Are Estes Skill Levels Changing?

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BA_Incognito

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Noticed this today when I was in my local Hobby Lobby store. They are in the process of updating stock, including in the model rocket section. There was a hook with two Baby Bertha kits. The one towards the front was the dark blueish card with gold/yellow trim and it indicated it was a Skill Level 1 model. Behind it was the newer stock, a lighter blue color card. Same model. Yet it indicated it was a "Level 3" kit (it was also about a dollar more). I came home and checked the 2018 PDF catalog. It shows the Baby Bertha as a 1. Even the web site still shows it as a one.

As I looked at some of the other new stock, models that use to be labeled "Skill Level 1" were labeled as a "Level 2" or "Level 3". I would think this would be extremely confusing for folks who are getting into the hobby, to pick up an older kit (Like the Liberty Bell 7) which is rated as Skill Level 3, thinking it will be as easy to build as a Baby Bertha.

Anyone have any idea what is going on here?
 
They mapped RTF, ARTF, and E2X into numbers, and bumped up the numerical skill levels to make room. So what used to be level 1 became level 3.

This never seemed like a good idea to me, but even worse (or better?) is that they started converting some over and then apparently stopped. So right now, *most* of the skill level rockets are still labeled on the original scale, while some of the RTF, ARTF, and E2X (and maybe some level 1) rockets were converted to the new scheme.

So yeah, it's a mess. I am hoping they will undo the changes and revert back to the original skill designations, but I don't think I've heard any official word on this.
 
That really does sound like a mess. A solution in search of a problem. The 1-5 scale has been in place for over half a century. Books on model rocketry discuss the 1-5 builders scale (heck, even some of the plastic models incorporate the 1-5 scale). To throw all of that out, crazy. Maybe someone realized how bad this could be and that's why they stopped it. I am like you, hoping that it reverts back to the original designations.
 
Just crank the skill level knob all the way to 11, and make it loud. These kits would contain no actual parts, just vague suggestions.
 
Years ago I asked Dane Boles about the Skill Level process at Estes.

Dane was with Estes during the time the Skill Level system came out.

Dane told me the whole 'Skill Level' system was a marketing program.
After Apollo 11 interest in model rocketry was declining. In order to keep modelers buying rockets the Skill Level program was set up so that people would start with Skill Level 1 then move on to Skill Level 2, etc.

Not a lot of thought was put into assigning the skill level number for each kit. This caused some confusion on the part of rocketeers as to why one kit was a skill level 3 while a similar kit was skill level 1 (Or 5).
Almost arbitrary in the assignment of Skill Level numbers.

So, the assigned skill level numbers really don't reflect any 'standard' which is used to determine the number.
 
As I looked at some of the other new stock, models that use to be labeled "Skill Level 1" were labeled as a "Level 2" or "Level 3". I would think this would be extremely confusing for folks who are getting into the hobby, to pick up an older kit (Like the Liberty Bell 7) which is rated as Skill Level 3, thinking it will be as easy to build as a Baby Bertha.

Anyone have any idea what is going on here?

I'm thinking there is a lot of stuff that was put in motion in the last year or so by the Hobbico crew that is being rethought by the new management. Can't swear I heard this for sure, but the remapping of skill levels to deal with RTF/E2X is one of them.
 
Inspired by this thread, I emailed Estes and asked what is the dealio. Here's what Christine wrote:
While it will take a little time, everything that was converted to a “new” skill level, will be reverted back to what it was prior. The transition back will take a little time and what you see on the Estes website is correct

So there you go. Back to the old status quo.
 
Thanks Neil for sharing that. It is definitely good news. In addition to causing confusion, the new Skill Levels may not have been a good marketing move.

Though it might be surprising to many here, Skill Level 1 kits tend to sell better to the general public. "Easy to Assemble" is a good thing for some people. Having "Skill Level 3" on the Baby Bertha packaging may have hurt its sales.

-- Roger
 
This on the border of low power: Any body know what the plans are for the Pro Series?
 
This on the border of low power: Any body know what the plans are for the Pro Series?
That is a fine question but not one that is likely to get an answer from Christine. :)

I am very hopeful this will be covered in the Rocketry Show podcast interview of Ellis Langford (no I don't know when that's going to air).
 
That is a fine question but not one that is likely to get an answer from Christine. :)

I am very hopeful this will be covered in the Rocketry Show podcast interview of Ellis Langford (no I don't know when that's going to air).
Love that podcast. Please all consider becoming a Pateron supporter.
 
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