What kits should Estes bring back?

[LostMosquito]

What would you like to see Estes bring back next?

After seeing photos of this model online, having never had the opportunity to build one, I really think that Estes should bring back the unique RAM JET. What a cool design! (Borrowing someone else's photo below as an example).

...and the Mega Der Red Max, of course...

 

[rharshberger]

There is already a thread of this type, see here : https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/estes-kits-what-would-you-like-to-see.31904/

 

[soopirV]

That's a good source, rharsh, but since that thread started in 2012, it begs the question, are we just shouting into a well? I know Estes used to have some folks on the forum, but I've lost track and now that they're under new ownership, not sure what's going to happen. To LostMosquito, be sure to check out the resources available for cloning- point of order, I cloned the exact rocket you mentioned using plans from a few key resources you should acquaint yourself to:
https://www.spacemodeling.org/jimz/
and
https://plans.rocketshoppe.com/

When I first got back in the hobby, Red Arrow Hobbies was still in operation, and he had a GREAT tube kit- I bought probably 5 or 6 of them, plus various centering ring kits and nose kits from many other vendors, and have built more than 60 classic kits that I missed when I was out, or that I couldn't afford when I was in. I have parts for perhaps another 50. Now that 3D printing is more accessible (and I'm just dipping a toe), I expect to be able to bring back other classics for my own enjoyment, particularly those that had unique nose cones (i.e. GeoSatLV, my all time favorite, and I'm also looking to build a 3x upscale!).

I also had the pleasure of traveling around the US for my job, and would always make it a point of finding local hobby shops in every town I was in. It didn't always pan out, but I DID find several NOS, OOP kits and part bags that were indespensible in some of those resurrections, particularly a bag of "sciFi" nosecones that looked to have been produced in early/mid '90's.

Point is, don't just wait for the kit with the hangtag to come back before you realize some of your fantastic ambition!

 

[Arsenal78]

^ That forum thread has been inactive for 6 years, it wouldn't hurt to have a new one. AMW released a Mega Red Max kit basically identical to Estes in size but better built and a larger motor mount, which can be adapted down and flown on 29mm's no problem. I'd like to see the Tomcat and Blackbird kits come back

 

[rharshberger]

Actually we are not just "shouting into a well", our club was lucky enough to have Ellis Langford attend SodBlaster 2018 over Labor Day weekend. While he did not give away any new "secret squirrel" type things he did say that Estes is looking hard at the models they have and what models to re-release as well as the igniter issue. So they do (and he did listen) to at least 50 fliers that day each of who had some memories of old kits, was flying OOP kits (or clones of them), and mostly constructive feedback. All I can say is that I am optimistic to see a return of some classic builders kits.

 

[GlenP]

Old thread, new thread, into a well, on a hill top, I don't mind the chance to keep shouting, ALL OF THEM! Take your pick, keep them coming. Best of luck to the new Estes.

But in contrast to the cool bring-backs, I will keep suggesting: To Whom it May Concern, and to Tikki Tikki Tembo.., make kits for the NEW rockets coming out of NASA, Space X, Blue Origin, etc. Mercury/Gemini/Apollo/Shuttle historical scale and classic sport kit re-issues are great, a no-brainer even, for those of us who remember those kits the first time around and lost them or did not earn enough money delivering newspapers to buy them at the time. But the new Orion/SLS is not your father's rocket, or your grandfather's rocket, that is the rocket for the next generation of rocketeers and explorers, only Estes can generate more excitement about these new missions to deep space in the way that only Estes can. That is what I am pulling for: the new Estes to continue in that tradition. NASA will launch their EM-1 flight test next year, can Estes launch one of their kits before then? After a kid launches their first Alpha kit, what will inspire that kid to buy, build, and fly their next rocket? The engineers that are going to take us to Mars may not have been born yet, or maybe they are out at the field today launching that Alpha.

 

[Mugs914]

I would really (really really) like it if they would re-release the LTV Scout and Saros.

 

[kuririn]

Old thread, new thread, into a well, on a hill top, I don't mind the chance to keep shouting, ALL OF THEM! Take your pick, keep them coming. Best of luck to the new Estes.

But in contrast to the cool bring-backs, I will keep suggesting: To Whom it May Concern, and to Tikki Tikki Tembo.., make kits for the NEW rockets coming out of NASA, Space X, Blue Origin, etc. Mercury/Gemini/Apollo/Shuttle historical scale and classic sport kit re-issues are great, a no-brainer even, for those of us who remember those kits the first time around and lost them or did not earn enough money delivering newspapers to buy them at the time. But the new Orion/SLS is not your father's rocket, or your grandfather's rocket, that is the rocket for the next generation of rocketeers and explorers, only Estes can generate more excitement about these new missions to deep space in the way that only Estes can. That is what I am pulling for: the new Estes to continue in that tradition. NASA will launch their EM-1 flight test next year, can Estes launch one of their kits before then? After a kid launches their first Alpha kit, what will inspire that kid to buy, build, and fly their next rocket? The engineers that are going to take us to Mars may not have been born yet, or maybe they are out at the field today launching that Alpha.

Yeah, this is where Dr. Zooch was light years in front of Estes: Aries, Aries X, SLS Orion, Falcon Heavy. Personally though, I would like to see Estes bring back the Mercury Atlas. And maybe the Gemini Titan with 3D printed nozzles.

 

[kuririn]

I would really (really really) like it if they would re-release the LTV Scout and Saros.

Why not clone 'em? Plans for the Saros are at YORP, and those for the LTV Scout are at Jimmy Z's. Nose cones are available at erockets:

https://www.erockets.biz/semroc-balsa-nose-cone-bt-20-4-2-capsule/
https://www.erockets.biz/semroc-balsa-nose-cone-bt-55-7-4-capsule/

Decals can be home printed on decal paper. The Scout might be more difficult due to the plastic parts. What I did for my clone was to replace them with balsa.

