Quest motors VS Estes ?

[MarkII]

I did not know Quest was made in China.The Quest motors are cheaper than the Estes(minimal as you say) ,although that has no bearing in my purchase ,but I do like the igniters that come with them !


Paul T

Quest motors are made under contract with a Chinese supplier. They also contract with a German supplier for their MicroMaxx motors. Quest Aerospace is an American-owned and US-based company.

[BEC]

In my experience Quest B6-4s are equal to or slightly better performing than the Estes ones and have a real four second delay (or a bit longer). They are pretty much interchangeable in application with the Estes equivalents. In a B-impulse competition, I'll go Quest. Otherwise, whatever I have.

The A6s and C6s are NOT freely interchangeable with their near Estes equivalents.

The C6 has a good initial kick but then a long, lower thrust "cruise" burn. This makes for spectacular flights in light rockets and big arc-overs in heavier ones or on very stable ones on windy days. I would not fly a Metalizer on one, for example. For something light and low drag they are really impressive.

The A6-4s are a disappointment to me. Others have said they're perfect in something like an Alpha but they build thrust so slowly that if there's much of a breeze even a light rocket will pitch over. Their time-thrust curve is triangular. But in a cluster - nice!

And yes, they're smoky. They are also all noticeably louder than their Estes counterparts - which has a certain appeal to some .

I occasionally buy bulk packages of Quest motors when they go on sale, and then I reserve the supplied Q2G2 igniters for clusters (and drag races). A slightly melted Estes B6 plug (the purple/pink one) and an Estes igniter work fine in the Quest motors, so I can then have the marvelous Q2G2s available for special purposes. Every cluster flight I have flown as a BAR has been with Q2G2s (including two today - using 3x 1/2A3-4Ts) and every one has lit all the motors.

My opinion and experience as someone just over 3.5 years back in this madness after a 30+ year hiatus.

As always, YMMV.

[Zonie]

I wish they would bring back the C5's...

I usually use Estes, the Old German made Quest motors seemed to fit sorta loose in the rockets.

Back in my early rocketry days, I bought only Centuri, here in Phoenix. Now talk about local! Remember the Sure Shot Igniters you had to build?

[powderburner]

Quest motors have always performed just fine for me. I like them (especially the new & improved igniters they come with now) a lot and don't have any "preferences" of Q versus E, I just buy what I can find.

Biggest difference I can think of is that Quest used to get their motors from other manufacturers and then wrap a wrinkled Quest paper label on the outside, often making the motor too large to fit into the MMT. You were supposedly allowed to peel off these outer wraps but I never did hear how that practice was OK per the NAR safety code and the warnings about motor modifications. Anyway, if you can get 'em to fit the MMT (and all the newer Quest motors have worked fine for me) they will work just fine.

Some folks have commented that they think the Quest ejection charges are weak, or at least weaker than the equivalent Estes. This may be true (OTOH, Estes has been making monster ejection charges for years now) but the Quest ejection charges have worked just fine in my experience.

[Zonie]

More like Nuclear Ejection charges...

[hcmbanjo]

In my experience Quest B6-4s are equal to or slightly better performing than the Estes ones and have a real four second delay (or a bit longer). They are pretty much interchangeable in application with the Estes equivalents. In a B-impulse competition, I'll go Quest. Otherwise, whatever I have.
The A6s and C6s are NOT freely interchangeable with their near Estes equivalents.
The C6 has a good initial kick but then a long, lower thrust "cruise" burn. This makes for spectacular flights in light rockets and big arc-overs in heavier ones or on very stable ones on windy days. I would not fly a Metalizer on one, for example. For something light and low drag they are really impressive.
The A6-4s are a disappointment to me. Others have said they're perfect in something like an Alpha but they build thrust so slowly that if there's much of a breeze even a light rocket will pitch over. Their time-thrust curve is triangular. But in a cluster - nice!
And yes, they're smoky. They are also all noticeably louder than their Estes counterparts - which has a certain appeal to some .
I occasionally buy bulk packages of Quest motors when they go on sale, and then I reserve the supplied Q2G2 igniters for clusters (and drag races). A slightly melted Estes B6 plug (the purple/pink one) and an Estes igniter work fine in the Quest motors, so I can then have the marvelous Q2G2s available for special purposes. Every cluster flight I have flown as a BAR has been with Q2G2s (including two today - using 3x 1/2A3-4Ts) and every one has lit all the motors.

As always, YMMV.

My thoughts exactly!
At first I was happy with the Quest A6-4s, loud and slower off the pad. But I have had models pitch over also.
I like the Quest B6 engines, except for the soot.
I save my Q2G2 igniters for clusters. With the longer wires on a three engine cluster I don't need clip whips.
The longer wires also make for easier connections (with no extension wires added) on models like the Point and Up! Cup.

[Oliver]

... and I don't know about the Czech company that makes motors for some of the eastern European fliers...

Most of this Eastern European "companies" are basically one-man shows. There was a company in Slovakia (Dubnica) but they no longer produce engines as far as I know.

Oliver

[RocketManDan]

It`s like you read my mind ,as I`m making some scratch cluster rockets for our smaller LP/HP field and Quest bulk packs came to mind ,although Estes has them also.

Going to need a whack of 18mm and 24mm motors !

I`ve never flown clusters ,so I`m pretty stoked about this !

Paul T

GFORCE is $64 at Hobbylinc

[JStarStar]

I like Quest A6-4's in preference to Estes A8-3's when I am launching lightweight (Alpha-class) sport models. I don't particularly notice any change in apparent altitude or flight duration, although the extra second of delay usually allows the rocket to reach apogee and nose over before popping the top.

I've noticed Quest B6-4's seem to have a little less oomph off the pad than their Estes counterparts. For instance, a Bertha on a Quest B6-4 will really chug chug chug off the pad while the Estes motors seem to kick 'em into the air a little bit faster. Neither one of course sends it sky high but a Bertha on a B usually gives you a fun low flight for "show and tell" with the kiddies.

The differences between the Quest and Estes C6's have been discussed at great length. I have only used a handful of Quest C6's and haven't noticed any drastic adverse effects. I would guess for lightweight rockets, the combination of slightly-lower thrust and longer burn would result in good flights. For big heavy draggy rockets, probably not.

[Zonie]

I guess some empirical testing may be in order. Perhaps "Drag Racing" some identical rockets on a multi-rod pad capable if simultaneous ignition and pitch the A8 to the A6 and the two B6's against each other...

...If one were so inclined...


...Which I am not.

[BEC]

That actually is an interesting idea.

I have several rockets that I have multiple examples on hand....the easiest would be to prep a couple of Estes RTF Athenas and use them. (I keep a supply on hand as giveaway rockets for interested kids because I know they fly well and that they work well with the most common Estes motors.) They'd be on the upper limit of what my experience tells me I should fly on a Quest A6...... but the B6-4 drag race - that's a great idea.

[MarkII]

... the only company here in the US that currently makes motors is Estes.

True, it's the only company that makes pressed black powder motors in this part of the world, but it's not the only company making hobby rocket motors in the US or in North America.

[MarkII]

The casing itself got SO HOT that it "carmelized" the white paper motor label, turning it a chocolate brown... we split the casing lengthwise and found that the thinner casing was VERY VERY CLOSE to burning through, as evidenced by VERY DARK brown "char spots" on the carmelized motor label. The Quest casings are thinner than Estes and combining this with the "longer burn" is NOT a good thing IMHO...

I have heard this from quite a few folks, so obviously it's a thing, but so far I haven't seen it in the Chinese-made Quest motors that I have used. All were long-burn, too: D5s and C6s. Granted, I haven't flown all that many yet, so perhaps it's just a matter of time.

Quest Q2G2 igniters are hands down the very best igniters ever created for black powder model rocket motors. They are unsurpassed for reliable cluster ignitions.

[BEC]

A black Cobra! Cool!

[gpoehlein]

True, it's the only company that makes pressed black powder motors in this part of the world, but it's not the only company making hobby rocket motors in the US or in North America.

OK, yes, there are other motor companies here that make composite motors, but I should have said BP motor manufacturers. That was what we were talking about.

