What is your favorite OOP model rocket kit?

[Michael MacDonald]

The original Estes Mars Snooper K20.

NOT the Mars Snooper II.

Also, it must be red.

 

[Alan15578]

The original Estes Mars Snooper K20.

NOT the Mars Snooper II.

Also, it must be red.

That was my first rocket. In my rush to build and fly it I neglected to seal and fill the balsa, but I did paint it all red. My second rocket, the Apogee II, turned out much better.

 

[Michael MacDonald]

That was my first rocket. In my rush to build and fly it I neglected to seal and fill the balsa, but I did paint it all red. My second rocket, the Apogee II, turned out much better.

First kit? You jumped right in.

Mine first was an Estes Astron Scout. I painted it white and put a B in it. Never saw its apogee but remarkably it landed about 100' from the launch site. Second flight I put a C in it and lost it forever.

 

[Sandhawk]

This one. Always flew great.

 

[BEC]

My Favorite used to be the Estes Starship Excalibur.View attachment 381456
Then it was the Estes USS AmericaView attachment 381457
Now I'm really into the Estes Sentinel
View attachment 381458

You know, of course, that that Starship Excalibur was never kitted by Estes. However, it has since then been kitted by Semroc (now at erockets.biz): https://www.erockets.biz/semroc-flying-model-rocket-kit-starship-excalibur-sem-kv-85/

It flies quite well, too.

 

[Event Horizon]

You know, of course, that that Starship Excalibur was never kitted by Estes. However, it has since then been kitted by Semroc (now at erockets.biz): https://www.erockets.biz/semroc-flying-model-rocket-kit-starship-excalibur-sem-kv-85/

It flies quite well, too.

BEC, thanks for the clarification on Estes not kitting the Starship Excalibur. I was trying to remember exactly how that worked. Could it have been that Estes sold the plans and a list of parts for the rocket ? I must have bashed it together from parts back in the early to middle 70s. Yes I do have the Semroc kit now too, haven't built it yet. The original Starship Excalibur I built was destroyed in a launch incident...

 

[BEC]

It was a free model plan....I'm not sure how they were distributed. https://www.spacemodeling.org/jimz/eirp_55.htm It's always been one of my favorite designs. Laser cutting in the Semroc kit did make it a little easier to build, but there's still quite a bit of sanding/shaping to do.

Estes DID kit something called "Starship Excalibur". It was similar in some ways, but not the same: https://plans.rocketshoppe.com/estes/est1920/est1920.htm

 

[Event Horizon]

Estes DID kit something called "Starship Excalibur". It was similar in some ways, but not the same: https://plans.rocketshoppe.com/estes/est1920/est1920.htm

I've seen that one on the internet. The biggest difference I could spot is the change from streamlined nose and tailcone pods on the tip of the three fins to the "radar" appearing fin tip pods.

 

[Alan15578]

BEC, thanks for the clarification on Estes not kitting the Starship Excalibur. I was trying to remember exactly how that worked. Could it have been that Estes sold the plans and a list of parts for the rocket ? I must have bashed it together from parts back in the early to middle 70s. Yes I do have the Semroc kit now too, haven't built it yet. The original Starship Excalibur I built was destroyed in a launch incident...

It was a plan first published in Model Rocket News. They may have published it in a later publication as well.
I built one. The hardest part was sanding that big balsa strip to glue to the tube. Mine was well finished with genuine Estes Astroseal.

 

[Event Horizon]

Alan15578 It was a plan first published in Model Rocket News. They may have published it in a later publication as well.
I built one. The hardest part was sanding that big balsa strip to glue to the tube. Mine was well finished with genuine Estes Astroseal.

I do remember fitting the passenger bay roof balsa (that big balsa strip) to the body tube. I t was an enjoyable build.

 

[beeblebrox]

I always liked the Bandit. It was my 3rd kit ever. (#1: Alpha, #2: Beta)
I want to paint it in negative image...

 

[jetlag]

BEC, thanks for the clarification on Estes not kitting the Starship Excalibur. I was trying to remember exactly how that worked. Could it have been that Estes sold the plans and a list of parts for the rocket ? I must have bashed it together from parts back in the early to middle 70s. Yes I do have the Semroc kit now too, haven't built it yet. The original Starship Excalibur I built was destroyed in a launch incident...

Actually, Estes did kit the Starship Excalibur, just not the original design in MRN. That one uses pods out on the fin tips. The one Estes released replaced the pods with laser cannons.
I built the original and have the released kit in it's bag sealed.
Semroc has the clone of the original version offered.
The original is more pleasing than the released kit with the cannons.
Allen

 

[jetlag]

Actually, Estes did kit the Starship Excalibur, just not the original design in MRN. That one uses pods out on the fin tips. The one Estes released replaced the pods with laser cannons.
I built the original and have the released kit in it's bag sealed.
Semroc has the clone of the original version offered.
The original is more pleasing than the released kit with the cannons.
Allen

 

[jetlag]

I always loved the Trident, Orbital Transport, the Sandhawk, and the Mars Lander. The Saturn 1B I built at age 12 was one of the hardest kits I ever did build. Wish my brother had not destroyed it while I was at college...

