Pictures of New 2020 Release Estes Rockets

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Scott_650

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Recently posted pix of some of the new Estes rockets for 2020. Jesse Ulibarri pointed these out on a couple of rocketry FB pages - originally posted by “Modelrocketguy” who said he had permission from Estes to release them.

I find the LEO Space Train interesting - does that rail and pod structure slide forward to change the CoG so the whole thing glides for recovery? The SST shows yet another repurposing of the Interceptor nose cone. And we can see that John Boren still loves his laser cutter - look at the details on the Lunar Scout.
 
The LEO Space Train is probably just a regular nose blow rocket, and the "rails" or chines and pod don't do anything except add interest. Its a good looking kit and I will probably get one.
 
I can see myself picking up the TAZZ, Gryphon, Lunar Scout, and the Low Boom SST. I'm also intrigued by the Starship Octavious's nosecone.
 
The LEO Space Train appears to be based on the Boeing XS-1 Phantom Express project under construction for DARPA. It is a rapid launch two-stage to orbit vehicle with a recoverable booster. First flight should occur in the next year or two.

The Low Boom SST is similar to the NASA/Lockheed X-59 QueSST project. First flight of the X-59 is expected in April/May 2021.
 
I find the LEO Space Train interesting - does that rail and pod structure slide forward to change the CoG so the whole thing glides for recovery?

The Leo Space train is a standard nose blow, parachute recovery, it doesn't glide.
It's a detailed build, face card masking is a challenge. The finished model design looks great.
I built one for Estes, it'll be on my build blog as soon as it is on their website "NEW" page.

Current blog build is the Estes Boosted Bertha -
 
I'm in for everything on this table at least! Some cool looking stuff! And although I'm not really into the plastic snap-together stuff, I might have to get an Octavius just for the nose cone!

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The Leo Space train is a standard nose blow, parachute recovery, it doesn't glide.
It's a detailed build, face card masking is a challenge. The finished model design looks great.
I built one for Estes, it'll be on my build blog as soon as it is on their website "NEW" page.

Current blog build is the Estes Boosted Bertha -

Well, it still a really interesting rocket even if it’s not as complicated as I hoped ;)
 
The Low Boom SST is my favorite of the new ones. Is that the small or large Interceptor NC?
 
Still waiting to see what the rest of the Side Kick looks like.
Got a glimpse of the nose section on the poster at the hobby show thread.
 
WELL DONE ESTES! I want ALL of them! I saw the real world version of the leo space train in an add on a website and thought it would be a GREAT model rocket! Yahoo! I will get three of everything.....no joking.
Way to go Estes! Very cool.
BTW: where is our new Interceptor E? ......just asking... :)
Andrew
 
That Orange Bullet looks too small to have a chute or streamer, it would appear to be a featherweight-recovery or tumble-recovery model. Must be more to it than meets the eye, with a MSRP of $11.99 (!?)
 
Posted on YORF:
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"Much Harder to Make" has my attention. The picture doesn't really show them too much, and now very curious to see what the look like from underneath...
 
I would have liked to see one Pro Upscale kit. Too bad.

I too would have loved to see an offering for the 29mm BP motors. Heck, even a 24mm "two banger" (2 D12 motor cluster) like they did awhile ago. Estes needs to know that there is truly a market for the Pro-Series stuff...all they have to do is build and sell them.
Andrew
 
I would like to see a list of who else has exclusive kits like Hobby Lobby or if HL is the only one with that agreement.
Regular releases.

Actually will be interesting to see when HL gets something new, since they only got their set of exclusives pretty recently.
 
I would like to see a list of who else has exclusive kits like Hobby Lobby or if HL is the only one with that agreement.

I think something like that might be a question that Estes customer service could answer. It's not proprietary like HOW the partnership works, and it would benefit Estes to let their customers know where to go to get their products. Some companies will actually display "(insert store name) EXCLUSIVE ONLY!" on their websites (eg, Hasbro's Transformers toys and Target stores). I haven't seen that kind of advertising on Estes' site, but it would behoove them to do so.
 
I will be *very* surprised if anyone other than HL has such an agreement. What other retailer drives as much rocket sales to justify it?
+1. IIRC Estes was in danger of losing HL as a retailer, so they came up with the exclusivity deal. Win/win for both, as Estes stays in HL stores and HL gets to sell kits that nobody else has.
 
+1. IIRC Estes was in danger of losing HL as a retailer, so they came up with the exclusivity deal. Win/win for both, as Estes stays in HL stores and HL gets to sell kits that nobody else has.

At great prices!

Also, it looks like at least some of the HL exclusives are re-badged versions the regular fleet. See the Epic II two-stager that I mentioned over in the "what did you do today" thread. Same kit as the Sterling Silver but with a new name and decal.
 
...Estes needs to know that there is truly a market for the Pro-Series stuff...all they have to do is build and sell them.
Andrew

The initial Pro Series II kit releases were a failure for Estes.
The kits did not sell at their SRP prices. They only sold/became popular when the kits were clearance/close-out priced.
Not making the motors for these products (re-labeled AeroTech) also provided less profit margin.

I think Estes is doing okay with current Pro Series kits like the Super Big Bertha and Star Orbiter. More kits like these is what Estes should be working on.
 
The initial Pro Series II kit releases were a failure for Estes.
The kits did not sell at their SRP prices. They only sold/became popular when the kits were clearance/close-out priced.
Not making the motors for these products (re-labeled AeroTech) also provided less profit margin.

I think Estes is doing okay with current Pro Series kits like the Super Big Bertha and Star Orbiter. More kits like these is what Estes should be working on.

Okay, fair enough...but Maybe they could make some more offerings (for 2020) for the 29mm black powder motors. Maybe make a reasonably priced Pro-Series kit/line...I think most folks DONT purchase kits at SRP..Maybe a good, fairly priced Pro-Series kit/line on 29mm BP motors or dual 24mm D12's can do well. I am just saying that there could be a market for larger rockets for Estes, more than a Big Bertha and Star Orbiter....I think the climate has changed considerably and there are folks who would purchase them....IMO. When you got a guy cloning the Pro-Series II kits and selling them on the internet.....I think this could be a sign that larger kits can sell and make Estes money....and us happy!

BTW....There are companies that make rockets that that they don't sell motors for....and still generate a profit. What if Estes made some good 3" and 4" pro series kits and then let the customer get their own 29mm motors? I bet if they had some style and flew well they would sell. See...LOC, Mad Cow and others who sell larger kits.
Andrew
 
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Before they start selling a two engine cluster model they had better upgrade their igniters, oops, starters.
Notice they don't have ANY clustered models in production now?
 
I have done a ton of clusters in my day and did not have too much trouble. This is a simple "problem" to solve. As long as it can still safely fly if one out of two lights....your good. At least that's how I did it....it was a hoot of a good time. The most I did on Estes motors was 4 at a time. Worked great.
 
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