[dpower]

Quest Q2G2 igniters are hands down the very best igniters ever created for black powder model rocket motors. They are unsurpassed for reliable cluster ignitions.

And they're great for single motors too! Easier to use, and nearly impossible to break. I like the straw retainer better too.

[Zonie]

Yeah, I was never a great fan of Solar Igniters. They come apart too easily. The new Quest ones are great for clustering, but they probably cost at least 5X to manufacture.

And they're great for single motors too! Easier to use, and nearly impossible to break. I like the straw retainer better too.

[JPVegh]

The last time I launched a Quest motor they came with Tiger Tail igniters. I still have a few in the bottom of my launch box.

[o1d_dude]

Have never used any LP motors other than Estes. No one stocks Quest motors and I always by LP motors from the LHS so have never felt the need to resort to mailorder.

[Zonie]

Those new quest igniters are more durable, and would have performed better than Solar's for my pyrotechnics display tonight. One came apart.

[MarkII]

The last time I launched a Quest motor they came with Tiger Tail igniters. I still have a few in the bottom of my launch box.

Yeah, I've got a few of them too, along with some of the diminutive Tiger Tak igniter plugs, to accompany my remaining German-made Quest motors.

[The Rocket Kid]

Not a big fan of Quest stuff mostly because it's not as easily avalible as estes stuff.

[JStarStar]

Not a big fan of Quest stuff mostly because it's not as easily avalible as estes stuff.

That probably varies by region and maybe by individual retailer.

I talked to the owner of a fairly new (1 year or so) actual brick and mortar HOBBY SHOP in my town about the topic when I came in and found him carrying a fairly even split of Estes/Quest stuff, which in my experience is kind of rare. He said both companies are supplied to LHSes through some of the same distributors and sometimes prices fluctuate on one vs. the other -- he said, "a few months ago they had Quest stuff at good prices so I loaded up, then a couple months later it was Estes who had the good prices," so he has ended up with a fairly decent mix on the shelves.

But of course this may or may not be true in your area. If your local hobby shop works with distributors who carry only Estes, that's what you'll get.

[luke strawwalker]

That probably varies by region and maybe by individual retailer.

I talked to the owner of a fairly new (1 year or so) actual brick and mortar HOBBY SHOP in my town about the topic when I came in and found him carrying a fairly even split of Estes/Quest stuff, which in my experience is kind of rare. He said both companies are supplied to LHSes through some of the same distributors and sometimes prices fluctuate on one vs. the other -- he said, "a few months ago they had Quest stuff at good prices so I loaded up, then a couple months later it was Estes who had the good prices," so he has ended up with a fairly decent mix on the shelves.

But of course this may or may not be true in your area. If your local hobby shop works with distributors who carry only Estes, that's what you'll get.

That, and a lot of the hobby shops in THIS area simply don't want to tie up the shelf space or tie up the money in inventory to carry two "competing" lines of rocket stuff... so they usually just get Estes stuff and call it good... I've seen ONE brick-n-mortar shop in the Houston metro area that carries two competing lines (meaning both LPR manufacturers; there is another store that carries Estes LPR and LOC/Precision HPR stuff but these aren't "competing lines" since they're in two different categories). They carry Estes motors and kits and have a few Red River kits on the pegs in the corner behind them...

Later! OL JR

[gpoehlein]

That, and a lot of the hobby shops in THIS area simply don't want to tie up the shelf space or tie up the money in inventory to carry two "competing" lines of rocket stuff... so they usually just get Estes stuff and call it good... I've seen ONE brick-n-mortar shop in the Houston metro area that carries two competing lines (meaning both LPR manufacturers; there is another store that carries Estes LPR and LOC/Precision HPR stuff but these aren't "competing lines" since they're in two different categories). They carry Estes motors and kits and have a few Red River kits on the pegs in the corner behind them...

