Vintage Estes

[ajaerospace]

Does anyone know a good place to find and buy Estes out of production kits? I've used ebay before, but is there anywhere else more, well, retail-like? Thanks.

 

[shreadvector]

there are companies that make clones of Estes and Centuri kits and also companies that make parts packs or instructions/decals for the kits that they could not get permission to fully clone.

https://www.semroc.com/Store/scripts/default.asp

https://www.semroc.com/Store/scripts/Information.asp

Originally posted by ajaerospace
Does anyone know a good place to find and buy Estes out of production kits? I've used ebay before, but is there anywhere else more, well, retail-like? Thanks.

 

[dr wogz]

Finding 'OOP' Estes kits will nprobabkly be a hard thing, as I doubt you'll find any 'retail' place taht has kept a few. Stores typically wan tto move teh product as fast as possible.

E-bay is probably your best bet..

Unless you wish to clone / scratch build some. Then this site is for you!

https://www.dars.org/jimz/estes.htm

Al the kits produced by Estes over the years, all with instrctions, and some with fin templates, and decal files, to print your own!

I think we all love Jim Z's site!

 

[Hauptmann]

Discount Rocketry has been selling a small selection of OOP kits, although they are kinda pricey.

If you want something retail, try to find an out-of-the-way, low traffic hobby store. It's amazing what you can find in places like that. I once found a small hobby shop in Massachusetts that had over a dozen old OOP Estes balsa nose cones and transitions. Naturally, I bought them all, no questions asked!

 

[Aron Sanford]

Most now are on ebay, becarful though, some 25-30 year old kits seem to have plastic bags that are way to clear for the age! I think some are BS since there is money tyo be made!
Try garage sales & small flea markets also!
Aron

 

[Ltvscout]

Originally posted by Dr Wogz
Unless you wish to clone / scratch build some. Then this site is for you!

https://www.dars.org/jimz/estes.htm

Al the kits produced by Estes over the years, all with instrctions, and some with fin templates, and decal files, to print your own!

I think we all love Jim Z's site!

JimZ does not have ALL of the kits Estes produced. He has many, but not all. To find OOP plans from a wide range of manufacturers, plus many Estes plans not found on JimZ, visit Ye Olde Rocket Plans at https://plans.rocketshoppe.com.

To find a list of all Estes and Centuri kits ever produced along with the years they were available, visit one of my other sites, Ye Olde Rocket Shoppe at https://www.rocketshoppe.com. Once there, click on the Kit Lists link.

 

[DynaSoar]

Originally posted by ajaerospace
Does anyone know a good place to find and buy Estes out of production kits? I've used ebay before, but is there anywhere else more, well, retail-like? Thanks.

Check out the auction at rocketryonline.com

I've encouraged sellers on eBay to go there also, since eBay doesn't let you sell engines.

 

[cls]

Great Lakes Hobbies and Commonwealth.Net both have some OOP kits.

but as noted above, your best bet is cloning ... enjoy!!

 

[Aron Sanford]

There are some clone kits for sale now on ebay.
I have a few & they were close to the original one but for a few upgrades.
Aron