New Estes Scale Kit?

I would like to see a Space Shuttle stack! A 1/100th scale would be nice to see to compliment the Saturn V.
But a 1/144th scale would be nice with a BT-70 ET and BT-50 SRB's.

Has no one else said anything on the SLS? I would like to see one too! 1/100th scale would be awesome but 1/144th is okay too! I've made a BT-80 sized one (Picture later).

Maybe an PSII Delta II? I've been thinking on a BT-80 main tube 3" payload section and BT-55 SRB's.


+1 on the Jayhawk
+1 on the K-21 Gemini Titan
+1 on Mercury Atlas
+1 on a Soyuz/Vostok
+1 on a Nike Hercules

Another vote for X planes! Especially X-1 and X-15 - great looking old-school style and lots of historical significance.

Would love to see a new full Space Shuttle stack. I have built and still fly the old 1284 in 1/162 scale but if you did a 1/100 scale version that would be awesome. I will also echo others who want to see a Gemini Titan, maybe a bigger version than the old K-21. I also have the old LTV Scout and think a 24mm version would be great. Titan IIIE would also be one I would love to build but never got to back in the day.

Glenn

Scott_650 said:

Another vote for X planes! Especially X-1 and X-15 - great looking old-school style and lots of historical significance.

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+1 on this. Scale X-planes would be awesome.

Mugs914 said:

A VERY scale version of the Viking 10 would be nice. For a FFNC rocket there is an awful lot of detail that could be added to a larger low power version. Also not often modeled.

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I'd like any of the Viking rockets. I scratchbuilt semi-scale models of a couple of Vikings.

I'd also like a Gemini-Titan, or a Mercury-Atlas.

I've been building Estes rockets since 1970. Time on and off due to real world events have prevented me from having every rocket I wanted.
Some came and went, and now are unobtainable. One of which, is the Titan IIIE. Which is fairly similar to the Heavy Lift Vehicle.
For a twist, it would be nice to see the side boosters drop away while the main continues upward under thrust.
I've been working on such a design myself for some time in RocSim, but find it difficult to come up with a way to dislodge the side boosters upon their ejection charge while the main remains under thrust.
As for details, Throw out the vac formed stuff. Balsa all the way for me (old school) and scaled dowel rods out of poplar. Steam can shape them pretty easy if you take your time.
I'm a woodworker, so, as far as fins. Build a carcass (woodworkers term for framing) out of balsa and skin it with thin balsa.
As far as card stock transitions, I've used them on scratch builds, but they ain't pretty and are purely aesthetic. Meaning...they make a transition vs a blunt surface.
Can be used in a pinch when your mateing centuri tubes with standard tubes to keep true to scale though.
You mentioned licensing to be able to turn loose kits. Maybe a list of what you CAN make will narrow suggestions down some.
I'm all in for a full re-release of the Titan's to Saturn V's, and shuttles. And the new launch vehicles. But that's just me and the time I grew up in. Just don't want to forget what a great time it was to be alive.

I can't believe no one has mentioned the Exocet yet. I had the 13 mm version years ago and loved it. It would make a great PSII kit (assuming you are 'allowed' to make it).

After reading the whole thread, it sounds like there is significant interest in 24 mm or 29 mm motors and two stage. Anything fitting those criteria would be awesome.

There we go, two stage 29mm scale model.

Don't forget guys, he specifically stated he's looking to build this around the use of the E12.

Kruegon said:

Don't forget guys, he specifically stated he's looking to build this around the use of the E12.

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Which means lightweight and BT-80ish max, thank goodness John didn't specify E9, then it would be a new version of the CATO!

while it wouldn't be considered to be scale rocket in the traditional sense, technically it would be a scale model...a bt80 version Alpha*. based on my OR simulations it could be flown on a D12 - F39 .
*okay I may have fudged the nose cone a smidge, I used an executioner nose in my simulation. also used a 24" nylon chute which brought it down at just over 12 fps.
Rex

How about this?? Polish Meteor-2K with the stunning silver nose and red/white checkerboard fins. Best part, it was made by a state institute and government works in Poland are public domain. Ought to be a great flyer in BT-80 size with E12+. Basic data for the predecessor Meteor-2H in RotW 2003 supplement pp 30-31 (which is numbered "05" at the top and does not have the strap-on boosters seen on this version). Round 08 here also lacks the needle tip which is probably a good thing for a kit...

rharshberger said:

Which means lightweight and BT-80ish max, thank goodness John didn't specify E9, then it would be a new version of the CATO!

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I don't know about that, the only ones I've had CATO are the E12's...

Just my :2:

Has any thought been placed on having some sort of design submission where the lucky winner will have his/her kit built? Maybe some scratch built military style hpr can be down-scaled to the a-e range...

I know the screening time would be large, but maybe the forums and the population at large can vote on their fav. Just (again) my :2:

Personally, I was hoping for a resurrection/possible upscale of some of the classics (those of you who know me , yep esp the interceptors and sea-strike d). Or the Harpoon, Harm, Sparrow, Maverick. (I'm partial to the Harm and Mav, as I've worked with both!)

As for construction... I figure use whatever means of construction necessary to accomplish a good looking, but fairly sturdy model that can be flown more than 2-3 times...

fm

Kruegon said:

Don't forget guys, he specifically stated he's looking to build this around the use of the E12.

