Estes 1/200 Scale RTF Saturn V

[BEC]

Well....it will be soon . The 1/200 Saturn V is now shown as in stock on the Estes site, so it should be arriving at AC Supply soon.

 

[Space Ranger]

I just can’t wait to see a build thread for this one!

Why wait? Check out John Boren's comprehensive build video in post #1 -its pretty much all there

 

[MikeT]

Great. I'm picking one up.
Mike

 

[Initiator001]

Well....it will be soon . The 1/200 Saturn V is now shown as in stock on the Estes site, so it should be arriving at AC Supply soon.

Mine should be here next week. I ordered it direct from Estes.

 

[russell_t]

Greetings all - AC Supply's web site now reads "Due April 12" for the 1/200 Saturn V RTF. I'm planning to use this model to introduce my grandson to the hobby. If he shows interest, I have several kits tucked away that he might enjoy building.

 

[EvryThngIsAOk]

Orders mine from AC supply but have not gotten an email confirmation yet.
If I don’t soon I guess I will reorder

 

[ThirstyBarbarian]

On Thursday of last week, I sent an email to AC Supply asking about the status. I got a reply back that there was something going on with the shipper, but they expected the kits to arrive as soon as the next day (Friday). He said they would start shipping orders out as soon as Friday and probably get them out at least by Tuesday (Today). I hadn’t received my shipping notification email today by noon, but I expect it to happen by tomorrow, or at least this week sometime. AC Supply is usually pretty reliable.

 

[BEC]

I was wondering about that, too....but have been hesitant to bug them. I will try to be patient.

 

[ThirstyBarbarian]

I was wondering about that, too....but have been hesitant to bug them. I will try to be patient.

The main reason I was checking is that I had gone out of town for 2 weeks, and I wanted to be sure it hadn’t shipped while I was away. It seems a bit behind schedule, but I’m not really concerned.

 

[Initiator001]

Mine arrived last week.

In case you are wondering about actual flight mass, I put mine on a digital scale with parachute but no motor.

136 g

4.8 oz.

 

[1778ppr]

Initiator,
Did you get your's from AC Supply? I'm still waiting on the 2 I pre-ordered over a month ago. I'll post when I get mine.

I see you ordered direct from Estes.

 

[ThirstyBarbarian]

I just got a notice from UPS that I am receiving a package from MIDWEST MODEL SUPPLY, scheduled for delivery next Tuesday, the 23rd. The name is different, but I assume that is the order from AC Supply,

 

[BBowmaster]

I received mine from Estes today. However the offer for the poster is not working. I’m on mobile, so perhaps that is why. Has anyone successfully ordered their poster?

 

[BEC]

I just got a notice from UPS that I am receiving a package from MIDWEST MODEL SUPPLY, scheduled for delivery next Tuesday, the 23rd. The name is different, but I assume that is the order from AC Supply,

Yeah, me too. I'm waiting for some origin info to show up (when UPS actually gets the box) to confirm.

 

[GlenP]

I ordered on 3/13 and got the email with tracking info on 4/17, shows that it is in transit. One for me, and one for a donation to a rocketry-themed gift basket for my kid's school auction fundraiser (which will also include the #1969, Mercury Redstone, and the Little Joes as well).

 

[1778ppr]

Just arrived in the mail today from AC supply. Looks like an Estes D12-3 conversion would not be to difficult.

 

[Lukun7]

How high does this go with C6-3, and would it be possible to launch it with a B6/B4-2, or even an A8-0?

 

[Space Ranger]

Just arrived in the mail today from AC supply. Looks like an Estes D12-3 conversion would not be to difficult.

Maybe someone could design and 3d print a modified 24mm motor mount/aft ring/plate and offer for sale.... may need additional nose weight arrangement.

 

[BBowmaster]

How high does this go with C6-3, and would it be possible to launch it with a B6/B4-2, or even an A8-0?

It says 200ft with a C6-3. A B6-2 might get it safely to 100ft. I’m not sure an A8 would have enough velocity off the rail to be stable.

 

[1778ppr]

Maybe someone could design and 3d print a modified 24mm motor mount/aft ring/plate and offer for sale.... may need additional nose weight arrangement.

I'd buy one. Estes (C11-3? or) D12-3 are probably easier and lower cost than the Quest 18mm motors. Where's "The Place" to buy quest motors? For stability, adding nose weight would not be very hard to do for this model.

 

[DeltaVee]

I got a close up look at one of these at a local hobby shop... I have to say it looks pretty good overall. Not crazy about the slots on the F-1 fairings but it's still not too bad at all. A re-paint on the service module (couple of white patches here and there) would really help... but probably not worth the effort when you consider you're several feet away at launch time. I think an AT D21-4 would give it a pretty good ride, too.

 

[BEC]

Q-Jets can be had from a number of online vendors. I've gotten some from jonrocket.com, Sirius Rocketry, buyrocketmotors.com and - in the case of a recently purchased C12-6 bulk bag of 25, direct from Quest. Be sure to figure in shipping when looking at the various vendors' prices. They are available from others as well....these are just vendors from which I've purchased Q-Jets.

I am expecting my box from AC Supply with two of these models on Tuesday. I have a couple of C12-4s ready for them.

 

[dpower]

SmartLaunch says ~260’ on C6-3, ~320’ on C12-4, ~430 on D16-4. Sirius Rocketry has 12 packs of Q-Jets for a reasonable price.

 

[astronwolf]

Just arrived in the mail today from AC supply. Looks like an Estes D12-3 conversion would not be to difficult.

The motor thrust ring is plastic? Isn't that a little bit "melty?"

 

[astronwolf]

Why wait? Check out John Boren's comprehensive build video in post #1 -its pretty much all there

There is no such thing.

 

[BABAR]

Mine arrived last week.

In case you are wondering about actual flight mass, I put mine on a digital scale with parachute but no motor.

136 g

4.8 oz.

136 grams without motor?

Makes me wonder..... per Estes engine chart max recommended lift off weight for C6-3 is 113 grams.

https://courses.washington.edu/engr100/All_Sections/Rocket/HTML Handouts/01b_hnd_engine_chart.pdf

Am I just conservative or does Estes have a habit of putting too small a motor mount in some of their more complex birds. I modified my ExoSkell and Venus Probe rockets for D12s and they flew great, I have my doubts about how well they would do on Cs. I think the MIRV booster was extremely underpowered on Cs.

May be a good candidate for the Quest 18 mm Ds. Be kind of ironic for Estes to put out a rocket that flies best on non-Estes Motors.

 

[BABAR]

From the catalog page
https://estesrockets.com/product/002160-saturn-v-1200th-scale-ready-to-fly/
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Length
21.8 in. (55.4 cm)

Diameter
1.98 in. (50 mm)

Estimated Weight
5 oz. (141.7 g)

Recovery
18 in. (45.7 cm) Parachute

Recommended Engines
C6-3

Projected Ma Altitude
200 ft. (61 m)

 

[Exactimator]

I got mine and two packs of C6-3s. Can't wait to try it this weekend!

 

[Eljay]

It's pretty marginal on a C6-3. Starts a gentle arc immediately, which means it probably only got to 150 feet and the delay if anything was long. Much, much more authoritative liftoff on a D16-4 and still didn't go all that high. It's just a baby D, total impulse is much lower than say a D10. That would be a really interesting option.

 

[MikeT]

Just got my shipping notice from Horizon Hobby.

Mike