Quality low power kits that have upgrades

[lstmysock11]

Hi

Looking for good low power kits. Either comes with a non plastic chute or can be replaced. Can be upgraded and still fly on the cheap motors

 

[rharshberger]

You can always buy upgraded chutes but most LPR kits come with plastic, just changing the chute material wont usually change the weight enough to alter motor selection. Upgraded chutes are available from Top Flight Recovery and Dino Chutes are two that come to mind.

 

[lstmysock11]

You can always buy upgraded chutes but most LPR kits come with plastic, just changing the chute material wont usually change the weight enough to alter motor selection. Upgraded chutes are available from Top Flight Recovery and Dino Chutes are two that come to mind.

Thank you, Any recommended kits? Maybe ones with wood fits vs plastic

 

[rharshberger]

Thank you, Any recommended kits? Maybe ones with wood fits vs plastic

Estes offers both wood and plastic finned kits, SBR Rockets has their Lil' series (29mm airframe that can be flown on 18mm and 24mm motors same for Loc Precision's 1" airframe diameter kits. E-rockets/Semroc lots of options, Balsa Machining Services School Rocket kit. Aerospace Specialty Products, Rocketarium, Quest, plenty of low power options and for some unusual kits New Way Rockets which are hip to be square!

 

[user 35280]

Go to your local hobby lobby stores as they usually have a decent selection of the Estes low power and a few mid power rocket kits, Estes low and mid power motors, accessories and supplies at affordable prices.

 

[BABAR]

Also, to add the obvious.

You can use the same nylon chute for multiple rockets. Caveats.

1. Make sure you have adequate wadding and/or baffle to protect the chute. I don't think nylon handles ejection charges much better than plastic.

2. Be a bit conservative in motor choices if you have either a small field or you DON'T have multiple extra observers. You have to RECOVER the rocket to re-use the chute in ANOTHER rocket. Avoid "Hasta La Vista, Baby" Rocket/Motor combos.

3. Put a good snap swivel on the chute, so it is easy to disconnect from a shock cord loop on one rocket and move it to another.

 

[teepot]

The swivel will also stop the chute from spinning itself into a tangled mess.

 

[banderson0929]

Hi

Looking for good low power kits. Either comes with a non plastic chute or can be replaced. Can be upgraded and still fly on the cheap motors

Mach 1 Rocketry offers amazing quality BT20 & BT50 glass kits that come complete or can be ordered complete with nylon chutes, nomex, and Kevlar. They use A, B, C & D motors.

https://www.mach1rocketry.com/bt20-rockets

https://www.mach1rocketry.com/bt50-rockets

 

[lstmysock11]

Mach 1 Rocketry offers amazing quality BT20 & BT50 glass kits that come complete or can be ordered complete with nylon chutes, nomex, and Kevlar. They use A, B, C & D motors.

https://www.mach1rocketry.com/bt20-rockets

https://www.mach1rocketry.com/bt50-rockets

Thanks will have to take a good look at them. Know of any build threads on either the bt20 or 50? I searched real quick and did not anything offhand. Will look a bit later when I have more time

 

[David_Stack]

“BT20” and “BT50” are not model names, but rather refer to the body tube diameters using the nomenclature as first established by Estes. A BT20 body tube is 0.736” in diameter (outside), an 18mm motor is a slip-fit inside, and a BT50 body tube is 0.976” in diameter (outside) and a 24mm motor is a slip-fit inside.

 

[Back_at_it]

Hi

Looking for good low power kits. Either comes with a non plastic chute or can be replaced. Can be upgraded and still fly on the cheap motors

any rocket can be upgraded. If you Feel the need you can replace the chute on just about any rocket out there. If built correctly there is nothing wrong with a plastic chute. Just don’t fly themwith the stock knots that come with the Estes kits.

 

[dr wogz]

or leave them (plastic chutes) all crumped up in the tube..

Some would say a Mylar chute is an upgrade. but it's still a plastic film.

I / we have also seen people buy a kit and swap out almost every component: revise it to the next motor mount size (18mm to 24mm) change the fins from balsa to ply or basswood (and maybe add TTW tabs & slots), swap out the CRs for ply, swap out the shock cord for Kevlar, swap the chute for nylon / sewn + a blanket and/or a baffle, and swap the nosecone. Then build with epoxy exclusively. Oh, and replace the water-slide decals with Stickershock.. Then complain that performance is marginal...

 

[lstmysock11]

or leave them (plastic chutes) all crumped up in the tube..

Some would say a Mylar chute is an upgrade. but it's still a plastic film.

I / we have also seen people buy a kit and swap out almost every component: revise it to the next motor mount size (18mm to 24mm) change the fins from balsa to ply or basswood (and maybe add TTW tabs & slots), swap out the CRs for ply, swap out the shock cord for Kevlar, swap the chute for nylon / sewn + a blanket and/or a baffle, and swap the nosecone. Then build with epoxy exclusively. Oh, and replace the water-slide decals with Stickershock.. Then complain that performance is marginal...

