Initiator001
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Who participated in any of the Estes tours prior to NSL 2023 West and what was it like?
Estes Tour NSL 2023
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I took the tour today. Will post pictures when I get home. Very nice tour by Estes chief of staff and HR, Stacy.
It was informative. We even got to see cool pieces of history. For example, we toured the tiny “dark rooms” where Estes would make the film for the “Camroc” and where that same film was developed. We toured the room at Estes where the original Penrose, Colorado post office was located (it was in the Estes building). We toured the “brainstorming” room where plans are being made for the next 5 years. I even saw the “bring backs” board where classic kits being considered for re-issue are shown on sticky notes. It was like pulling back the curtain on the fun future of the hobby and seeing the possibilities by one of its major vendors.
Here are swag bags received by each person on the tour, including a post card signed by Vern and Gleda Estes.
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A dark room with sticky notes of possible Classic reissues! YOU HAVE ENTETED THE HOLY OF HOLIES!
I looked over the possible re-issues and there was one, high up the list, that caught my eye. Out of respect for our very nice tour guide, I will not reveal what I saw, but some BAR’s who like some of the classic kits may be very happy in the future.
I am eternally jealous that you get to see that but I respect your decision to keep it close to your chest.
And not begrudgingly either, I’m saying that it earns my respect, I think it’s the right thing to do.
I hope they open the Ark of the Model Rocket and immersed in Heavenly Gold rays of light, out will emerge...the reissue Maxi Brute Pershing 1A!
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We got to tour the prototyping room and were allowed to take pictures. Got some pictures of prototypes that may become future kits. Let me see if I can find those pictures on my phone.
We were the last tour of the day at 3:20 PM.
We were the last tour of the day at 3:20 PM.
What I would give for a workshop that clean…
Except, you know, cleaning my workshop.
Do I spy an HV Arcas?
Except, you know, cleaning my workshop.
Do I spy an HV Arcas?
Silly airplane rockets, pods and lots of fins up front! Sooooo excited! Sooooo cool!
Like a secret lab located with in a desolate volcanic island. The layer of an evil genius. Call in Bond. James Bond!
Like a secret lab located with in a desolate volcanic island. The layer of an evil genius. Call in Bond. James Bond!
Some more pictures from the tour of Estes HQ in Penrose, Colorado, May 26, 2023, at 3:20 PM.
Cool! Thanks for sharing.
Silly airplane rockets, pods and lots of fins up front! Sooooo excited! Sooooo cool!
Like a secret lab located with in a desolate volcanic island. The layer of an evil genius. Call in Bond. James Bond!
Or this guy lurking in the background.
My wife and I took the tour on Thursday, lasted about 2 hours. The tour was lead by Bill Stine.
Bill was a great host. Shared some fun (like the very 60’s cool turquoise carpet that formerly graced the lobby) and a tremendous insight to business operations. He has an amazingly in-depth knowledge of all aspects of the business. Spoke to their customer relationship management, operations and some of the forecasting challenges.
The design area was cool, and Bill shared the balance of bringing back our old favorites and designing new rockets that will be the ‘next generation’ old favorites.
We toured the main (and original) building, saw the areas mentioned by brockrwood. Also had a chance to meet the graphics team.
Toured one of the production buildings. Saw the rocket motor printer, the recovery wadding machinery. Saw the igniter equipment clicking out a steady flow of … igniters. The team was packaging for shipping, and the finished good warehouse was a bit heavenly.
We returned to the main building and had the opportunity to meet with Vern and Gleda Estes.
They were quite engaging, Vern announcing he had brought his ‘favorite wife’ with him
A great memento from the day, is aa Antar kit (designed by G Harry Stine) and signed by Bill, Vern and Glenda.
It was a fantastic opportunity to see inside such a special place (hasn’t been open to the public since the 1980’s) and meet so many of model rocketry’s royalty.
All around great day.
-mike
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I don’t know about the others, but to me that photo inspires a certain…reverence, I guess. I doubt we’ll ever truly know how much we owe them.
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