Blank Estes parachutes in kits?

[qquake2k]

Has anybody else run across this? I just got a new Estes Big Daddy and Alpha III, and the parachutes in both kits are plain - no printing on them. The Alpha III came with a plain white 'chute, and the Big Daddy came with a plain red 'chute. In both was the attached notice. Anybody know what this means?

Jim

 

[SCE to AUX]

Apparently, the Chinese company that was printing the chutes was using an ink that contained lead or some other banned substance, that failed the new CPSIA toy safety standards. Until a suitable substitute can be found, they are substituting plain plastic ones.

 

[NjCo]

Does anyone know if this is still the same with the latest kits that Estes has released that showed up in stores a couple months ago? The new store at the Estes website shows the hugely expensive replacement parachutes in a solid red color. Have these made it into the new kits?

 

[kullas]

I just built a Photon Probe part of there classic series. I was told that it hadn't made it out in the stores yet and it had a plain red chute

 

[H_Rocket]

Apparently, the Chinese company that was printing the chutes was using an ink that contained lead or some other banned substance, that failed the new CPSIA toy safety standards. Until a suitable substitute can be found, they are substituting plain plastic ones.

In the mean time we strongly suggest you do not eat the brightly colored ones. If you feel you must add some parachute to your daily intake, consider the additional roughage offered by a nice top flite ripstop nylon one.

 

[sylvie369]

Thin mil Top Flight nylon parachutes are fairly inexpensive, work well in cold weather, last much longer than plastic ones, pack into roughly the same space, and they're made in the U.S. by a solid supporter of model and high power rocketry.

They also boost your immune system, provide 75% of your RDA of eight vitamins and minerals, and help you in your effort to stop smoking. And they've been cholesterol-free since 1997.

 

[gpoehlein]

Yeah - I'm resurrecting an old thread, but why start a new one when my comment fits here?

Any way, I just popped open an Alpha III I grabbed at HL a couple weeks ago with an idea toward kit bashing. (I'll do a new thread on that one as soon as I can get some pics, but suffice to say I used the fin can and motor mount from the Alpha III, a yellow tube from the Skywriter No. 2 and the nose cone from a Guardian (painted red) to make a strange looking bird.) When I opened the white chute from the Alpha III, I discovered something interesting - the shroud lines are now rigged on opposite sides rather than on each of three sides. According to John "Micromeister" McCoy, rigging your chutes this way helps to reduce tangles. (see post 9 in this thread: https://www.rocketryforumarchive.com/showthread.php?t=49189&highlight=chute )

I just found it interesting that Estes was using this method now after all these years!

 

[o1d_dude]

Estes is probably doing this because IT WORKS.

I'm a believer and tie all my chutes that way.

 

[RoyAtl]

Yeah - I'm resurrecting an old thread, but why start a new one when my comment fits here?

Any way, I just popped open an Alpha III I grabbed at HL a couple weeks ago with an idea toward kit bashing. (I'll do a new thread on that one as soon as I can get some pics, but suffice to say I used the fin can and motor mount from the Alpha III, a yellow tube from the Skywriter No. 2 and the nose cone from a Guardian (painted red) to make a strange looking bird.) When I opened the white chute from the Alpha III, I discovered something interesting - the shroud lines are now rigged on opposite sides rather than on each of three sides. According to John "Micromeister" McCoy, rigging your chutes this way helps to reduce tangles. (see post 9 in this thread: https://www.rocketryforumarchive.com/showthread.php?t=49189&highlight=chute )

I just found it interesting that Estes was using this method now after all these years!

yes, and on their new printed 'chutes, they are using harder-finished carpet thread -- similar to, but better than, the thread they used for most of their existance, before offshoring to China.