More new Estes kits coming?

[Scott_650]

Interesting post on Chris Michielssen’s blog about two possible upcoming Estes rockets: a bring back and a new “sci-fi” design. Some fascinating speculation going on about the bring back...

https://modelrocketbuilding.blogspot.com/2018/02/new-estes-bring-back.html

[Initiator001]

John Boren had posted over on the NAR Facebook page that he had flown two new kit ideas.

One was a SciFy type model while the other was a re-issue with a two color paint scheme (Decal colors do not count).

Hmmm...

[JumpJet]

Actually the color of the decals do count for the total colors used on the model.


John Boren

[turbofireball]

Two colors, with one of the colors being the decals. That means any rocket that was black and white, red and white, blue and white, black and yellow, red and yellow, etc. That is a whole lot of guesses.

[neil_w]

It would narrow it down a bit if we knew if it was a scale model...

(that's called "fishing for hints")

[Shreadvector]

Olive Drab with white decals?

Two colors, with one of the colors being the decals. That means any rocket that was black and white, red and white, blue and white, black and yellow, red and yellow, etc. That is a whole lot of guesses.

[Scott_650]

So many choices! LTV Scout, Yellow Jacket, Icarus, MX-774, Mars Snooper II, Mean Machine, Exocet, Black Hole Space Probe...

[JumpJet]

No, this one is not a scale model


John Boren

[Scott_650]

Well that narrows it down a bit. The fun is in guessing - until the kit comes out of course!

[Joe Shockcord]

Olive Drab with white decals?

As in Little John?

Still hoping/wishing/praying for a Citation Quasar.

[the mole]

My guess is the Mean Machine.

[Jerry Irvine]

No, this one is not a scale model
John BorenMy question is why you cannot be less vague to increase speculation 500%?

[ghrocketman]

The Mean Machine has been brought back numerous times.
I'd rather see the Cobra-1500 brought back with a 29mm mount.

Still hoping for a return of the K-21 Gemini Titan and the Nike Ajax.

[astronwolf]

Still hoping for a return of the K-21 Gemini Titan and the Nike Ajax.
I always thought of you as an Estes Colossus kind of guy.

[LeeR]

The Saros would be nice. It is the oldest model in my fleet, built in 1976. I’ve turned an upscale nose cone but the project is stalled for now. Too many distractions.

Here is my original and the upscaled nose cone.

[Scott_650]

Looking through the Centuri and Estes catalogs at Sven Knudson’s Site, ninfinger.org, I’m leaning towards the Maxi Icarus. A BT60, 3FNC with a clear payload tube kind of fills a spot in Estes lineup. It is a good looking rocket too. Though if it’s the Mars Snooper II that would ROCK!

[ghrocketman]

The Maxi Icarus does nothing for me other than it is not tiny like the original Icarus.
The only interesting thing about it is the clear payload section....otherwise boring 3FNC.
A proficient builder can have all the major work done in about 10 minutes.
An average builder could do it in under an hour.
Easily cloned as well.

[Scott_650]

Another candidate would be the one year only Dark Star. The nose cone and nozzle appear the same as the recently discontinued Solar Warrior and the new Citation Patriot uses a lot of gold-tone in the decal so we know Estes vendor in China has the capability for the Dark Star’s all-gold graphics - add it up and maybe the return of the Dark Star could be the result. Interesting story I found about that rocket:

http://forums.rocketshoppe.com/showthread.php?t=10292&page=1&pp=10

[Scott_650]

The Maxi Icarus does nothing for me other than it is not tiny like the original Icarus.
The only interesting thing about it is the clear payload section....otherwise boring 3FNC.
A proficient builder can have all the major work done in about 10 minutes.
An average builder could do it in under an hour.
Easily cloned as well.

As it’s been said many times - Estes is a rocket motor company first. Being easy to build from standard components means more people buying more motors faster :)

The other half of Mr. Boren’s post about the unique sci-fi rocket might mean something much different than a 3/4FNC so there’s that to look forward to.

