Where do you get your motors/engines?

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Cmac

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2020
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Location
Central Va.
I'd like to put together a list for myself.
I don't have the option of a local vendor so mail order is my only option.
I'd like to deal with well recommended vendors.
Who do you like for standard reloads? Specifically Aerotech.
So far I have:
Apogee
Buy Rocket Motors
Jon's Rockets
Performance Hobbies
Rocketry Works
Sirius Rocketry

Who else should be on my list?
 
I'd like to put together a list for myself.
I don't have the option of a local vendor so mail order is my only option.
I'd like to deal with well recommended vendors.
Who do you like for standard reloads? Specifically Aerotech.
So far I have:
Apogee
Buy Rocket Motors
Jon's Rockets
Performance Hobbies
Rocketry Works
Sirius Rocketry

Who else should be on my list?
I would trust the people you have on your list already. If your desperate for other sources give it 10 minute search Im sure you will find more. I TRUST www.buyrocketmotors.com The most and Apogee second because apogee prices for the engines are not looking so great but buyrocketmotors.com is way better, The site is also more clear
 
Who do you like for standard reloads? Specifically Aerotech.

I think you wrote elsewhere that you are in a club?

Our club does a yearly group purchase from a local vendor. There is a discount -- based upon the total size of the order -- and we save on the HAZMAT shipping charges because the motors are delivered to one member and distributed at launches or club meetings.

The Wildman Black Friday sale is a very big deal on the forum. Buyrocketmotors had some really good deals in their seasonal sale last year too.

Because it was out of stock everywhere else, I got the DMS motor for my L1 from Sirius. I have done business with them since and I have never had a bad experience.

A/C supply company for Estes bulk packs

AC Supply is a good source for all kinds of stuff. When I first made the BAR conversion, I stocked on balsa, plywood, BP motors from AC. The shipping for a bundled order made it the most cost-effective way to spend a lot of money >smile<

Belleville Hobby has very good prices on BP motors and Quest 18mm composite motors, as well as consistently low prices on LP kits.

After you get you get your L1, you may be inclined to buy a lot of motors all at once. Try to resist this impulse. You will likely make it to fewer high power launches than you think, and may launch fewer rockets at those launches than you expected. Motors tend to accumulate.
 
Balsa Machining. They have a monthly group order at a BIG discount (25%), but be prepared to wait 2-6 months depending on when Aerotech does their next manufacturing run of a particular Aerotech SU motor or reload. Same goes for hardware -20% discount, but can be a long delivery time because of Aerotech's manufacturing schedules.

However, you do have the option of ordering from their stock for immediate shipment, but at no discount.

https://www.balsamachining.com/
 
Already listed but I like Buyrocketmotors.com and balsamachining.com for my AT needs. I have had awesome service from both. Rob at Buyrocketmotors is a great dude and a fun guy to fly with.
 
who I buy from:

Performance Hobbies (also my local vendor)
Sirius Rocketry (great people to work with)
Wildman (hard to beat his black wednesday / black friday deals and also carries CTI)
CS Rocketry (more than just AT)
BuyRocketMotors.com
 
Performance Hobbies (also my local vendor)Wildman (hard to beat his black wednesday / black friday deals and also carries CTI)
You're not far from me. Do you fly with NOVAAR?
The local club I just joined won't be flying again until October. My son and I will be coming up there for our L1 flights when the zombie apocalypses is over.
Wildman (the local distributor) told me he's getting out of the game and Performance Hobbies seams pretty flaky. I called to see if his online inventory list was up to date and his VM was full and not taking any more messages. Both somehow feel justified in charging double the regular retail price for Estes BP motors!
 
Cmac - PM Sent

to comment on Ken and Performance Hobbies, he is a good guy and cuts his teeth pulling his shop behind his truck from launch to launch. he really isnt a web guy and like all vendors his inventory is subject to Aerotech's availability and shipping practices. cant comment on his Estes prices, but ive bought plenty of HP and larger mid-power stuff from him and never once felt like i got a raw deal.

hope to see ya at NOVAAR soon. look for my Caliber (in Avatar) out on the High Power pads
 
Thanks Theory for correcting my misconceptions.
I guess I've grown into the habit of judging a business based on their web presence. I should be more careful. Especially for this niche hobby.
And because you're local, when you mentioned Wildman my mind went to his local distributor Caveman Chemistry. It was late and I should have been in bed.
I'll say hi at the next NOVAAR launch.
 
Motor making shed in the back yard. It's also the fireworks making shed.
Obviously that doesn't help my question but that's really cool and I'm interested.
There's a fireworks hobby group in Northern Va. called Crackerjacks. I plan on getting involved with them in the future.
I do my best to be a complete greenhorn in only one hobby at a time.
Please PM me advice on how a hobby junky could get started with this.
 
Obviously that doesn't help my question but that's really cool and I'm interested.
There's a fireworks hobby group in Northern Va. called Crackerjacks. I plan on getting involved with them in the future.
I do my best to be a complete greenhorn in only one hobby at a time.
Please PM me advice on how a hobby junky could get started with this.
Just like with making your own rocket motors, first step in making fireworks is to find a mentor and learn the safe way of doing things.
 
Well you've been a wealth of info! Thanks for your contribution.
No worries, others have already pointed me in the right direction with useful info.
 
I buy my composite motors from buyrocketmotors.com Great service & knowledgable.
I think I'm going to start buying Estes BP motors from AC Supply along with any Estes rockets that strike my fancy. Very good prices.
 
Every place that sells these online charges double of what Hobby Lobby sells them for. What's up with that?
Did you actually look at AC Supply??

1/2A through B motors at Hobby Lobby are less expensive (slightly) in 3-packs (4 packs of 13mm motors) - which is a screaming deal - assuming you're buying in the store and not from the web site. But that advantage is lost above B or for bulk packs of motors. Of course HL only carries the A8-3 bulk box anyway.

It's not hard to get an order from AC Supply big enough to get free shipping ($100 order) what with everything Estes being 40% off list.
 
With shipping, WOW, not in a good way.
I'd never pay for shipping for Estes BP motors!

It's not hard to get an order from AC Supply big enough to get free shipping ($100 order) what with everything Estes being 40% off list.
Ooh, nice to know about the free shipping! I missed that among the fine 8 pt text that covers their home page. It's too bad these online hobby shops don't appreciate the benefits of putting some effort into their online presence. Too many of them are so amateur looking.
Bulk packs with free shipping is a great way to beat my local Hobby Lobby prices. Thanks for getting me to take a second look!

Closest Hobby Lobby to me is 50 miles away.
Ouch... I guess you don't have the advantage that I do. There's not much up there I bet huh?
 
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