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Hmm. A BT-80 Gemini-Titan would accommodate a 2xE12 cluster for flying and be a Saturn V-sized nearly 3 feet tall. If you adapted it to a Titan IIIC MOL configuration, it would be more than 3 feet tall and stand up to the showy Saturns. But a 3+ four tall TIIIC with plastic molded capsule, fins and detail parts could get pretty pricey.

Now, if you wanted to have detachable dual engine nozzles for display and fly it on a single 24mm E12, you could make it smaller (and cheaper), maybe base it on BT-60.

Has any thought been placed on having some sort of design submission

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Thanks for the offer but, no thanks. Designing stuff is what I get paid for.

John Boren

I would definitely love to see a version of the LTV Scout with a 24mm mount. Detailed plastic would be the way to go on this one, I think.

It would also be great to see a kit that uses the Talos booster. I'm thinking of the Super Chief II, but you could also do something like the RIM-8 for those more interested in military missiles. Balsa all the way would be my choice for this one.

Cheers,
Michael

JStarStar said:

A BT-80 Gemini-Titan would accommodate a 2xE12 cluster for flying and be a Saturn V-sized nearly 3 feet tall.

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Intuition seems to indicate that we will never see another clustered kit from Estes ever again. The current igniters/starters are probably not reliable enough to expect the average consumer to use them successfully in a clustered model.

Sad, but true.

James

Not to mention the need for a 'clip whip' which is an item Estes probably won't ever sell.. (Too complicated for the average user.. if I dare say that..) Not to mention, only one (outboard) motor firing resulting in catastrophe..

Hmmmm...not sure what to expect in the future but my PSII controller comes with dual clips and the instructions covers clustering...

Rex R said:

while it wouldn't be considered to be scale rocket in the traditional sense, technically it would be a scale model...a bt80 version Alpha*. based on my OR simulations it could be flown on a D12 - F39 .
*okay I may have fudged the nose cone a smidge, I used an executioner nose in my simulation. also used a 24" nylon chute which brought it down at just over 12 fps.
Rex

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Wouldn't that ultimately just be a re-release of the Maxi Alpha? BT-80, PNC-80K nose cone, upscale Alpha fins, 24mm motor mount.

JumpJet said:

In the near future I need to start on a new scale model for Estes. Right now I’m thinking of a Military style rocket but it could turn out to be a new Space style rocket. Most likely it will have a single 24mm motor mount for our E12 motor.

I was just wondering what you would prefer for those that purchase kits instead of scratch building.

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This is a treat, thanks for asking!

I don't build a lot of kits these days, after so many years I just have too many of my own ideas (if you can call 'em that). However, occasionally I'll see something I really like and buy one.

My preferences are paper and wood throughout; paper transitions aren't that difficult to do.

What I'd like to see and would spend money on would be a Saturn 1b in the same scale as my Estes Saturn V. Growing up watching Wally Schirra and Neil Armstrong and Bob Crippen anything from the Mercury/Gemini/Apollo/Apollo-Soyuz/Space Shuttle era would be fabulous. A BT80 Saturn V would be great - something that looks as good but is a little easier to transport and launch than the 101 size model. Something else I'd spend money on (and I take no credit for the idea) is an Apollo-Soyuz dual kit. My kids might enjoy drag racing. (Ok, I'd probably enjoy it more.) Recognizing that a certain amount of plastic would be required for any of the above, that's OK and it wouldn't stop me spending money.

I also have fond memories of launching the Maxi-Brute Pershing missile at Camp Alexander and would love to see a modernized re-issue of it.

Can't wait to see what you decide on!

Regards,
Tim

Johnly said:

A RIM 67 would be cool, but I'd really like to see a larger updated version of the classic Estes LTV Scout kit.

John

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Oooh, Oooh +1 on the upscale LTV Scout

A BT-60 Corporal Missile would be a good one too, that could be dressed up or down depending on the builder's preference.

Just wanted to let you know that 3 of the subjects mentioned in this thread should be coming out sometime next year. I've already built and test flown two of the subjects mentioned. So in addition to the NEW model I would like to work on, 2017 should be a good year for Scale Kits coming from Estes.

John Boren

I am really pleased with the offerings from Estes over the past couple of years. Tip of the cap to you and the others, John! I'm looking forward to 2017...

Cheers,
Michael

John you and ESTES as a whole have done a great service for us in the rocket community. THANK YOU.

JumpJet said:

Just wanted to let you know that 3 of the subjects mentioned in this thread should be coming out sometime next year. I've already built and test flown two of the subjects mentioned. So in addition to the NEW model I would like to work on, 2017 should be a good year for Scale Kits coming from Estes.

John Boren

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Glad to hear it! If a cool rocket gets a kid's nose into a book or even a website, the future is secure.

JumpJet said:

Just wanted to let you know that 3 of the subjects mentioned in this thread should be coming out sometime next year. I've already built and test flown two of the subjects mentioned. So in addition to the NEW model I would like to work on, 2017 should be a good year for Scale Kits coming from Estes.

John Boren

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Way cool!!

John

JumpJet said:

Just wanted to let you know that 3 of the subjects mentioned in this thread should be coming out sometime next year. I've already built and test flown two of the subjects mentioned. So in addition to the NEW model I would like to work on, 2017 should be a good year for Scale Kits coming from Estes.

John Boren

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And so now we're all pouring over this thread, tallying up what's been mentioned!!


If I had one choice, bring back the Sentinel. Loved that one... (And yes, I've long been planning an upscale..)