Allen

 

[EvryThngIsAOk]

After a lot of thought narrowed it down to 4.
1. Mercury/Atlas. Large majestic and a beautiful flyer especially on larger reloads.
2. k-21 Gemini Titan. Just a great build and seems to be the elusive unicorn of model rockets for many.
3. Centuri Buck Rodgers Starfighter. Just because I loved the design, twin nose rear ejection high flyer.
4. The Starfighter combo. great designs, affordable and good flyer. Thanks to Tango Papa decals and semroc they are both easily clonable but the original is always nice to have.

 

[Bill Gibson]

Estes Arcas.....just plain clean, and nice size......ive built and flown the Semeroc and Rcketarium versions......very nice ships!!

 

[steveh.jae]

Estes : Astron Scrambler, A20 Demon, Bandit, Farside-X

Centuri : Orion, Aero-Dart, T-Bird, Enerjet Egg Crate

FSI : BLACK BRANT II, OSO, EOS, Argo D-4 Javelin

Dave, did you build a javelin?

 

[neil_w]

I always liked the Bandit. It was my 3rd kit ever. (#1: Alpha, #2: Beta)
View attachment 382550 I want to paint it in negative image...View attachment 382551

Looks good both ways! Another good example of a simple rocket with a fantastic paint scheme.

 

[Ez2cDave]

Dave, did you build a javelin?

Yes, I did . . . 2 or 3 of them.

Back in the day, I converted it to 3 stages ( mercury switch / flashbulb system ) . . . To keep it "Safety Code Legal", back then, it was flown E60-4, D12-5, D12-7.

Dave F.

 

[gldknght]

I like the Estes Maxi Honest John. Big, cool, and D-powered!

All of the Maxi-Brute rockets. I sure wish Estes would bring these back!!!

 

[NateB]

The AIM-9 Sidewinder was the first scale and first "big" rocket I built when I was in 7th grade.

 

[steveh.jae]

Yes, I did . . . 2 or 3 of them.

Back in the day, I converted it to 3 stages ( mercury switch / flashbulb system ) . . . To keep it "Safety Code Legal", back then, it was flown E60-4, D12-5, D12-7.

Dave F.

Somehow seeing “mercury switch” in such close proximity to “safety code legal” bemuses me. It might make more sense if you defined “back then”. I imagine it was when we were BOTH young. Do you have any pictures of your Javelins?

 

[Ez2cDave]

Somehow seeing “mercury switch” in such close proximity to “safety code legal” bemuses me. It might make more sense if you defined “back then”. I imagine it was when we were BOTH young. Do you have any pictures of your Javelins?

Mercury Switch Staging was very common, "back in the day", and used in combination with Flashbulb Ignition ( AG1 flashbulbs ), a technique pioneered by John Langford, the current owner of Estes,Also, FSI M-100 Electric Matches were widely used, too !

I have attached a few vintage items from that time period . . . Perfectly "legal" under the Safety Code, back then.

More than two stages required the use of an "inhibitor" that prevent premature ignition of all upper stages, until after separation of each booster stage. The system was "hot" again, at that point. Tiny Roller Switches were commonly used as "inhibitors".

Dave F.

 

[Mugs914]

Estes LTV Scout. I liked the real rocket, the kit was awesome, it was a great flyer, and with all of the odd tube sizes used to make it scale it is almost impossible to clone.

PLEASE bring it back, I'll buy a bunch of 'em!

 

[steveh.jae]

Mercury Switch Staging was very common, "back in the day", and used in combination with Flashbulb Ignition ( AG1 flashbulbs ), a technique pioneered by John Langford, the current owner of Estes,Also, FSI M-100 Electric Matches were widely used, too !

I have attached a few vintage items from that time period . . . Perfectly "legal" under the Safety Code, back then.

More than two stages required the use of an "inhibitor" that prevent premature ignition of all upper stages, until after separation of each booster stage. The system was "hot" again, at that point. Tiny Roller Switches were commonly used as "inhibitors".

Dave F.

View attachment 450389View attachment 450390View attachment 450392View attachment 450393View attachment 450394View attachment 450395View attachment 450396View attachment 450397View attachment 450398View attachment 450399

Thanks for sharing Dave! Great articles. Please understand that I was NOT casting any aspersions. I just don’t think Hg switches would “fly” in hobby rocketry today. I hadn’t thought deceleration would be sufficient to complete contact, and that attitude change at apogee would trigger the ignition. Horizontal vectors are normally sub-optimal. I guess I hadn’t thought it through. Would you email me a pdf of these articles please?
Best,
Steve

 

[Hobie1dog]

Estes Marte Mk 2

 

[Scott_650]

Estes LTV Scout. I liked the real rocket, the kit was awesome, it was a great flyer, and with all of the odd tube sizes used to make it scale it is almost impossible to clone.

PLEASE bring it back, I'll buy a bunch of 'em!

Surprising that Boyce Aerospace doesn’t have an LTV Scout kit - something like this would be a great use for 3D printing.

 

[BABAR]

Estes Marte 2

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ESTES-1940...tem4dbd6a3079:g:bnYAAOSwwz1f3XBH&LH_Auction=1
just an FYI, not my listing

 

[Hobie1dog]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ESTES-1940...tem4dbd6a3079:g:bnYAAOSwwz1f3XBH&LH_Auction=1
just an FYI, not my listing

$60.00 is too rich for my blood, but I would love to have it. It's my favorite rocket with all those fins.

 

[Ogre3713]

The Estes Fatboy