Here's the Estes V2 I built for my brother-in-law, with scaled fins and scratch-built chain guards for the guide vanes on the tails of the fins. Needs a longer launch rod, though, as the scale fins don't seem to have enough control at low speed to prevent the start of a gravity turn. But it came out looking pretty nice. Paint scheme and tail art for V3 test flight.
View attachment 511098
Tough to say for sure, but if there was an Estes V2 that was in the Pro Series II size, it would be a single answer from me for sure. Having said that, I like the original and re-issue of the Big Daddy, but I'm more of a long/skinny (not to the Mean Machine extreme) rocket guy, vs short and fat. Having said that, I loved my Mean Machine when I was a kid and have done a few like that since and they are a hit at scout launches and demos.
Its a good poll when you don't immediately know the 'right' answer. Part of me thinks Adam3836 might be an AI bot who was inserted into the TRF community a few years ago to do research for the Estes cabal. Goal: Determine the ultimate kit to produce to satisfy the rocket community. I know my answer inside, AI bot, you won't get it out of me. . .
I'll be curious to see the results of the poll!
Sandy.
Turning a Daddy into a Bigger Daddy this week with a modest stretch, upgrade to 29mm mmt, baffle, and NC shoulder revisions.
Considering adding on a quad of custom afterburners/smoke generators.
Doorknob/Daddy's/V2 share similar profiles, and are faves. Enjoy fat bulky rockets that I can keep visual on from start to finish without binocs.
MMs to me are interesting but boring and delicate w/o BT reinforcement. Killed one & have had a second kit waiting for several years now.
If I've gotta pick only one, well then it'll be BIG DADDY!!!
Next month might I might say Doorknob (or Leviathan...).
[/QUOTE
Very amenable to modding. Tubing and bulkheads/upgraded centering rings from Balsa Machining. Consider a stuffer tube if extending the BT (and increasing dead space to pressurize for ejection); I'm not on current build because it's just a few inches extra, and baffle addition saves a ton of wadding/insulation if you're not using Nomex chute protectors. Paper towel-sized wadding (saturate with Borax/boric acid) is a super-cheap upsized version of Estes' overpriced single-ply TP wadding, and provides good wall-to-wall coverage. Got the Dremel out to remove the angled portion of the nosecone and replace with a wooden bulkhead. Can still fly on 24 mm with an adapter if not too much added weight.Awesome my build pile has a big daddy that Iam waiting to convert to 29mm
Seems like that will be fun !
Thanks! It's the best finish I've put on a rocket yet. It's amazing to me the difference in skills and (primarily) patience that one gets as an adult. Plus, as a kid, I had no access to spray paint!Wow that is sharp looking !!!
Thanks! It's the best finish I've put on a rocket yet. It's amazing to me the difference in skills and (primarily) patience that one gets as an adult. Plus, as a kid, I had no access to spray paint!
Shipping definitely is a factor lolI was going to get a V2 and I mean machine from one of the members on here but the dag gone shipping was too much