Not trying to upgrade everything but I hate those plastic parachutes with a pink and purple passion. I also really hate water slide decals, they are a big pain.

 

[AfterBurners]

You can always buy upgraded chutes but most LPR kits come with plastic, just changing the chute material wont usually change the weight enough to alter motor selection. Upgraded chutes are available from Top Flight Recovery and Dino Chutes are two that come to mind.

Small of Aerotech's chutes are very lightweight and easy to pack.

 

[BigMacDaddy]

Boosted Bertha is a good amount of kit for the money - comes w/ 2x screw-on engine retainer setups and can fly boosted or just sustainer. I also think that the Space Monkey V-2 is an awesome kit that only needs a few small 3D printed parts, minor adaptations, and a BT-55 tube to make it launch on a D12-3. Mini Mean Machine is a fun / impressive mini-engine rocket (especially if you make it a two-stager)...

Expedition & Astron have a lot in the kit.
https://www.acsupplyco.com/estes-model-rockets/estes-by-skill-level/skill-level-4
Redstone Mercury, Sasha, Low Boom SST, Multi-Roc all good deals
https://www.acsupplyco.com/estes-model-rockets/estes-by-skill-level/skill-level-3
Interceptor, Tazz, Nike-X also some nice rockets
https://www.acsupplyco.com/estes-model-rockets/estes-by-skill-level/skill-level-2

 

[user 35280]

Hi

Looking for good low power kits. Either comes with a non plastic chute or can be replaced. Can be upgraded and still fly on the cheap motors

https://locprecision.com/collections/rockets-1-00

 

[user 35280]

Hi

Looking for good low power kits. Either comes with a non plastic chute or can be replaced. Can be upgraded and still fly on the cheap motors

https://www.fliskits.com/WPRESS/product-category/motor-size/18mm/
https://www.fliskits.com/WPRESS/product-category/motor-size/24mm/

 

[user 35280]

Hi

Looking for good low power kits. Either comes with a non plastic chute or can be replaced. Can be upgraded and still fly on the cheap motors

https://www.asp-rocketry.com/ecommerce/ASP-Scale-Model-Rocket-Kits.cfm?cat_id=8
https://www.asp-rocketry.com/ecommerce/ASP-Sport-Model-Rocket-Kits.cfm?cat_id=10

 

[user 35280]

Hi

Looking for good low power kits. Either comes with a non plastic chute or can be replaced. Can be upgraded and still fly on the cheap motors

https://www.erockets.biz/semroc-rocket-kits/

 

[user 35280]

Hi

Looking for good low power kits. Either comes with a non plastic chute or can be replaced. Can be upgraded and still fly on the cheap motors

https://www.customrocketcompany.com/

 

[user 35280]

Hi

Looking for good low power kits. Either comes with a non plastic chute or can be replaced. Can be upgraded and still fly on the cheap motors

https://www.erockets.biz/newway-rocket-kits/

 

[user 35280]

Hi

Looking for good low power kits. Either comes with a non plastic chute or can be replaced. Can be upgraded and still fly on the cheap motors

https://www.questaerospace.com/Model_Rocket_Kits/cat4193206_3443147.aspx

 

[user 35280]

Hi

Looking for good low power kits. Either comes with a non plastic chute or can be replaced. Can be upgraded and still fly on the cheap motors

https://www.rocketarium.com/Rockets

 

[user 35280]

Hi

Looking for good low power kits. Either comes with a non plastic chute or can be replaced. Can be upgraded and still fly on the cheap motors

https://www.apogeerockets.com/Apogee

 

[user 35280]

Hi

Looking for good low power kits. Either comes with a non plastic chute or can be replaced. Can be upgraded and still fly on the cheap motors

https://boyceaerospacehobbies.com/

 

[user 35280]

Hi

Looking for good low power kits. Either comes with a non plastic chute or can be replaced. Can be upgraded and still fly on the cheap motors

https://www.siriusrocketry.biz/ishop/sirius-rocketry-kits-3/

 

[psmcginnis5]

Estes Star Orbiter. 45” tall can fly on BP D motors for less than $4. Costs about $15 from a discounter. Has a 29mm motor mount with screw on retainer. But will need adapter to fly with D’s. The parachute is plastic. It would be about $8 for a Top Flite replacement. Could use a bit of Kevlar instead of the supplied shock cord. The fins are balsa but can be papered for almost nothing. Or for $4 you can get plywood fins and centering rings. With either of those upgrades can handle G motors. I have seen dual deployment versions on TRF.

 

[tOD]

Mach 1 Rocketry offers amazing quality BT20 & BT50 glass kits that come complete or can be ordered complete with nylon chutes, nomex, and Kevlar. They use A, B, C & D motors.

https://www.mach1rocketry.com/bt20-rockets

https://www.mach1rocketry.com/bt50-rockets

Being fiberglass and flying on grass fields I use streamers in my LP Mach1 rockets