New Estes Kit

[Initiator001]

I just received my July/August 2021 issue of Sport Rocketry magazine.

The inside cover has a new Estes ad featuring the Super Mars Snooper, DARC-1 and a new kit named Vesta Intruder (#7312).

It uses 24mm motors and stands over two feet tall.

Hopefully more details will be available soon.

 

[WillMarchant]

Cool! That issue is available in digital form on the NAR web site. Good to see that the DARC-1 and SMS should be available this month!

 

[Bill S]

Ooooh, I like the Vesta Intruder...

 

[SecondRow]

The paint job on the snooper will be fun.

 

[turbofireball]

I can add some extra info on the Vesta Intruder. It will be an "Advanced" skill level kit (formerly SL3), and suggested retail price will be $34.99

 

[neil_w]

Looks interesting. As with many kits, that single perspective view makes it hard to fully grasp the design of the rocket. I look forward to seeing more.

Is that another new nose cone mold?

Also, I foresee a lot of broken fins on landings....

 

[Bill S]

Neil, have to agree that the fins on the Vestra Intruder look like they would be susceptible to breaking. I definitely would look at finding some way to reinforce them. Papering would probably be the easiest for people I guess.

 

[K'Tesh]

I'm interested in that Vestra... A new nosecone... I'm interested in what new possibilities that'll open up.

 

[user 35280]

The flame coming out of those new Estes Rockets is that mojave green, classic and blue thunder?

 

[K'Tesh]

The flame coming out of those new Estes Rockets is that mojave green, classic and blue thunder?

More likely digital, digital, and digital.

 

[caveduck]

That paint scheme on the Snooper is very retro, right out of the early 70's catalogs. It's a BT-55 so about a 1/3 upscale from the original. Looking forward to it!

 

[Funkworks]

The Darc-1 has a design I've never seen before. I think I get it but I'll need more pics to make sure.

 

[Robert A Jablonski]

Hobby magazine says Mars Snooper to be released in July 2021

 

[James Duffy]

The Darc-1 has a design I've never seen before. I think I get it but I'll need more pics to make sure.

The DARC-1 features a blow-molded main structure, and is very unlike anything Estes has released before. I had the opportunity to build a pre-release version a few months ago, and have a pair of videos to share soon after the kit is released.

At the $29.99 price currently shown on the Estes "Coming Soon" page it will be a screamer of a value.

James

 

[James Duffy]

Looks like the DARC-1 kit has migrated from "Coming Soon" to "New" on the Estes website.

EDIT: Here's a photo of a completed kit, albeit highly modified. I'll be posting an unboxing video tomorrow that will feature a bit on how to trim the blow molded shroud part without drawing blood. A few days after that I will be posting the Beowulf of build videos, demonstrating how this beastie was built, painted, decaled, and weathered.

James

 

[WillMarchant]

Looks great! Do you think this kit can be modified to glide?

 

[James Duffy]

[QUOTE

Looks great! Do you think this kit can be modified to glide?

Not a chance, the plastic aeroshroud is far too heavy.

James

 

[Rob Caswell]

So... I'm guessing it won't be out in August.

2021.

 

[user 35280]

Listed on the Estes website as Coming Soon,
https://estesrockets.com/product/007312-space-corps-vesta-intruder/

 

[Bill S]

Looking forward to the Vesta Intruder. The nosecone will open up some very interesting scratchbuilding opportunities, I suspect.

 

[neil_w]

Looking forward to the Vesta Intruder. The nosecone will open up some very interesting scratchbuilding opportunities, I suspect.

Another interesting design by @JumpJet, and another weird new new plastic mold. They sure do seem to be creating a lot of them these days.

 

[JumpJet]

The fins are reinforced with thin card stock on both sides so they are pretty strong. The Dark Blue shows the outline of the card stock. I've also attached a close up of the new nose cone. It's pretty long as well as having an unusual shape

 

[Bill S]

Anyone know how successful Estes's Space Corps concept has been in increasing sales and generating more interest in Estes rockets? I find the concept interesting, personally.

 

[neil_w]

The fins are reinforced with thin card stock on both sides so they are pretty strong. The Dark Blue shows the outline of the card stock. I've also attached a close up of the new nose cone. It's pretty long as well as having an unusual shape

More than the other recent molds (e.g.: DARC, Mars Longship), this one seems to have interesting possibilities for re-use.

This rocket has a good alien vibe to it. I'm not sure, but is that a plasma core of sorts at the aft end?

Finally: by calling it "Space Corps Vesta Intruder" it makes it sound like a Space Corps vessel, but its backstory is that it is alien and hostile. That would be sort of like saying "Rebel Alliance Tie Fighter".

 

[Bill S]

I hope at some point Estes will consider selling the nosecone as a separate part. Way cool.

 

[Funkworks]

I'd like all of them but I already have 5-6 unbuilt kits down the line.
What I need is someone to buy them, build them and launch them for me.
...

...

 

[neil_w]

What I need is someone to buy them, build them and launch them for me.

I think you just described this forum.

 

[les]

The fins are reinforced with thin card stock on both sides so they are pretty strong. The Dark Blue shows the outline of the card stock. I've also attached a close up of the new nose cone. It's pretty long as well as having an unusual shape

Thanks for a great new design! I love the sci-fi and odd rocs. It will be added to my build pile!

 

[user 35280]

I'd like all of them but I already have 5-6 unbuilt kits down the line.
What I need is someone to buy them, build them and launch them for me.
...

...

Only 5-6 unbuilt kits?

 

[Bill S]

Got the Vesta Intruder today, am really liking the design. Though I do have to wonder why it was designed with a 12" BT-60 body tube and then the nosecone uses 2 pats of clay as noseweight, versus using a longer body tube and either reducing or eliminating the clay? I was under the impression that Estes usually preferred to use stock body tube lengths instead of "custom" ones?

Still, I look forward to building this one after I get my Mean Machine done.