's 1" diameter capsule. Kit comes complete with all parts, instructions and a copy of Technical Report TR-6 on cluster techniques. (Estes 1964 Catalog)

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1966 Catalog text identical to 1964 Catalog
1967 Catalog text identical to 1964 Catalog
1968 Catalog text identical to 1964 Catalog

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Ideal for your first cluster bird. The Astron Cobra gives you top performance with medium size payloads (to 4 oz) in a 1" dia. capsule. ...complete kit and instructions the TR-6 report of cluster techniques. (less engines) (Estes 1969 Catalog)



Estes 1964 Catalog Estes 1966 Catalog Estes 1967 Catalog

Estes 1968 Catalog Estes 1969 Catalog Estes 1970 Catalog

Estes 1971 Catalog Estes 1972 Catalog Estes 1973 Catalog







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.

bump for editing

Thrustline Cobra (TACL-033) Basic Information.

Thrustline Aerospace

MODEL NAME: Cobra Also known as:

NUMBER: TACL-033

Introduced:
Final Year:
Designer:

Type: Sport, Cluster, Clone
Motor Mount: 3x18mm
Recovery: Parachute
Stages: 1
Length:
Diameter:
Span:
Weight:

Mfg. Description: DESC














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.

OK! It's near ready for Freedom Launch. Just a few touch ups and it's a go. The Duplicolor paint color made it a little difficult to to decide how to trim this one out but I'm reasonably happy with it. Yall just wish me luck getting 3 D motors to to fire all at once when I take this bish to Orangeburg.

Post copied to gallery with permission

Here's one I'm building, now complete enough to show:

Here's my finished Cobra clone:


Its built more or less stock, as shown in the early plans with external recovery harness attachment. I did, however, replace the launch lugs with mini buttons and I used a bulkhead in front of the engine mounts to block the openings rather than stuffing it with wadding & glue. I only just finished it, so it won't likely fly until more of the white stuff in the background has gone...

EXPjawa said:

Here's my finished Cobra clone:

Click to expand...

Looks great. A classic.

This was one of my first clones when I became a BAR a few years ago.
Plans from JimZs, parts from erockets.

4th of July Launch 2022...

Good idea on the static line. This flight was on three A8-3s and it did well on that. Two fins got the dinged a little on landing but really minor. It would have been fine but it came down on the only piece of concrete within a quarter mile of the launch.

Big Red Rocketeer said:

Good idea on the static line. This flight was on three A8-3s and it did well on that. Two fins got the dinged a little on landing but really minor. It would have been fine but it came down on the only piece of concrete within a quarter mile of the launch.

Click to expand...

I use kevlar thread knotted and epoxied through a small hole in one wing. I attach a rubber shock cord to relieve stress and works every time. I make it so the rubber shock cord is replaceable if it begins to look worn. People who have never seen this type of deployment are amazed. I've never a fin on a K10 break doing this. It was mentioned in the instructions in the Cobra in the Vern Estes days when I was in grade school. (Am 65 now so gives the idea this is a really old modality and not new.) Kurt

I made one of these Cobras in the 1970s probably 1973 or 74. I wired up the three motors correctly I’m pretty sure but tried to launch it with a regular Estes launchpad controller and only one of the motors lit. It took off horizontally and landed inside the fence for a large built in swimming pool that was closed for the season. I remember climbing over a tall fence to get in the pool enclosure. I got the Cobra back but have always looked suspiciously at clusters ever since.

Fishhead said:

I'd clustered before, but this was my first "as designed" cluster bird.

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Click to expand...

i just finished building one from plans i found in in old Estes news letter i used the same paint scheme as you cant Wait to fly it