More New Estes E2X kits

[Initiator001]

The design staff at Estes can't help themselves. :D

There are more new E2X kits on the way!

One is the Firebolt. This model is listed as available on the Estes website and several hobby websites (Tower Hobbies, Hobbylinc) list it as in stock.

This is a large model. BT-60 diameter and just over 36 inches tall. Chrome silver wrap body tubes and red plastic parts along with a clear payload section.

Motor recommendations are: D12-5, E9-6, E12-6. One could probably find a way to use an AeroTech E15/E20/E30/F30 or F32 motor in the kit. ;)

[Initiator001]

Another new Estes E2X kit is the Splendor.

This model has a kind of patriotic theme.

It has shown up on the Estes website but is not yet available.

BT-55 diameter and nearly 25 inches tall.

Pre-colored red body tubes and blue molded plastic parts.

Recommended motors are B6-4 and C6-5.

[Initiator001]

Still another new Estes E2X model is the Shattered.

I guess the theme of this rocket is something brittle breaking.

This model is not yet pictured on the Estes website but it does have a listing under 'Future Products'.

BT-50 tubing and 34 inches tall. There is a clear plastic tube in the middle of the rocket. The body tube has the look of something breaking. Yellow plastic nose cone and black plastic fin unit.

Recommended motors are B6-4 and C6-5.

[Initiator001]

The Dark Zero is another new Estes E2X kit which is listed under 'Future Products' on the Estes website.

A military-like model the Dark Zero features the plastic fin/stake pieces used in other past Estes E2X models.

The body tube is HBT-100 diameter with an overall length of 21 inches.

The body tubes are pre-colored in a grey-ish hue with blue plastic parts.

Recommended motors are B4-4, B6-4 and C6-5.

[Ltvscout]

The design staff at Estes can't help themselves. :D

There are more new E2X kits on the way!

One is the Firebolt. This model is listed as available on the Estes website and several hobby websites (Tower Hobbies, Hobbylinc) list it as in stock.

This is a large model. BT-60 diameter and just over 36 inches tall. Chrome silver wrap body tubes and red plastic parts along with a clear payload section.

Motor recommendations are: D12-5, E9-6, E12-6. One could probably find a way to use an AeroTech E15/E20/E30/F30 or F32 motor in the kit. ;)
Interesting, plastic Sprint fins. I wonder what Mike would think of that.

[Jerry Irvine]

E2X is a market access technology to bypass the craftsmanship requirements of an otherwise clearly superior Sprint model.

Sometimes access trumps perfection.

Sometimes rules and restrictions trump access, as in HPR.

Obviously E2X is the superior scheme not only because of who advocates it, but also because of who (and how many) utilizes it.

Jerry

[mwtoelle]

Interesting, plastic Sprint fins. I wonder what Mike would think of that.
Hard to say, but Mike also designed the Alpha III, the Saros, the Banshee RTF, and the Vampire RTF.

[Initiator001]

Here's a picture of my assembled Firebolt model.

First flight is scheduled for this Saturday with a D12-5 motor. :)

[Initiator001]

The Los Angeles NAR Section (#430) had one of their scheduled launches today, Saturday.

Turnout was a bit lite probably due to the heat (I measured 105F at 12:00 Noon).

Still, that didn't stop me from flying my newly finished Estes Firebolt model.

Powered by an Estes 'Mighty' D12-5 motor, the Firebolt had a great flight and landing.

[Initiator001]

...And recovery!

[Initiator001]

I finished the Splendor model Friday night.

Fairly quick build.

[Initiator001]

Next is the Shattered.

The BT-50 diameter model has a finishing scheme to look like the rocket is breaking into hundreds of pieces.

Yes, that is a piece of clear tubing in the middle of the rocket.

Listed weight is 2.5 ounce. Mine weighed in at 2.6 ounces.

[scsager]

Next is the Shattered.

The BT-50 diameter model has a finishing scheme to look like the rocket is breaking into hundreds of pieces.

Yes, that is a piece of clear tubing in the middle of the rocket.

Listed weight is 2.5 ounce. Mine weighed in at 2.6 ounces.


So the clear tube is just a clear airframe section - not a payload section with bulkheads?

[Initiator001]

So the clear tube is just a clear airframe section - not a payload section with bulkheads?

There are bulkheads but you would need to do some modifications in order to make it into a payload section.

[snaquin]

Next is the Shattered.

The BT-50 diameter model has a finishing scheme to look like the rocket is breaking into hundreds of pieces.

Yes, that is a piece of clear tubing in the middle of the rocket.

Listed weight is 2.5 ounce. Mine weighed in at 2.6 ounces.

That's really cool with the clear tubing in the middle. I really like the finished look of that one it's unique.

.

[Initiator001]

The final rocket of this set is the Dark Zero.

It uses the motor mount/fin alignment pieces from the original Estes E2X kits of the early 1990s.

The upper section could be modified into a small payload section with a little effort.

For once my model weighed in less than the factory specs: 2.1 oz vs. 2.2 oz.

I look forward to future E2X kits from Estes.

[BEC]

I'm just putting together a Dark Zero. Very interesting build for an E2X with some clever parts involved (must be John Boren again). I like the rugged body tubes as well. Mine will have a functional payload section, of course, since I love flying altimeters.

Any idea what other model the plastic parts might be used in/for since there is one part included that is not used?

[mwtoelle]

The Dark Zero looks like a MK-109 Sting Ray (2131) from the late 1990s. The major difference the plastic parts are molded in blue and the addition of a payload section. Hope the Dark Zero does not have the stability of the MK-109. (Needs nose weight when flying with C6 motors).

[BEC]

Gee, it sure does. I just looked at the instructions here: http://www.estesrockets.com/media/instructions/002131_MK109_STINGRAY.pdf

They call for packing quite a bit of clay into the nose cone. The Dark Zero adds 5 1/2 inches more length and that coupler that's not used on the Mk-109 Stingray. Mine will likely always be flying with at least a tiny altimeter (PerfectFlite FireFly or Altus Metrum MicroPeak) aboard. I was looking at that heavy wall tubing and thinking D21, actually.... :D

I'd expect it to hold up to the hibachi ejection charges better than my Nova Payloader has (if the plastic rings at the ends of the motor mount don't melt, that is).

[mwtoelle]

I wish Estes would offer the HBT-1090 and matching nose cones as separate parts again. The heavy wall tubes are great for rockets that are flown frequently. The plastic motor mount parts hold up fine using either Estes or Aerotech motors.