Estes - SR-71 (#1942) Gallery

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I had a plastic model of the X-3 when I was a kid. I remember it was called the Stilletto. Made by Douglas, IIRC.
Hmmm… PMC?
I also like the supposed SR-75 Penetrator (Project Aurora). Testors had a concept model. Of course, no one knows what Project Aurora actually looked like. Or even if there actually WAS a Project Aurora.
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There are 7 up on Ebay right now - I built and flew this kit when I was 14, have one now (I am 50) and even hand built a 2.25 upscale. It is one of my all time favorite Estes kits.
 
I hear you. I don't know how to get it scratched. I ran into the VP of the local NAR chapter at the hobby store, the Pittsburgh Space Command (didn't know him, butted in to an overheard conversation!), and it's just tough around here, not a lot of open space. They drive up to Grove City, where they have permission at a very nice field, but glory, that's an escapade, over an hour one way - I just need a place nearby where I can get permission and be reasonably sure I won't end up in a tree. I kinda knew this going in, but I'm hoping I can find someplace nearby that you can just go out on calm afternoon/evening with the grandkids and put a few up. These only do a couple hundred feet anyway.

I DO know of a place about 5 miles away... over two miles east and west, a solid mile north and south, and no trees. Unfortunately, it's the Pittsburgh International Airport...:(

Finished the Mercury Redstone tonight (except for clearcoat). Venus Probe is in good shape, Chris M's Birdie is ready to go, my son's Estes Power Patrol is set (no kit markings!), I could even buy film for the old AstroCam. Chris M's "Pigasus" just got pink tonight and I thought I was good there but then for some reason it wrinkled in a couple of places, so sand and hit them again tomorrow night. I have engines, a little pad, a car battery and the leads, I want to make up a little switchbox. Oughta be cool if I can find a field.
 
Awfully brave of you to fly ANYTHING on A8, other than maybe Estes Viking or BMS School rocket.
I got my fix of SR-71 construction and flying last spring:
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/coronavirus-work-from-home-build-thread.158551/#post-1984200I think I launched mine on either B6-x or C6-x.
It flew great, weather cocked a little but with plentiful margin of error to eject the chute, inflate it, and drift back down. IIRC, the chute got singed - too little room in the body tube for Nomex blankets, so I had to rely on crappy wadding for insulation.

Has there ever been a cooler-looking real-world vehicle than the SR-71? I can't think of any.

Airplane-wise - probably not.
I've built an entire section of scale airplanes and airplane inspired rockets and gliders (F16. F22, Stealth something or another, etc).
The only other thing that may contend for historical accuracy and coolness would be a proper scale model of a Shuttle. There aren't any on the market right now (there are derivatives, but not really scale), but maybe I will snag something off eBay, one day.
I believe NCR used to have a pretty accurate K-100 kit, and so did Sheri's Hot Rockets, but both are long OOP and extremely not cheap when they do come up for sale.

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Are there any other quality Shuttle kits out there?
 
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It flew today on an A8-3.
Calm day, no wind but it arced off the rod.
Ejected at around 40 ft, just in time for the chute to open.
No landing damage.
I think I'll retire her to permanent shelf queen.

You made my day
That's one of the funniest model rocketry AUDIOS ever!

"Going in Five! Four! Three! Two! One!.....Uh Oh."
 
The SR-71 is heavy and draggy. I launched it on a B6-4, and nearly had a heart attack, as it popped the parachute about 30 feet above the ground. I fly it on a C6-3 only now. It gets high enough and the parachute comes our around apogee, it is a very nice flight. My SR-71 does a slow roll on the way up, which is really cool to watch, but I guess that means that the fins are not perfectly aligned, but I really like the roll.

Goose
 
I got this as present when I was a kid. What I remember most is how an uncle found it so awesome he said he might get one of his own. He didn't but I guess it was one of the coolest things I had. It was actually too big and awkward to handle (for my size at the time anyway). Based on the A-12/YF-12/SR-71 family but with added playable features.
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