Estes Big E and F Engines Getting Hard to Find.

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RickGr4

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Rocketry Friends,

Maybe I am out to lunch and missing something but I am having a difficult time finding a good selection of Big E and F engines locally, especially with 6 second delays. Most of the local stores have engines with 8 second delays. But 6 second delays are not to be found and 4 second delays are becoming rare.

I prefer to buy these engines locally to avoid the HazMat shipping fee.

What am I missing?
 
That is what I ended up buying but the 4 second delay is not my first choice... Which is the reason I asked the question.

I suspect that Estes is waiting for a big boatload of engines to arrive. I was wondering if anyone had any further info.


4 second delay E and F motors?
 
I suspect that Estes is waiting for a big boatload of engines to arrive.

Arrive from where? They are made in Penrose.

That said, they have been hard to find by fits and starts. And I second the suggestion to try Hobby Lobby, though they tend to stock only one pack of any given motor/delay combination at a time, which means multiple trips (but at the same time multiple uses of the 40% off daily coupon).
 
Even the Estes website shows most sizes of 29mm BP motors out of stock. AFAIK, the 29mm motors are not made on automatic motor making machines.
 
Rocketry Friends,

Maybe I am out to lunch and missing something but I am having a difficult time finding a good selection of Big E and F engines locally, especially with 6 second delays. Most of the local stores have engines with 8 second delays. But 6 second delays are not to be found and 4 second delays are becoming rare.

I prefer to buy these engines locally to avoid the HazMat shipping fee.

What am I missing?

I see you're in Egan. Last time I was up that way - 2 or 3 years ago - stopped in at a nice hobby shop. Hub Hobby - nice place - seemed to be run by nice folks. Maybe if you stop in when they are not busy, and chat with them, they could help you out. As I recall - a pretty good rocketry selection for a brick-and-mortar store.
 
I have an HL three miles from my house. I wish they carried a MUCH better selection of Estes products. My local store has nothing above small E engines.


Do you have a Hobby Lobby?
https://www.hobbylobby.com/Crafts-Hobbies/Hobbies-Collecting/Rockets/F15-6-Pro-Engines/p/19707
https://www.hobbylobby.com/Crafts-H...ing/Rockets/E9-6-Rocket-Engine/p/21805-GA0523
No hazmat fee and 40% off on your most expensive item, sometimes they have a "free shipping" special on orders over $50. My local store usually has them in stock, some penny pinchers go there every day and buy one item at a time to get 40% off on every item.
 
I stopped at Hub Hobby in Richfield, MN yesterday. All they had in E and F motors was 0 delay and 8 delay. My buddies at Big Sky Hobby in Eagan continue to say that 6 second delay motors are currently not available from their suppliers.


I see you're in Egan. Last time I was up that way - 2 or 3 years ago - stopped in at a nice hobby shop. Hub Hobby - nice place - seemed to be run by nice folks. Maybe if you stop in when they are not busy, and chat with them, they could help you out. As I recall - a pretty good rocketry selection for a brick-and-mortar store.
 
I noticed this which contributed to why I started this thread.

Even the Estes website shows most sizes of 29mm BP motors out of stock. AFAIK, the 29mm motors are not made on automatic motor making machines.
 
I suspect that Estes is waiting for a big boatload of engines to arrive.

I suspect that Estes is tired of the warranty claims on heat-cycled engines and simply wants to be out of the "big BP" business.
 
I suspect that Estes is tired of the warranty claims on heat-cycled engines and simply wants to be out of the "big BP" business.

There will be more PSII kits which will use the E16/F15 motors.

Estes will keep making the 29mm BP motors for awhile yet.
 
There will be more PSII kits which will use the E16/F15 motors.

Estes will keep making the 29mm BP motors for awhile yet.

That would be good, I like 'em! 2 weeks ago my HL had them...at least the ones they normally stock. But that could be ancient history. It could also be that HL isn't going to carry PSII class rocket stuff.
 
Hobby Lobby carries very small quantities of motor packs and only has the E16/F15-6 and -8 and F15-0. Most sane people use the -6, so those sell first. They do not get re-ordered until the human working the department notes the peg empty and orders more from their warehouse for the next weekly delivery.

If you want them, FIND a human working that department and have them order extra for you and have them put aside for you. They will do so.

They do not use computerized inventory/reordering systems. They don't even scan items at the register. They did get iPads for the department managers to replace their paper and clipboards just within the last couple of years. And registers do have scanning for the QR code on the 40% off coupon on the smartphone app, but not everyone uses it.
 
Just saw the F-15-0 on clearance at HL, the 6 and 8 second delays were available. E9 4 and 6 also available. They may be getting rid of the booster motors. Several kits also on the way out.