And here's a link to Chris Michielssen's Saros clone build a few months ago:

https://modelrocketbuilding.blogspot.com/2018/04/estes-saros-k-54-build-background.html

 

[Scott_650]

Current and future real-world rockets and launch vehicles would be awesome - hopefully there’s no problem with copyrights and licensing. Otherwise I know I’d love a model of the new Space-X BFR spaceship - with the option to fly the ship alone or on top the Falcon booster.

As far as a bring back...Maxi Brute Pershing! Though if memory serves me Estes doesn’t have an in-house motor that’ll fly it per their current safety requirements.

 

[Flyfalcons]

I think we pestered Ellis enough at a launch a few weeks ago about what we'd love to see come back . He has the patience of a saint, quietly listening to our begs and pleas, but the bottom line I got from talking with him is that Estes is once again being run by actual rocketeers, and that gives me a lot of hope for future releases and re-releases.

 

[hcmbanjo]

From Kuririn
"And here's a link to Chris Michielssen's Saros clone build a few months ago:"
https://modelrocketbuilding.blogspot.com/2018/04/estes-saros-k-54-build-background.html

Here's a better link - from finished model to start;
https://modelrocketbuilding.blogspot.com/search/label/E Saros

 

[terryg]

Estes Beta 2 stage rocket, a great flier.

https://www.rocketreviews.com/estes-beta-bill-eichelberger.html

 

[Scott_650]

Estes Beta 2 stage rocket, a great flier.

https://www.rocketreviews.com/estes-beta-bill-eichelberger.html

It would make a great upscale - nice clean design.

 

[BABAR]

Would like to see the scissor wing transport.

 

[Bruiser]

Bomarc

-Bob

 

[kuririn]

Bomarc

-Bob

Which version, glider or parachute recovery?

 

[rharshberger]

Which version, glider or parachute recovery?

Or LANDSHARK!....[emoji3]

 

[lcorinth]

Every one.

 

[kuririn]

Or LANDSHARK!....[emoji3]

In that case, Cosmos Mariner or X-15.

 

[BA_Incognito]

Been looking at the old Estes catalogs from the 70s. A bunch I would like to see

• Bandit
• Star Blazer (TK-31)
  
• Scissor-wing Transport
• Star Lab
• USS Atlantis
• Andromeda
• Starship Vega

Of course, the entire US man space program

• Mercury Redstone
• Mercury Atlas
• Gemini Titan (2-engine cluster version)
• Saturn 1B
• Saturn V
• Space Shuttle

If you really wanted to get crazy, you could even include the Sci-Fi Collection

• Star Trek Enterprise
• Star Trek Klingon Battle Cruiser
• Battlestar Galactica Colonial Viper
• Battlestar Galactica Cylon Raider
• Star Wars X-wing
• Star Wars TIE Fighter
• Star Wars R2D2
• Star Wars Imperial Cruiser

That would keep me busy (and poor) for a while

 

[Bruiser]

Which version, glider or parachute recovery?

I didn't know there was a glider version. I had to go look it up. My choice would be the parachute recovery.

-Bob

 

[mhanna]

From the US Space Program I always liked Thor Agena-B.

 

[OC-Patrick]

PSII Black Brant...

not really bringing back as the original, but as a mid-power version.

 

[kuririn]

PSII Black Brant...

not really bringing back as the original, but as a mid-power version.

Don't need to wait for a kit, you can scratch build a 2" BB2 with these parts:

https://www.erockets.biz/new-category-3/
https://www.erockets.biz/semroc-balsa-tail-cone-st-20-3-0-29mm/
https://www.erockets.biz/semroc-balsa-nose-cone-20-10-7-conical-sem-bc-20107/

Tail cone also comes in a 24mm version.

 

[OC-Patrick]

Don't need to wait for a kit, you can scratch build a 2" BB2 with these parts:

https://www.erockets.biz/new-category-3/
https://www.erockets.biz/semroc-balsa-tail-cone-st-20-3-0-29mm/
https://www.erockets.biz/semroc-balsa-nose-cone-20-10-7-conical-sem-bc-20107/

Tail cone also comes in a 24mm version.

Thanks! I will take a look.

 

[kuririn]

OC, forgot to mention the laser cut fins:

https://www.erockets.biz/semroc-laser-cut-fins-fsi-black-brant-ii-1-4-balsa-3-fins-sem-ffs-1014/

the plans,

https://www.oldrocketplans.com/fsi/fsiMRK-14/fsiMRK-14.htm

and the decals can be upscaled and home printed from the Estes plans here:

https://www.oldrocketplans.com/estes/est1958/est1958.htm

or you can spend a few bucks and buy the vinyl decals from Mark at Stickershock 23.

 

[OC-Patrick]

Thanks kuririn,

I was pricing out the parts - approaching the $50-$70 range when adding the motor mount and recovery, not too bad. I've already upscaled (semi-scale) a BBII using the BT-60 with no tailcone, and I have the original Estes BBII (BT-55) from many years ago - one of my favorites. Mark and Stickershock are great - ordered many items from them already.

 

[kuririn]

Yeah, I have the parts in a box, been there for several months now. Too many projects in the queue. FSI kits are great. Also cloned their Javelin and Echo 1 kits. Erockets also has parts for those, and decals for the Echo 1. Have fun on the build, and post pictures later if you can. Cheers!

Getting back to the thread, how about the Pro Series Jayhawk? Kinda difficult to clone that one.

 

[UberSquid]

Stealth! That was the first rocket that I built with my grandfather. Unfortunately it didn't survive. Since then I've bought several from ebay and hoard them.