The Understated Estes Alpha.

[Flyfalcons]

I've been looking into building an original Alpha for the Nartrek Bronze 60sec chute carried on an B motor launch. I have an Alpha III, thought about trying a slightly bigger chute, or the same with a generic E2X. Figured the rocket could double duty for the second 30sec streamer launch. Would this fit the bill? Also thought about the Wizard for the streamer launch, but wasn't to sure if it could handle a chute.

Sure, it's light and you can fit the chute much easier in its BT-50 tube versus a BT-20 based kit. Alphas are really good performers. You may even be able to upsize to an Estes 15" or 18" to get a little more hang time.

 

[Flyfalcons]

I recently got to fly my Maxi Alpha 3, slightly modified with a cut-down body tube and painted to match my old red/white AIII. Really wish Estes would ditch the Halloween scheme.

 

[Kelley]

Old wooden finned and nose cone Alpha was the best flying rocket I ever had. Shot fast and straight as an arrow. Perfect flight every time.

 

[BEC]

We really enjoyed seeing Ryan's Maxi Alpha 3 made into a BT-80 Alpha III in the original colors (two posts up) at our January launch. A couple of flight pictures taken by John McLaren are on the Boeing Empoyees' Model Rocket Club Facebook page.

 

[qquake2k]

The red/white Alpha III was my very first rocket in the early 70's. I made a 4" upscale of it a few years ago.

 

[sl98]

Maybe this is the Alpha thread to revive (rather than the fin shape one) to point out that the Alpha first appeared in the 1967 Estes catalog, so this will be its golden anniversary year.

Not sure what the "fin shape" thread was about but I have an original pattern for the Astron Alpha (SP 25). I recently acquired this pattern sheet and instructions from a garage sale pile. Scale is in mm.

 

[BEC]

I would love to get my hands on an original SP-25. I have the instructions from my original Alpha build in the late 1960s but of course used the SP-25 in that build.

For your cringe-worthy amusement, here's the fin shape thread. https://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?15600-vintage-astron-alpha-fin-pattern

Which leads to - do you have a scanner? Could you actually scan that pattern and the ruler and post the file? I'm curious if there is any difference between the post-Damon SP-25 you have with the earlier one that Rex posted in that other thread. I sincerely hope that the only difference is the logo information.....

 

[kyle]

The red/white Alpha III was my very first rocket in the early 70's. I made a 4" upscale of it a few years ago.

My first was an Alpha, and I have been thinking of a 4" version for a level 1 rocket. I was wondering where you got your nose cone?

 

[Woody's Workshop]

I read somewhere recently that there was a Metric Alpha.
I'm assuming it was for over seas sales.
It did show packaging I believe.
If there was any difference, I do not know.

 

[sl98]

Which leads to - do you have a scanner? Could you actually scan that pattern and the ruler and post the file? I'm curious if there is any difference between the post-Damon SP-25 you have with the earlier one that Rex posted in that other thread. I sincerely hope that the only difference is the logo information.....

Here ya go....

View attachment Astron Alpha (SP 25) Fin Pattern.pdf
View attachment Astron Alpha (SP 25) Instructions.pdf

 

[Rex R]

standard alpha cone is a 2.78 | 1 ogive...for most of us we use cones that are close enough to fool the onlooker. the madcow plastic short ogive (3.9" dia) would be my cone of choice.
Rex

 

[BEC]

Here ya go....

Thanks. After I got it to print out at the right size (needed to be 100.5% for some reason) it appears that adding the Damon bit didn't change the important parts - the fin shape in particular. It matches the scanned earlier SP-25 from that other thread. Whew! I was afraid there might be yet another variation out there......

 

[sl98]

Thanks. After I got it to print out at the right size (needed to be 100.5% for some reason) it appears that adding the Damon bit didn't change the important parts - the fin shape in particular. It matches the scanned earlier SP-25 from that other thread. Whew! I was afraid there might be yet another variation out there......

I took a fin from a EST 1225 kit and laid it on the SP 25 template. It looked like a perfect match.

 

[BEC]

I read somewhere recently that there was a Metric Alpha.
I'm assuming it was for over seas sales.
It did show packaging I believe.
If there was any difference, I do not know.

Ah yes - the Metric Alpha, or Alpha II - Kit EK-25 or #1419. Externally the two unopened examples I have are an early second major version of the Alpha (die cut rather than hand cut fins and blow molded plastic rather than balsa nose cone). But the fin lines are pre-marked on the tube and one odd internal difference is that the motor tube is longer by 3/4 of an inch. I have no idea why they did that. The kit's face card shows the usual late 1960s two-color livery but the black/red decal version of the current markings are included in the bag. I have seen pictures of a later Alpha II package where the face card shows the current style livery but I've never seen one in person.

 

[BEC]

I took a fin from a EST 1225 kit and laid it on the SP 25 template. It looked like a perfect match.

That's good....is this a laser-cut fin current 1225 or a die-cut version?

 

[sl98]

That's good....is this a laser-cut fin current 1225 or a die-cut version?

Die cut

 

[Trident]

Not being a real fan of the orange/black colored Alpha III I used for some school programs, I hid all resemblances of the Hallloween-looking rocket, and gave it an Easter Egg paint job. A base coat of white is required. An Estes Generic E2X is the perfect platform to do this with kids -- since it is 100% boring white.

