Estes Gemini DC Kit

[zajaco]

Hey everybody. I am getting back into rocketry and feeling nostalgic. Even with all the issues I want to build the Estes Gemini DC Kit number 2136. I've found the parts list and the plans. However, if anyone has an old kit laying around and willing to part with it, I would love to build it. Thanks!!

 

[Zeus-cat]

Good luck. I don't think I have ever gotten mine to fly correctly. I think it even needs to be repaired at the moment.

There are a lot of interesting and challenging kits out there. Fliskits comes to mind immediately. Very well designed and very unusual.

 

[samb]

I saw on on Amazon recently.

 

[K'Tesh]

While I can't offer your mine (which is assembled anyway), I can say...

Welcome!

 

[RocketFeller]

I have a beat-up one in the attic. Like others, mine worked correctly for maybe one out of four flights.

 

[zajaco]

Good luck. I don't think I have ever gotten mine to fly correctly. I think it even needs to be repaired at the moment.

There are a lot of interesting and challenging kits out there. Fliskits comes to mind immediately. Very well designed and very unusual.

Interesting rockets. I will have to grab a few of these. Thanks!

 

[zajaco]

I saw on on Amazon recently.

I saw that too. I thought $40 was a little high although after sourcing and shipping all the parts individually this might be worth it.

 

[samb]

I saw that too. I thought $40 was a little high although after sourcing and shipping all the parts individually this might be worth it.

Maybe the vintage packaging is value-added. IDK, I'm not a collector and pricing these things is a baffling art form to me.

 

[K'Tesh]

Maybe the vintage packaging is value-added. IDK, I'm not a collector and pricing these things is a baffling art form to me.

Pricing is simple... It's worth whatever the sucker is willing to pay for it. :wink:
(all to often it's (honestly) too much, and I've been the "sucker" a number of times).

 

[Lowpuller]

I have one and love it, it flys great.

It didn't at first until I fixed it.

The ejection gases leaving the body tube burned small holes in the parachute tubes and let the ejection gas vent versus pushing out the parachute.

I cut a couple of small slots of either side of the burn hole and inserted a piece of metal flashing which is glued and taped in place. Now it works like a charm.







It is also important how you load the parachutes, lines first, apex last, like this.



Minimal wadding and very small pieces.

Good luck!!

 

[les]

I built mine. Only has 2 flights but both went OK

 

[zajaco]

Pricing is simple... It's worth whatever the sucker is willing to pay for it. :wink:
(all to often it's (honestly) too much, and I've been the "sucker" a number of times).

Ain't that the truth!

 

[zajaco]

I have one and love it, it flys great.

It didn't at first until I fixed it.

The ejection gases leaving the body tube burned small holes in the parachute tubes and let the ejection gas vent versus pushing out the parachute.

I cut a couple of small slots of either side of the burn hole and inserted a piece of metal flashing which is glued and taped in place. Now it works like a charm.

View attachment 304295

View attachment 304298

View attachment 304299

It is also important how you load the parachutes, lines first, apex last, like this.

View attachment 304300

Minimal wadding and very small pieces.

Good luck!!

Thanks for the info. I will keep this in mind!

 

[Screaminhelo]

I would love to snap it up my self but I am in the market for other things right now. Try looking here:

Launchpad2000

They seem to have a hand full of recent OOP kits. I have never dealt with them but it may be worth a try for the price.

If you have a copy of the plans I am interested, I would love to build a Gemini DC at some point.

 

[zajaco]

I would love to snap it up my self but I am in the market for other things right now. Try looking here:

Launchpad2000

They seem to have a hand full of recent OOP kits. I have never dealt with them but it may be worth a try for the price.

If you have a copy of the plans I am interested, I would love to build a Gemini DC at some point.

Wow, that is a good price. I have definitely gambled more money on stupider things before I'll have to give it a shot. I found the plans here and this post had the .rkt file which I used to print a parts list.

 

[K'Tesh]

Wow, that is a good price. I have definitely gambled more money on stupider things before I'll have to give it a shot. I found the plans here and this post had the .rkt file which I used to print a parts list.

I hope by the next version of OR, I'll be able to model it accurately there too.

 

[mjennings]

I love mine. I don't always pop both chutes but it does most of the time. The burn thru on the transition points on mine has been fixed and now I have some burn through on a fin root that needs investigation. This bird does not swing test well. Mine has quite a bit of nose weight to get it to swing test, I was younger and didn't understand the limitations of the test.

 

[K'Tesh]

I wonder...

I saw that video of the upscale coming in ballistic.

Should that flight have worked, how would it have come down?

In the process of contemplating that, I wonder how I'd do it, and I thought of the Estes Sizzler (rear ejection version). Hmmm... Might have to try that myself someday.

 

[Lowpuller]

KTesh what video are you speaking of?

 

[K'Tesh]

KTesh what video are you speaking of?

This one...

[video=youtube;bfcud62ct6M]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfcud62ct6M[/video]

 

[Lowpuller]

Man was that ever a close call. One of my biggest concerns with this hobby. Last thing I ever want to do is hurt somebody.

 

[mjennings]

Hadn't seen that one before, that was scary. I had a nose cone from a shread impact not far from me but wow!

 

[rstaff3]

I think I may have built mine wrong...



(actually a kitbash for an old EMRR contest)