Later! OL JR

Yup - that's the situation here. We have two LHS - an independent who has been here just about forever and a Hobbytown. The LHS orders from Great Planes, so no Quest stuff there at all. The Hobbytown sometimes carries a few Quest kits, but that's it. He won't carry the motors or igniters at all. Heck, neither one wants to carry the new Estes Pro II series stuff in stock because it is so expensive and it probably won't move that fast (can't really blame them there - it isn't like we have any good fields to fly from here - they've pretty much turned every open space in the city into soccer fields or softball diamonds ). And the Hobby Lobby has been out of Pro II motors for several weeks now - I don't know if they're getting a few in and someone is buying them up as soon as they hit the shelf or if they just aren't restocking them any more (I'm guessing the former as HL doesn't order their own merchandise but gets automatic restocks and the motors are never there on Tuesday, which is usually the day they seem to get their shipments.)

[T-Rex]

I've seen ONE brick-n-mortar shop in the Houston metro area that carries two competing lines (meaning both LPR manufacturers; there is another store that carries Estes LPR and LOC/Precision HPR stuff but these aren't "competing lines" since they're in two different categories). They carry Estes motors and kits and have a few Red River kits on the pegs in the corner behind them...

Later! OL JR

Apologies for the hijack, just a quick question....
Who/where has LOC HPR stuff on the shelf? I get down that way once in a while & it would be nice to be able to actually see it before I buy it.

Thanx
Terry

[luke strawwalker]

Apologies for the hijack, just a quick question....
Who/where has LOC HPR stuff on the shelf? I get down that way once in a while & it would be nice to be able to actually see it before I buy it.

Thanx
Terry

There WAS a hobby shop out just off the east side of the Gulf Freeway (I-45 South from Houston to Galveston) over between NASA Road 1 and Bay Area Blvd on the feeder road that carried Estes and LOC/Precision tubes, nosecones, transitions, and such... along with a few kits and stuff... they also had some Aerotech stuff IIRC-- a few kits and some motors/reloads and ignitors and stuff... sadly that one folded shop...

There's another hobby shop down in a shopping center at the "cloverleaf" (just off the feeder) in a shopping center on the north side of the northeast corner of the intersection between NASA Road 1 and I-45... they're back off the road a bit. I've been in there a couple times but I don't recall ATM right offhand what they kept in stock... I know they had a pretty big section of Estes stuff and IIRC some Aerotech, but I'm not sure what else... been close to a year since I've been in there... I try to stop in whenever I'm over that way, but unfortunately I just didn't get in there last week when we took our daughter to JSC's Space Center Houston for a 'space day camp' thing... (had my nephew along and we hit the Half-Price Books instead... scored some neat space books!)

I'm sure you could find them with a little effort on Google or yahoo maps or online yellow pages or whatever... They probably have the best selection of rocket stuff in the Houston area, mostly because of their proximity to the NASA/Houston Rocket Club...

later and good luck! OL JR

PS... it was bugging me so I looked it up because I couldn't recall their name... it's ODDYSSEY Hobby Shop...

[Zonie]

I haven't flown more than a few Quest motors, given that I cleared the shelf at walmart when they blew the estes motors out at $2 per pack a while back. I have a buddy that usually flies quest motors, and always seems to be melting chutes. perhaps more flaming debris is going up the BT at ejection? He has used my method of wrapping dog barf with a few layers of estes TP, and yet still melted and burned chutes...

Just an observation.

I do like Quest's new igniters, though. They are good for non-rocketry related pyro-effect projects...

[GDJ]

I've used a few Quest C6-5 engines. They work well for lighter models, but they seem to really have a place as a upper stage engine.

[JStarStar]

I haven't flown more than a few Quest motors, given that I cleared the shelf at walmart when they blew the estes motors out at $2 per pack a while back. I have a buddy that usually flies quest motors, and always seems to be melting chutes. perhaps more flaming debris is going up the BT at ejection? He has used my method of wrapping dog barf with a few layers of estes TP, and yet still melted and burned chutes...

Just an observation.

I do like Quest's new igniters, though. They are good for non-rocketry related pyro-effect projects...

I have seen several reports that Quest ejection charges seem to be more "roman candle" style as opposed to the shotgun-cannon style seen in many Estes motors in recent years.

As far as the chute melting problem I think I would be more inclined to wrap the chute itself in a couple squares of Estes TP style wadding than the dog barf.