OC-Patrick
Well-Known Member
... in addition to these kits, how about also bringing back the B8 and B14 motors?
Funny you should mention that! I built a SBB with gusseted, TTW fins made of lite ply a few months ago. Strong, lightweight and easier than laminating pieces of wood.
...but I like the thick draggy fins of the balsa lamination for the SBB. The thickness is part of the design and performance intent... draggy and slow on BP motors. They are easy to assemble, light, rigid and won't warp. Sure, there are alternatives when scratch building, but were talking about kits. Nice SBB, by the way...
I second the Maxi-Brute Pershing 1A- one just sold a few months back on Ebay for $260 bucks. I would buy several!
I would like to see some more upscales like they did with the Super Big Bertha- bigger versions of Estes classics like Mars Snooper, Cherokee D, etc. would be awesome (like Hawks Hobby did). While I'm on a roll, the Bomarc, Jayhawk, Maxi Icarus, Omega would be great to see.
Didn't Estes parent company own the Centuri/Enerjet line too? Maybe a few old Centuri kits too.
Next year is the 45th anniversary of the introduction of the Maxi Brute models, which started with the V-2 and the Pershing 1-A. Seems like as good a time as any to bring these kits back with upgraded motor capacities.
B8 I don't remember, but to the B14 I say "Yes, yes!" Put one of those in a sustainer atop a C6-0 and with the lightest recording altimeter you can get to read the speed afterward. Get it going then kick it in the ass!... in addition to these kits, how about also bringing back the B8 and B14 motors?
I've heard stories that the B14 production process was time consuming and dangerous, that it involved hand-drilling the core-burning port in propellant slugs, so I don't doubt restarting production would be a hassle, with probably very limited niche demand.
John Boren discussed the possibility of the Pershing returning - at the time he didn’t think it was very likely to happen. Now, with new management? Guess we’ll have to wait and see. A larger - maybe even a PSII version? - V-2 seems like a natural. With the Star Orbiter and Super Big Bertha as the only builder kits using 29mm motors a larger V-2 would be a great addition.
At NARAM I witnessed John being bombarded with requests to bring models of olde back.
I think they would do well to return to the catalogs of the late 70s and early 80s and get away from the 3FNC types.
This raises some interesting issues.In addition to the obvious one everybody always asks for (GT, Mercury Atlas, etc) I think they would do well to return to the catalogs of the late 70s and early 80s and get away for the 3FNC types.
I think returning to the production of kits like the Starfighter combo, USS Atlantis, Starlab, Deep space transport, Manta Bomber and such would not require any large spool up or retooling of a kit, like the Mercury/Atlas will, since they are mainly constructed of common stock. These kits appeal to both the BAR market and to new rocketeers as well. And yes they are cloneable but the average buyer doesn’t want to spend time hunting for parts they want to see the face card and get that Oooooh feeling and take it home
The Star Orbiter and Super Big Bertha are probably good indicators of the future for PSII builder kits - larger/longer rockets using standard Estes components with 29mm motor mounts so the big BP motors and 24mm motors with an adapter will fly them safely. Unless Estes has plans for either building bigger BP motors, developing their own composite motors, or going back to buying composite 29mm motors from another manufacturer the days of the “classic” PSII builder kits - MDRM, Leviathan, Nike Smoke, Partizon, etc are over. As nice as those kits are, and I have more than a few myself, there are plenty of vendors selling 2-4 inch diameter kits just as good or better.I can't remember if I posted or not, but if I did it can be said more than once. I'd like to see more PSII builders kits. After getting my hands on a couple of Argents, I didn't realize how nice the builders PS kits were! I'd like to see more of that!
That said, here's some ideas anyway
- Boeing ALCM Cruise Missile - does the tooling still exist? May have licensing issues now.
...Boeing ALCM Cruise Missile - does the tooling still exist? May have licensing issues now.
Depends on Target Audience...It would make a cool scale rocket, true, but it lacks some of the 'cool factor' of the ALCM.And to throw an idea out there for a modern-day version, for a new release, rather than a bring-back:
the Lockheed LRASM: (this is not your father's ALCM)
https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/long-range-anti-ship-missile.html
Very nice! What’s the weight without a motor? Did you paper the fins?I would like to see Estes bring back some of the PS II builder kits. If I could pick just one it would be the Leviathan. You can fly it on an F15-4 or F15-6. Notice on my profile photo that the last rocket on the right is a Leviathan. I built it from parts I bought from Estes and Balsa Machining Services. I got the fin pattern from the Estes Scion. I had a woodworking shop cut out the fins from 1/8 basswood. I used making take from Michael's Arts and Crafts for the striping.
If anyone is interested I can post the part numbers and vendor. I can post a photo of the fin pattern and include dimensions.
Parts from BMS are the T300-34 airframe, C300-6 couplers, and CR 52H-300 centering rings, and T52H-34 motor mount tube. The nose cone for a Leviathan clone is the same one the Big Daddy uses, the BMS PNC-300K is almost 2" longer than the Estes NC.Very nice! What’s the weight without a motor? Did you paper the fins?
Enter your email address to join: