What kits should Estes bring back?

[deangelo54]

I just grabbed my rocket notebook and found some information about the weight of my Leviathan. Without a motor mine weighs 19.875 ounces. The Estes package lists the weight as 17.5 ounces. Given that the fins are 1/8th basswood I didn't paper them. The rocket did have a less than perfect landing one time and the fins were fine.

 

[deangelo54]

In summary, the body tubes, engine tube, coupler and 24" chute were ordered directly from Estes. The CRs and NC were from BMS. As you stated the BMS NC is 2" larger than the Leviathan/Big Daddy NC. I used 10/10 rail buttons, AeroPack retainer, LOC shock cord with sown in loops, an eye bolt connected to the foward CR.

You built some great rockets and made good use of BMS parts.

 

[Scott_650]

I just grabbed my rocket notebook and found some information about the weight of my Leviathan. Without a motor mine weighs 19.875 ounces. The Estes package lists the weight as 17.5 ounces. Given that the fins are 1/8th basswood I didn't paper them. The rocket did have a less than perfect landing one time and the fins were fine.

Well done - getting within a couple of ounces of Estes estimated weight with the mods you made is nice work. BMS makes great stuff, their 3” School Rocket is a real bargain.

 

[deangelo54]

Thanks. I got carried away during the build to the point where you could use the rocket for a L1 certification flight either on a big field or with a Chute Release. A few years ago in Berwick, ME someone had a successful L1 flight using an Estes Partzion with simple engine ejection. That rocket weighs in at 19.1 ounces.

I just got on the Estes web site to check on PS II builder kits. The only one listed is the Saharah. That one is shown at 13.2 ounces. Hopefully the new ownership of Estes will bring back some of the PS II builder kits once they get past the restructuring phase.

The Saturn V is on the Estes site but it shown to be out of stock. Yup, we all want one of those. I should email customer support and see if more will become available. That would make a great Christmas present.

 

[samb]

...

The Saturn V is on the Estes site but it shown to be out of stock. Yup, we all want one of those. I should email customer support and see if more will become available. That would make a great Christmas present.

Estes commonly adds new and coming soon kits on their web site with the "out of stock" message. At least one vendor has them listed with a "Due Late Dec" message. I'm betting a Happy New Year present rather than a Merry Christmas present.

https://www.acsupplyco.com/estes/estes_rockets2004fallnew.htm

https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/estes-1969-saturn-v-status.149279/#post-1836163

 

[kuririn]

Hopefully the new ownership of Estes will bring back some of the PS II builder kits once they get past the restructuring phase.

I think the PSII builders' kits were SPEVs (Spare Parts Elimination Vehicles). Similar to the Estes SPEV that used the spare parts left over from the production of the Thor Agena. The Scion used Leviathan fins mounted in reverse. My Scion package contained four fins bundled together, although the design uses three fins. And IIRC, the description at the time said something like once they're gone, they're gone. So I doubt you'll see these particular builders kits return. Hopefully some new PSII kits instead!

 

[rharshberger]

I think the PSII builders' kits were SPEVs (Spare Parts Elimination Vehicles). Similar to the Estes SPEV that used the spare parts left over from the production of the Thor Agena. The Scion used Leviathan fins mounted in reverse. My Scion package contained four fins bundled together, although the design uses three fins. And IIRC, the description at the time said something like once they're gone, they're gone. So I doubt you'll see these particular builders kits return. Hopefully some new PSII kits instead!

The SPEV's were the Sahara, Panavia, and Scion. The Leviathan, Argent, Ventris, and Partizon, MDRM, and Nike Smoke were all purposely designed as PSII kits and meant to use the rebranded AeroTech APCP motors, the Panavia, Sahara and Scion came along just before all the others were dropped. Worst part about the Partizon, Argent and Ventris was the non-standard tubes, but they had great nose cones like the long aspect ratio Partizon nose, a number of Partizons have been kit bashed into upscale Cherokee-D's. The SPEV's were able to fly better on the Estes BP motors hence they were shorter and lighter.

 

[kuririn]

The SPEV's were the Sahara, Panavia, and Scion. The Leviathan, Argent, Ventris, and Partizon, MDRM, and Nike Smoke were all purposely designed as PSII kits and meant to use the rebranded AeroTech APCP motors, the Panavia, Sahara and Scion came along just before all the others were dropped. Worst part about the Partizon, Argent and Ventris was the non-standard tubes, but they had great nose cones like the long aspect ratio Partizon nose, a number of Partizons have been kit bashed into upscale Cherokee-D's. The SPEV's were able to fly better on the Estes BP motors hence they were shorter and lighter.

I happened to return to model rocketry just around the time that Estes had a special: four PSII kits for 80 something dollars! I think it was the Leviathan, Ventris, Argent, and Partizon. Also picked up the Prowler launch set on special. Great introduction to mid power rocketry. Hope they don't discontinue the 29mm BP motors. I know they can fly with readily available composites, but nice to have a cheaper option.

 

[Nytrunner]

Kits like the mammoth and star orbiter are likely the direction of pro series now. Lighter, common parts for use on those long burning 29mm blackpowders

 

[rharshberger]

Kits like the mammoth and star orbiter are likely the direction of pro series now. Lighter, common parts for use on those long burning 29mm blackpowders

I concur, PS kits using lighter weight tubing and nosecones standard for Estes. Really the only thing making a Star Orbiter a PSII kit is the 29mm motor mount.

