Any love for the Estes Big Foot Launch Pad?

Estes need to re-release the Big Foot launch pad. I know a lot of us older guys that had one back in the day would grab another in a heart beat given the opportunity.

I agree with DEN. I imagine it would all depend if the molds are available. Many of them were disposed of in a previous ownership. I still have one in a Sizzler starter set. If re-released, it would handle many of the models to hefty for some of the starter set launchers, but not too big to require the E pad or the tripod.

Chas

If someone can take measurements, I might be able to recreate one.

cwbullet said:

If someone can take measurements, I might be able to recreate one.

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If you go this way, making the battery compartment to fit a good, rechargeable LIPO (9V or 12V) in lieu of the four D cells would improve the overall greatness of the item.

I've got an NOS one I haven't assembled yet I can measure. It'll probably take me a few days to get around to it.

cwbullet said:

If someone can take measurements, I might be able to recreate one.

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I actually sent a message to Estes the other day saying they need to re-release the Big Foot Launch Pad. That it was such a great product. They replied that they would send the request to the marketing dept.
If we all ask for it to be re-released could come to be!

KennB said:

If you go this way, making the battery compartment to fit a good, rechargeable LIPO (9V or 12V) in lieu of the four D cells would improve the overall greatness of the item.

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I dont think they would want to invest in a redesign but leave the 4 Ds which worked great. Im sure they have the molds just run a set #s of kits would be very cost effective to do a run of them.

It would be nice if they did a run of Bigfoot starter sets with the PSII MDRM

DEN said:

I dont think they would want to invest in a redesign but leave the 4 Ds which worked great. Im sure they have the molds just run a set #s of kits would be very cost effective to do a run of them.

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I had the Bigfoot launcher and always thought it was a great design. Only problem I ever had was the Colorado fields we used to launch from as a kid he pretty deep grass and the Bigfoot sometimes would not sit flat but on clean fields it was more stable than the port I pad.
I had the Estes firing line as well would, love to have them both back.

Upon reflection... Three legs can't rock whereas four legs can. But that is pretty minimal in any case.

The Estes "big foot" and X-wing launch set, circa 1970's, were what I started in model rocketry with. When I got back into it a couple years ago I would up getting a "porta pad" with the Rascal and Hi-Jinks combo.

Would be interested in getting another "big foot" especially if it was capable of igniting RMS motors or had external connectors to deliver more "juice"

I still use mine to this day.

Very nice, looks to be in great shape.

When I became a BAR the first time I got the Big Foot/Sizzler combo. I still have both! Best launcher ever for small to large model rockets!

Awesomely retro with that Red Max on the Big Foot.

I still haven't put mine together yet. It's still unused.

Doug Holverson said:

Awesomely retro with that Red Max on the Big Foot.

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I'd want to do that with the Der Big Red Max, in homage to the starter set that Estes sold.

Anyone have a contact at Estes? This would be a great re-issue...very popular with both the BAR's and newcomers. Great thing about Bigfoot is that the creature can't be copyrighted, since it doesn't exist. Costs next to nothing to design your own version of the monster, and use it to help market a product like this. Bigfoot rocket and pad would be a huge draw for the kids.

Cool rocket with some neat "Bigfoot" decals, paired up with the Bigfoot pad into a new starter set. Maybe get Matt Moneymaker to sign on as a celebrity endorser. The new Estes "Finding Bigfoot" starter set.

Still use mine and going strong - I think it's over 30 years old. Controller has since been worn out/broken, but the Big Foot is my go to launch pad. Here with my son and a modified Mega Mosquito (on Viagra) a few weeks ago.

Might not ever do it but..... have given thought to adding electric motors and props on top of the ends of the legs of a Big Foot. As, a flying Quadcopter. Could even rig it up to launch a model in mid-air. Someone else already has done that, saw a video 3-4 years ago (someone posted it on TRF). But it was a custom quad that launched a rocket, not a converted launch pad.

Decades ago, MPC had what their box called a "Flying Model Rocket Launch Pad". Model Rocketry Magazine had an article/plan for converting it to fly on a D13 (or D12). I even did one myself. But it was 3-legged, and a Tricopter is a bit more complex to do than a "simple" Quadcopter. Besides, the Big Foot's rectangular core could probably hold all of the R/C electronics and battery pack inside.

Classic pad

nosecone said:

Classic pad
View attachment 398270

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What a classic combination!! The "Big Foot" was my first pad and came as a part of the "X-Wing" starter set. Great memories!

K'Tesh said:

I'd want to do that with the Der Big Red Max, in homage to the starter set that Estes sold.

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That starter set got me started.

I love the Big Foot. It was my first pad. Wish I still had it. It’s a great design with a low center of mass and nice a heavy from the batteries. Much better than what Estes sells today.

Me too. I have tried to buy one and would love to design it for 3d printing.

cwbullet said:

Me too. I have tried to buy one and would love to design it for 3d printing.

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I have a Big Foot. I tried to draw it but it might be easier if you had one to take you own measurements. I'd be happy to loan you mine to take measurements. I just need a mailing address and a promise to return when finished..

Like many of you I started with the Bigfoot and absolutely loved it. Mine was in a Der Big Red Max set. If Estes re-releases the Bigfoot I would definitely buy a couple of them.

Okay, who has a print bed big enough?

I call it the "Foot Fetish"

Legs are 273mm x 41mm x 53mm
Base unit is 197mm x 144mm x 39mm (rounded up to the next mm.)
Battery bay is ~5.53" x 2.80" x 1.24" (fits a four D-Cell battery holder (or I guess you could put a LiPo in there too)).
Launch rod clamp is for 3/16" & 1/8" rods.

I drew this up in the "TLAR" style. It's not an exact copy, it just resembles the Big Foot launch pad.

I HAVE NOT published this to Thingiverse yet...
I HAVE NOT printed one out yet (I just drew this up today (30 JUL 2020) in Tinkercad)...my 3D printer will not fit the legs.

Thoughts?

Jon

Hmmmm, turn it 45 degrees and I might be able to fit the leg on my PRUSA.

Personally, I'm not worried about the batteries anyway. All my controllers have the batteries in my hand.

-Hans