Your favorite rocket company?

[gdjsky01]

Whatever. Estes? NFW!!! Semroc? Eh? Nah. Not in my book. Though Semroc is a very reputable company! But innovative?

Flis! Now there is someone NOT FOLLOWING A CHILDHOOD MEMORY! Jim is LEADING, not riding the coattails of a long dead companies.

Apogee. Never has any company, including Boring Estes, given so much information away for free.

LOC. For what now? 20 years? They been making HPR affordable with classic, almost timeless L1 and L2 choices.

Aerotech. Their kits are still amazing for their systematic approach to materials and results even though 20 years old

Edmonds Areospace. Again WONDERFUL innovation.

Estes? Semroc? Seriously?


JMO
Jeff

[gdjsky01]

Retailers:
Jonrocket
Uncle Mikes Rocket Shack
What's up hobbies
Apogee

[Bazookadale]

Estes? Semroc? Seriously?


JMO
Jeff

Seriously!

[JPVegh]

If not for Estes I seriously doubt that this forum would even exist or any rocketry forum for that matter. Love them or hate them we all owe our hobby to Estes and their continuing contributions to model rocketry. JMO!

[JStarStar]

If not for Estes I seriously doubt that this forum would even exist or any rocketry forum for that matter. Love them or hate them we all owe our hobby to Estes and their continuing contributions to model rocketry. JMO!

DING DING DING.

People bag on Estes because they are not what they once were, but things change.

IMO Estes does a good job if you understand what they are trying to do. They are no longer primarily oriented toward the craftsmanship/building angle of the hobby (although they have swung back somewhat in the last couple of years).

It is fashionable for all of us master craftsmen to snort about RTF starter sets but in cold fact that is how most kids are introduced to the hobby these days. If SOME of them get interested enough to get into model building, win win.

[LaunchPad]

I'll bet I'm not the only one who sits at work on a really slow day and orders from the Semroc site. About two minutes later, you get an e-mail that says "we're processing your order" and like an hour later, you get one that says "we shipped your order." That's why Semroc is my favorite...

Does Semroc not sell in stores?

[JStarStar]

Does Semroc not sell in stores?

I've only seen Semroc kits in one store, and that was a specialty store almost completely devoted to rocketry.

I am not sure what kind of retail distribution they may have. One thing I have noticed is that many people have commented about their lightning-fast shipping of orders.

[LaunchPad]

If not for Estes I seriously doubt that this forum would even exist or any rocketry forum for that matter. Love them or hate them we all owe our hobby to Estes and their continuing contributions to model rocketry. JMO!

I agree. They were my first (Alpha, of course.) and for my next project that I either buy or get as a gift I would like something that is not the typical rocket shape and for now Estes looks the best.
Like the Screaming Eagle, Tercel or Alien Invader. Something with wings or odd fins on it.
So far, from what I've seen, Estes has the most variety that is also quite affordable for Skill Levels 1-3 which is within my budget and comfort zone.
If anyone else has any other suggestions, I'll consider that.

[JStarStar]

I agree. They were my first (Alpha, of course.) and for my next project that I either buy or get as a gift I would like something that is not the typical rocket shape and for now Estes looks the best.
Like the Screaming Eagle, Tercel or Alien Invader. Something with wings or odd fins on it.
So far, from what I've seen, Estes has the most variety that is also quite affordable for Skill Levels 1-3 which is within my budget and comfort zone.
If anyone else has any other suggestions, I'll consider that.

FlisKits has quite a few kits which break out of the 3-4FNC mold.

Odd'l Rockets also has a few unusual kits, as well as Squirrel Works.

I'd just surf around and see which ones catch your eye.