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Smoothrivers

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So I', getting into this for the grandkids, We've built and launched a few of the estes sets, skill levels 1-3. I was wondering if the black plastic launch lugs, such as the one included in the Savage kit, were available to purchase anywhere, a web and ebay search has proven fruitless..Heck I can't even find a picture of them, I have plenty of the white lugs, I'm just looking to cut down on build time.

Thanks
 
I suspect that's a part Estes has custom-made especially for their easier-to-build kits. Most people who stick to the hobby would move on to lighter, less "draggy", cheaper tubes, or tougher, more realistic rails. Just a hunch, because I doubt any company (other than Estes) would sell enough of those to make it worthwhile, but I could be wrong. Maybe someone else has definitive answers. Welcome to the forums by the way. Good question.
 
Welcome!

Maybe it's just me, but I find regular lugs to be very very easy to apply, especially if you use a single long lug (2" or so) then you don't have to worry about aligning the two.
Ah, never thought of that particular solve, I may just go that route instead, thanks.
 
Welcome to the fun. I've found those plastic lugs to not stay attached well. If they come off on you I recommend switching to what @Funkworks shows above. Elmer's white glue is good enough for attaching the tube lugs but make sure it is the all purpose formula and not the school glue. School glue is known to be weaker.
 
Yes, I have packs of those I use now, I always build using gorilla glue wood glue, and it seems to hold up pretty well.
 
For cosmetic purposes, if you like, you can use a black Sharpie to color them black (careful of your fingers) before you glue them on. Glue seems to penetrare through the Black Ink quite well. Your mileage may vary. May want to try this on a scrap piece of tubing first.

You can also get paper soda straws dirt cheap online. They are a little bit bigger than standard launch lugs, but being paper, they attached with paper white glue or wood glue quite well. The plastic straws you get at drive-thrus do not attach well with wood or white glue and usually require epoxy. I don't like epoxy because of the fumes, and it certainly is not recommended for young kids.
 
Welcome to the forum! I also launch to thrill my grandkids! My launch setup consists of a home-made launch pad that my son made years ago, and a home-made battery box with over-the-top (but functional) LED's, a big red LAUNCH! button, and graphics of Duck Dodgers & Marvin the Martian, Wile E. Coyote lighting his tail instead of the rocket fuse, Snoopy on the Apollo X mission patch and as the first Beagle on the moon, and so on... very exciting for them. Last year, the oldest of the 3 grandkids at the launch was so thrilled with it that she was pretending she was a rocket, running around with her hands pointed up over her head!

Attach01-4x6cr.jpg

Just some ideas, I like to show them some unusual things, so I have 2 kits from Odd'l Rockets - "Birdie" (an honest-to-goodness rocket powered badminton birdie), and "Pigasus", just for fun. I just ordered two more - "Breakaway" and "Cylcone" to show them there is more than one way to get back to earth safely - just use your imagination, is the idea. And finally, Randy over at erockets.biz apparently has a bunch of MPC "Duck Dodgers" almost ready to fly kits he wants to get rid of. You can get 3 rockets - Duck Dodgers, Marvin the Martian, and Porky Pig as the Space Cadet - all three for only $9.99 and shipping. They call for C6-3's to go to 260 ft, I'll use Quest D16-4's for a little more excitement. I'm stuck with a small field but even I can do 300-350ft safely.

PM me if you want to chat or just post here - I like ideas that give kids something fun to do outside that can really steer them toward the sciences and engineering!
 
Just some ideas, I like to show them some unusual things, so I have 2 kits from Odd'l Rockets - "Birdie" (an honest-to-goodness rocket powered badminton birdie), and "Pigasus", just for fun. I just ordered two more - "Breakaway" and "Cylcone" to show them there is more than one way to get back to earth safely - just use your imagination, is the idea.
Cyclone is great fun. Chris is not kidding when he says start with the 1/2A motor... and maybe stay with it, unless you have a big field and/or very good eyes. :)
 
Thanks Neil, I'll probably use fluorescent coloring on it. I understand it's a bit on the delicate side.
Maybe, but not excessively so. My first one shredded on the way up due to a spongy batch of balsa, but Odd'l replaced it for me and the second one has been rock solid over many flights. I would try not to land it on pavement, though, probably not a good formula when it's coming in spinning pretty fast. But landing on grass I haven't had any problems.

I ought to get a good video of one of its flights one of these days, it's pretty cool.
 
So I', getting into this for the grandkids, We've built and launched a few of the estes sets, skill levels 1-3. I was wondering if the black plastic launch lugs, such as the one included in the Savage kit, were available to purchase anywhere, a web and ebay search has proven fruitless..Heck I can't even find a picture of them, I have plenty of the white lugs, I'm just looking to cut down on build time.

Thanks

So I just looked back at what that Savage is... Wow, that's quite a rocket for a Newbie getting into it for the grandkids! My hat's off to you!
 
So I', getting into this for the grandkids, We've built and launched a few of the estes sets, skill levels 1-3. I was wondering if the black plastic launch lugs, such as the one included in the Savage kit, were available to purchase anywhere, a web and ebay search has proven fruitless..Heck I can't even find a picture of them, I have plenty of the white lugs, I'm just looking to cut down on build time.

Thanks
Just as a closeout to this thread I heard back from Estes Support



Thank you for contacting Estes customer service. I have located the instructions #2473 for the Savage rocket and determined that you are seeking the launch lug #038186. This item is not sold separately. Please include your mailing address and I will mail one to you as a one time accommodation.

Thank you,

Sandra D. Cox

Customer Service
Estes Industries, LLC
1295 H Street
Penrose, CO 81240
 
Thank you for contacting Estes customer service. I have located the instructions #2473 for the Savage rocket and determined that you are seeking the launch lug #038186. This item is not sold separately. Please include your mailing address and I will mail one to you as a one time accommodation.

The folks at Estes are great!

I seldom buy launch lugs. They're easy to make, in just about any size you need. I make mine out of typing paper, and wrap them around something that seems to be close in size. I've found it's better to be a little big than a little small. As mentioned before, you can color them with a marker if you need to match, or you could roll them from colored paper.
 
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