 

[Nytrunner]

I've got some 1/32 Basswood I think I'm going to put on it. Just to keep up ny tradition of putting stupid motors in Pro Series

 

[rharshberger]

I've got some 1/32 Basswood I think I'm going to put on it. Just to keep up ny tradition of putting stupid motors in Pro Series

Probably a good idea, make the fins a bit tougher.

 

[deangelo54]

You all have a very good understanding of the PS II series. The advantage of using composite engines versus the 29mm BP motors is that you don't have to pay Hazmat fees with composite engines up to F67. Then again if you buy enough 29mm BP motors the Hazmat fee doesn't sting as much. Given the high prices and scarcity of single use Aerotech engines I should start to take a closer look at the BP engines.

Back when I got my Scion kit and saw that there were four fins in the package it didn't take long to realize that the bag was the same package for the Leviathan. I saved the extra fin and used it as the pattern for my scratch built Leviathan.

 

[RocketT.Coyote]

Titan II, LTV Scout, ALCM-A, and 1:100 scale Saturn 1b.

 

[deangelo54]

At NY Power 2017 they ran a fund raiser auction. I got a Titan II kit that I donated to the CMASS Bill Spadafora scholarship fund online auction. It certainly is a nice kit that went to two good causes.

 

[sl98]

Strike this one off the wish list.

 

[Woody's Workshop]

I would like to see all the rockets from the V2 to the end of the space shuttles.
Perhaps a joint venture with one of the plastic model manufacturers for the crawler vehicle, tower and relative buildings.
And a cardboard printed layout with Cape Canaveral, with more plastic building for water towers and the like.
Perhaps even some vehicles of the time.
And oh year, everything in the same scale.
Wouldn't be awesome to set that up at a club launch?
Stake the layout down, everyone brings a rocket and put's it in place?
I use to have something like that as I was a kid, static of coarse.
I don't know what ever happened to it.
I remember taking the plastic model of the LEM to school for show and tell.
It was a 24 month subscription my parents got me for Christmas in 1969.
Each month you get a work book you had to match wet em stick em decals for the book that matched the corresponding chapter of history of space flight.
And a piece of the layout and a plastic rocket to build. Buildings and things were all cardboard. Fold and insert tabs. Same kind of tabs fit into the layout.

 

[justinwebb]

Strike this one off the wish list.


View attachment 368818

Just found one of these at a local hobby store that was old stock.

 

[deangelo54]

That Subscription that Woody wrote about sounds like a great activity for a kid. Unfortunately you don't see much of that sort of thing today. In defense of the younger kids I must say that those robotic Lego sets look good.
Oh ya this is the kits we would like to see come back thread. The Saturn V is supposed to be available soon, any word?

 

[kuririn]

That Subscription that Woody wrote about sounds like a great activity for a kid. Unfortunately you don't see much of that sort of thing today. In defense of the younger kids I must say that those robotic Lego sets look good.
Oh ya this is the kits we would like to see come back thread. The Saturn V is supposed to be available soon, any word?

It was available, briefly. DeltaVee scored one before it was sold out on the Estes website. 500 went to hobby stores nationwide, check your local store. Or, wait until January when it becomes available to the general public again.
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/estes-1969-saturn-v-status.149279/page-3#post-1839876
https://www.estesrockets.com/coming-soon/

 

[Tyler P]

Now that I'm almost done my Argent, I think they really need to bring that one back. It's such a nice kit. I'm glad I picked up second one when I had the chance.

 

[JumpJet]

If you guys really want to see the Pro Series Builder kits come back I would suggest you FLOOD the Estes Face Book Page with such comments.

John Boren

 

[neil_w]

If you guys really want to see the Pro Series Builder kits come back I would suggest you FLOOD the Estes Face Book Page with such comments.

Now that is interesting, in that the comments might have an effect.

I'm always a bit surprised that Estes does not have more of a presence here. Your participation here is always greatly appreciated, but I'd also expect the marketing and/or sales department to be here, at least a little. Maybe they just lurk, but pointing folks to the Facebook page suggests all their attention goes there. As someone who is generally not interested in using Facebook for various reasons, that's kind of a bummer.

 

[BSNW]

I don't Facebook either.....I will just keep sending my pleas via email for the Interceptor-E AND the Pro-series II builder kits. Dear Estes.....

 

[SaintJohn]

I'd love to see:

-Pro Series II kits (non-E2X)
-Fat Boy (and a Mega Fat Boy Pro Series II kit to accompany it)

 

[Scott_650]

I'd love to see:

-Pro Series II kits (non-E2X)
-Fat Boy (and a Mega Fat Boy Pro Series II kit to accompany it)

Oh, now that’s interesting - a Mega Fat Boy with a 29mm motor mount...

 

[Tyler P]

If you guys really want to see the Pro Series Builder kits come back I would suggest you FLOOD the Estes Face Book Page with such comments.

John Boren

I've got my build thread for the Argent going over there on the Estes FB page!

 

[jlabrasca]

As someone who is generally not interested in using Facebook for various reasons, that's kind of a bummer.

Agreed. Too bad.

 

[jqavins]

I don't Facebook either

Face what? Book? Y'mean those books with photos of classmates that colleges used to give incoming freshmen?

Perhaps you meant "face palm"? I do that all the time, but I don't think it'll help bring back any OOP kits.

 

[jlabrasca]

If you guys really want to see the Pro Series Builder kits come back I would suggest you FLOOD the Estes Face Book Page with such comments.

John Boren

Imagining a Russian troll farm targeting Estes. "There is a huge demand for the Cosmos Mariner and reissues of the Cold Power rockets. Who'd've guessed? Let's see if we can lock in a good price on some R152."