From one brand new BAR to another, let me welcome you back into the hobby - I'd been out for 30 years, and just recently got back in via the paper model rocket route. Now I'm getting going full stream with both the paper stuff and the regular rocs.
I just bought the Estes Designer's Special, figuring on building a few clones from the plans on Jimz site. Not bad, but biggest disappointment was discovering that all the nose cones are plastic. Not a single balsa cone in the box any more. (It seems that Estes has completely discontinued all balsa cones.) This wouldn't be so bad, except the large ones are definitely blow-molded (can't tell if the small ones are, but they are the same kind of styrene). The cones included seem to be (classification from the old Estes catalogs/Custom Parts Catalog): 5AW, 5V, 2@ PNC20 cone shape that wasn't produced back in the 70's, 50K, 50Y (or maybe 50AD - can't tell for sure), 55AC and a rounded PNC60. Also one 50-55 transition.
It comes with the standard assortment of body tubes, some balsa sheets for fins, and a bunch of motor mounts, clips, centering rings, chute kits, streamers and some elastic for shock cords (the same kind you find in the fabric stores - the old fashioned rubber bands are gone as well).
So, it's kind of a mixed bag - if you're trying to build clones, you'll have to order your balsa cones from BMS or turn them yourself. If you just want to design and build a bunch of rockets using the parts in the box, it's not a bad value (8 rockets for 50 bucks), especially if you can get it at a discount (got mine from e-Hobbies for $38.99). I'll let you do the math!
Greg Poehlein