 

[BEC]

Die cut

Thanks. I'm pretty sure I have a fairly recent one around here with the laser cut fins. In going back over my older Alpha stuff on YORF and the other thread here, they represent another variation. I'm going to have to make a timeline or something what with the varying fin shapes, different nose cones, different motor mounts (and hooks) and such over the 50-year (so far) life of the design. But not tonight.

 

[tomsteve]

Not being a real fan of the orange/black colored Alpha III I used for some school programs, I hid all resemblances of the Hallloween-looking rocket, and gave it an Easter Egg paint job. A base coat of white is required. An Estes Generic E2X is the perfect platform to do this with kids -- since it is 100% boring white.

View attachment 311179

now that I awesome!!! I think you should share the technique used to get the results.
hydrodipping kind of thing?

 

[ballistic_trep]

My Alpha. It's the most flown rocket in my fleet because I only need to walk into the small field behind my home to fly.

 

[Woody's Workshop]

I like the Red Maple Leaf, I take it your from Canada.
Where did you the decal for that? or is it a stencil & Paint?

 

[ECayemberg]

My Alpha. It's the most flown rocket in my fleet because I only need to walk into the small field behind my home to fly.

Ooh...I like the red fin, red nosecone. That's a sharp Alpha!

 

[ECayemberg]

In one of those insane moments...I went a bit nuts and tried to recreate every iteration of the Alpha.

Let's see, there's the I,II, III, IV, Super, other Super, Maxi, Maxi III for starters.

More specifically, the K's: K25, K-56, EK-25, and the K-7B
Then the numbered: 1225, 1256; more obscure: 1203, 1207, 1258, 1291, 1321, 1408, 1419, 1421, 1903, 3216, 0717

Sometimes you feel like a nut...sometimes you are!:eyepop:

-Eric-

 

[samb]

Ok, I don't think it's too early to proclaim Eric the winner of TRF for today ! :surprised:

I like Alpha threads.

In one of those insane moments...I went a bit nuts and tried to recreate every iteration of the Alpha.

Let's see, there's the I,II, III, IV, Super, other Super, Maxi, Maxi III for starters.

More specifically, the K's: K25, K-56, EK-25, and the K-7B
Then the numbered: 1225, 1256; more obscure: 1203, 1207, 1258, 1291, 1321, 1408, 1419, 1421, 1903, 3216, 0717

Sometimes you feel like a nut...sometimes you are!:eyepop:

-Eric-

 

[Woody's Workshop]

Alphas, Alphas, Alphas, Alphas...There all Beta's.

 

[TangoJuliet]

-Eric-

Dark Red Nose Cone and Fin Can, 4th from the right looks just like my first rocket! (Around 1980, give or take a year maybe.)
Which number would that one be? And is the one to the left of it somehow different, other than the lack of decals?

 

[BEC]

That's a K-56 or 1256 Alpha III in red/white - the original colors before it went Halloween as it still is.

That list made me look up K-7B..... 'doh! Phantom with the clear Alpha III fin can and nose cone. I've done both of those that I have with a longer body tube so that it is the same length as the Alpha III. That way they look much better sitting next to one another in a display or classroom.

 

[BEC]

.... also it looks like I don't need to do the timeline I mentioned last night. Eric already did it in a thread on YORF several years ago: https://forums.rocketshoppe.com/showthread.php?t=8097 . The list is in the first post.

Maybe I need to focus on internal differences. I've found just in what I have three different motor mount arrangements in Alphas, or four if you include the longer motor mount tube in the Alpha II. Alpha III/IV have varied motor hook styles and amount of the motor tube protruding aft over the years as well...

Of course, all of this is borderline nuts. But it's fun!

 

[ECayemberg]

Dark Red Nose Cone and Fin Can, 4th from the right looks just like my first rocket! (Around 1980, give or take a year maybe.)
Which number would that one be? And is the one to the left of it somehow different, other than the lack of decals?

Bernard hit it on the head!

1971-1972: K-56: Alpha III without decals
1973-1974: K-56: same thing, but with the traditional black decals
1975-1992: 1256: same as the '73-'74 K-56, but Estes changed from the K- system to the 12xx system.
1993-present: went all Halloweenie! Note: the catalog scheme for the orange/black Alpha III is pictured third from right, but the included decal scheme is second from right. I greatly prefer the catalog scheme...but it requires repainting most of the main body tube orange; then using the traditional black A III decals.

Agreed...a bit nuts!

 

[ECayemberg]

.... also it looks like I don't need to do the timeline I mentioned last night. Eric already did it in a thread on YORF several years ago: https://forums.rocketshoppe.com/showthread.php?t=8097 . The list is in the first post.

Maybe I need to focus on internal differences. I've found just in what I have three different motor mount arrangements in Alphas, or four if you include the longer motor mount tube in the Alpha II. Alpha III/IV have varied motor hook styles and amount of the motor tube protruding aft over the years as well...

Of course, all of this is borderline nuts. But it's fun!

I can probably help with the timeline....it's a bit more complete now than when I posted in the Olde Rocket Forum. Nosecones and schemes I can help with....engine hooks and the subtle fin shape differences I'd be of little help however.

-Eric-