HL does not carry the F15-4, D12-3, E9-8 or C6-3.
 
Hobby Lobby carries very small quantities of motor packs and only has the E16/F15-6 and -8 and F15-0. Most sane people use the -6, so those sell first. They do not get re-ordered until the human working the department notes the peg empty and orders more from their warehouse for the next weekly delivery.

If you want them, FIND a human working that department and have them order extra for you and have them put aside for you. They will do so.

They do not use computerized inventory/reordering systems. They don't even scan items at the register. They did get iPads for the department managers to replace their paper and clipboards just within the last couple of years. And registers do have scanning for the QR code on the 40% off coupon on the smartphone app, but not everyone uses it.

The one near me only stocks 3 of any motor type based on many observations. They will not order extras, at least according to whatever manager was there when I asked. That is likely up to the store manager. I didn't know they didn't have auto re-order.
 
Several of the 29 mm motors E & F were on sale at my local HL yesterday. You had a choice: -0 or -8.
 
I know it sounds like I am complaining. However, tomorrow I will be going to my first Tripoli launch where I will be launching my own rockets. Unfortunately I will be launching new rockets with motors that are not my first choice.
 
I know this is about BP motors, but... Is there any reason not to use an Aerotech F20W, which is a bit pricier but is readily available & doesn't need HAZMAT?
 
Could the shortage just be a function of the fact that Estes is unloading some of the rockets that use these motors?

Tinker
 
I sent mail to Estes CS a couple of weeks back on whether or not 29mm E/F (and rockets) were being phased out. Christine answered that they were just behind on production.
 
Just visited our local HL today and bought the smaller E9-4's. They did have F15-0's and E16-8/F15-8's. Way too long a delay for anything but perhaps the Prowler. It's been a while since they've had the -6's in.
 
I have not been able to find anything in Estes bigger than a D12 here in my locale, so I finally bit the bullet and have ordered an Aerotech Hobbyline 24/40 RMS...
 
I am STRONGLY considering this option...

Last weekend I took my Estes Mammoth to a Tripoli Launch. I launched it with an F15-4. Don't get me wrong... It was a really nice flight but I thought it was slow off of the launcher. The Mammoth could certainly tolerate more power. Next time I plan to launch it with a PS II booster next time but I am also considering options for more power for single stage launches.


I know this is about BP motors, but... Is there any reason not to use an Aerotech F20W, which is a bit pricier but is readily available & doesn't need HAZMAT?
 
I went to Hoblob and asked for the -6's and the dude was super helpful. He said "it is one of our stocked items, and you say you've had trouble finding it here, so I'll set a raincheck order for you, we'll get 2 instead of our normal 1 order, and hold it for you."

Next time.youre there, see if they'll do.something similar.
 
I am STRONGLY considering this option...

Last weekend I took my Estes Mammoth to a Tripoli Launch. I launched it with an F15-4. Don't get me wrong... It was a really nice flight but I thought it was slow off of the launcher. The Mammoth could certainly tolerate more power. Next time I plan to launch it with a PS II booster next time but I am also considering options for more power for single stage launches.

I am admittedly new to the Estes PS II line, but I might reconsider adding a PSII Booster if you thought the previous launch was slow off the rail. There is no BP motor I know of that has any better boost than the F-15 you already used. Adding another stage with a motor (E16-0 or F15-0) will add no more thrust at launch and the whole system will be heavier that it was with an F motor and only the weight of one stage. I launched a Prowler with an Estes PSII booster with a E16-0 and a E16-6 and it was very slow off the rail and cocked right away. :( (The 29mm E series have the same thrust of the F, just a shorter burn time)

Tinker
 
I realize that using an F15 booster with Mammoth will likely be no quicker off the launcher. But it will certainly go higher. That is the reason I am researching Aerotech engine options.

At my last Tripoli launch, I launched Mammoth and Ascender with F15's, Prowler and Trajector with E16's. All four flights were solid but the wind was light. Prowler veered slightly off the launcher but the little wind there was pushed it back towards me. Funny but I launched Maxi Alpha 3 with an E9 and I had to walk quite a ways to recover it...

Last weekend I found F15-0's and Pro Series boosters on clearance at Hobby Lobby so I will be trying them at the September Tripoli launch.
 
Switch it up. I've heard an E16-0 to an F15 is a good boos combo.
The E16 has a slightly higher peak thrust, and it drops the booster weight quicker.

Also, how heavy is your mammoth, and where is it's CG? Mine weighs 12oz flat without motor and I'm about to put a half-moon balsa chute shelf in it to keep the bundle from sliding backwards.
 
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