What kits should Estes bring back?

+1 on the Pathfinder. I built one when they first came out in the late 80's and launched it to death. I found one on Feebay recently for a very reasonable price so I made the purchase.
Another cool rocket from that era is the Rigel 3 two stage. I had one of those too, but never got to launch it as a multi stage.
I'd like to see some good sized upscales of a few of the more eye catching sci fi designs, like the Andromeda or the Solar Sailor/ Solar Sailor II, or maybe from the Centuri camp, a re release of the Super Kits.

I'd like to see the Starliner again. Other than that mostly scale stuff, Gemini Titan, Mercury Atlas, Saturn 1b, Maxi Honest John, Pershing 1A, V2 and X-Wing. Oh, the complete first run of the Pro series and throw in the NCR Bomarc. Maybe a Mars Lander with vacu-form wraps.

The star fighter combo, Andromeda, National space plane, pretty much most of the 1981 catalog, the Mercury Atlas,
Would love to see a downscale Pershing maybe in bt80 or bt70 as a new kit as well.

Was it the Venus Probe that had the fold out legs and alien? I liked that one.
Also the Gemini-Titan.

Yes. Very fun kit.

DRAGON64 said:

Estes Pathfinder #1997 42" tall, flies on "The Mighty D12"

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THIS!!!!

The Pathfinder was my first D powered rocket. I have vivid memories of purchasing it with my father at a hobby shop in the late 80's. He had forgotten his wallet in the car and while he was retrieving it I started looking over the package. My eyes nearly popped out of my head when I saw that the recommend motor was a D12-5! ...those moments that hang in your mind

Theory said:

THIS!!!!

The Pathfinder was my first D powered rocket. I have vivid memories of purchasing it with my father at a hobby shop in the late 80's. He had forgotten his wallet in the car and while he was retrieving it I started looking over the package. My eyes nearly popped out of my head when I saw that the recommend motor was a D12-5! ...those moments that hang in your mind

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Yep, flew the Patherfinder till I lost it in a pond. By the time I retrieved it, it was too late to salvage (water logged!). I scratch built one, but have not finished it yet.

Why wait for a re-release?
Good thing about the Pathfinder is it's a nice big rocket that uses readily available standard parts. Cloned one recently, plans from JimZ's, parts from erockets. At the same time cloned a Quest Icarus, parts from Quest, plans from YORP. Both still nekkid. Cheers.

BrianS said:

I am in the process of building a bt80 der red max. with dual d12 motors and decals from stickershock.when I figure out how to post pictures i will.

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The Der V3 was a BT-80 kit similar to a Red Max. 24mm mount. I still have mine but the motor mount got blown out by a D12 cato.

Estes should bring back the Astron Scrambler, but with a plastic nose cone and adapter, using a 24mm mount, instead of the original 3 x 18mm cluster.

Dave F.

Ez2cDave said:

Estes should bring back the Astron Scrambler, but with a plastic nose cone and adapter, using a 24mm mount, instead of the original 3 x 18mm cluster.

Dave F.

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Agreed! Just built a Semroc Scrambler, with 3x18mm motors. I like clusters, but clustered kits would be problematic for Estes with their crappy ignite....., um, starters. BTW I see from your avatar that you're a Scrambler fan.

I would buy a Fat-boy upscale with a 29mm mount.

cwbullet said:

I would buy a Fat-boy upscale with a 29mm mount.

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You’d end up with a fair amount of leftover body tube and have to gin up some fins but a PSII Super Big Bertha Kit would give you everything you need to kitbash a Super Fat Boy

Ez2cDave said:

Estes should bring back the Astron Scrambler, but with a plastic nose cone and adapter, using a 24mm mount, instead of the original 3 x 18mm cluster.

Dave F.

View attachment 372006

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Agreed, except why the plastic parts?

My Fatboy flew great on a 24mm upgrade...

jlabrasca said:

Agreed, except why the plastic parts?

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Because Estes doesn't "do wood" anymore for their nose cones & adapters. . .

Dave F.

kuririn said:

Agreed! Just built a Semroc Scrambler, with 3x18mm motors. I like clusters, but clustered kits would be problematic for Estes with their crappy ignite....., um, starters. BTW I see from your avatar that you're a Scrambler fan.

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Yep . . . I have always loved the Astron Scrambler,

Dave F.

Ez2cDave said:

Yep . . . I have always loved the Astron Scrambler,

Dave F.

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That would be a great bring back - the “volant cracked egg” graphic is a hoot! Not a big fan of the fin shape - don’t hate it, just not my favorite - but I’d buy one regardless.

The Semroc Scrambler retro repro is still available, and the decal is a near exact reproduction of the original. The "Good eggs fly Estes" logo is replaced with a Semroc logo, and the "Astron" name is deleted in front of the "Scrambler". The graphics are a blast, just like the Der Red Max and the Der V3.

kuririn said:

The Semroc Scrambler retro repro is still available, and the decal is a near exact reproduction of the original. The "Good eggs fly Estes" logo is replaced with a Semroc logo, and the "Astron" name is deleted in front of the "Scrambler". The graphics are a blast, just like the Der Red Max and the Der V3.

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DECALS . . . PDF below.

ajax

All of the Maxi-Brutes, with a 29mm motor mount !

I need an Andromeda!!!

tcblightning said:

I need an Andromeda!!!

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I heard that Semroc/erockets is bringing one out.

jlabrasca said:

Agreed, except why the plastic parts?

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Just clone the thing using all the parts and decals from erockets...its all available.

1). Go bigger - more Pro Series II kits!
2). Rotate through re-issuing ALL non 3FNC kits. Basically, it a kit had more than 4 fins - reissue it (in waves, not all at once).

Your truly,

Anonymous fin fetishist.

MoeB said:

Just clone the thing using all the parts and decals from erockets...its all available.

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To clone the Scrambler is $20.00 just for the Payload Section parts alone . . . By the time all the parts are rounded up, that would run about $50.00, including shipping, and it still would not have authentic Estes decals . . . Besides, this thread is about what kits Estes should bring back, not building "clones" !

Dave F.

afadeev said:

1 Rotate through re-issuing ALL non 3FNC kits.

Anonymous fin fetishist.

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Hmm . . . You mean the "BIRDIE" ? LOL !

Dave F.

Big-Bob said:

This may sound silly, but I would like to see them bring back the X-Ray, only about twice the original size, capable of using D engines. Way back in 1973, the X-Ray was my second rocket after the Alpha. I built 3 or 4 of them. I have built a couple of near replicas, but they were not to scale.

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FWIW what are the dimensions of the clear tubing sold for protecting fluorescent bulbs? Might make a good payload section for an upscale.

Best -- Terry

prfesser said:

FWIW what are the dimensions of the clear tubing sold for protecting fluorescent bulbs? Might make a good payload section for an upscale.

Best -- Terry

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Terry.

https://www.1000bulbs.com/category/fluorescent-tube-guards

I found a chart with various fluorescent tube diameters . . . The sleeve sizes should be pretty close.

Dave F.