[hcmbanjo]

The Mean Machine has been brought back numerous times.
I'd rather see the Cobra-1500 brought back with a 29mm mount.
Still hoping for a return of the K-21 Gemini Titan and the Nike Ajax.

I doubt Estes would bring back a cluster kit (even a two engine cluster) when the
available igniters are non-pyrogen "Starters".

[JumpJet]

As for the new SciFi model it consists of 54 laser cut parts that come from 11 sheets of balsa and 1 sheet of Card Stock. It doesn't use a plastic of shaped balsa nose cone but does use a set of plastic parts from a past SciFi model.


John Boren

[jdbectec]

Another candidate would be the one year only Dark Star. The nose cone and nozzle appear the same as the recently discontinued Solar Warrior and the new Citation Patriot uses a lot of gold-tone in the decal so we know Estes vendor in China has the capability for the Dark Star’s all-gold graphics - add it up and maybe the return of the Dark Star could be the result. Interesting story I found about that rocket:

http://forums.rocketshoppe.com/showthread.php?t=10292&page=1&pp=10


I thought of the exact same thing!

[the mole]

As for the new SciFi model it consists of 54 laser cut parts that come from 11 sheets of balsa and 1 sheet of Card Stock. It doesn't use a plastic of shaped balsa nose cone but does use a set of plastic parts from a past SciFi model.


John Boren

On this, I'm thinking the plastic parts are from the X-wing, but is it the small or big X-wing assortment?

[Les]

As for the new SciFi model it consists of 54 laser cut parts that come from 11 sheets of balsa and 1 sheet of Card Stock. It doesn't use a plastic of shaped balsa nose cone but does use a set of plastic parts from a past SciFi model.


John Boren

Sounds like it will be a great kit! Looking forward to it.

[Jerry Irvine]

The Saros would be nice. It is the oldest model in my fleet, built in 1976. I’ve turned an upscale nose cone but the project is stalled for now. Too many distractions.

Here is my original and the upscaled nose cone.If there were an upscale Saros I would buy several. I already ordered more than a dozen Patriot kits from a dealer.

[Shreadvector]

Sounds interesting - I hope it uses the 29mm F15 and E16 motors.


As for the new SciFi model it consists of 54 laser cut parts that come from 11 sheets of balsa and 1 sheet of Card Stock. It doesn't use a plastic of shaped balsa nose cone but does use a set of plastic parts from a past SciFi model.


John Boren

[rraeford]

Sarcasm?

[Initiator001]

Looking through the Centuri and Estes catalogs at Sven Knudson’s Site, ninfinger.org, I’m leaning towards the Maxi Icarus. A BT60, 3FNC with a clear payload tube kind of fills a spot in Estes lineup. It is a good looking rocket too. Though if it’s the Mars Snooper II that would ROCK!

I like the Maxi Icarus too. :)

I flew my clone of it today. Another fine flight with the model.

[Initiator001]

Another candidate would be the one year only Dark Star. The nose cone and nozzle appear the same as the recently discontinued Solar Warrior and the new Citation Patriot uses a lot of gold-tone in the decal so we know Estes vendor in China has the capability for the Dark Star’s all-gold graphics - add it up and maybe the return of the Dark Star could be the result.

The 'gold' bands on the Dark Star are adhesive backed strips, not decals.

[Scott_650]

The 'gold' bands on the Dark Star are adhesive backed strips, not decals.

If they bring back the Dark Star I’d assume the new kit would have waterslide decals rather than peel and stick ones - I hope!

[ghrocketman]

Bob-
Your Maxi-Icarus clone seems to be missing the clear payload section.

[Initiator001]

Bob-
Your Maxi-Icarus clone seems to be missing the clear payload section.

I didn't have any PST-60 at the time I built my Maxi Icarus clone.
I substituted a piece of BT-60.

[Initiator001]

...Actually, I ran out of clear paint. ;) :D

[tbzep]

I didn't have any clear paint either, so I used a fluorescent bulb sleeve. I cheated and turned my own nosecone because the PNC-60AH wasn't a perfect fit. :)

[jeffyjeep]

...Actually, I ran out of clear paint. ;) :D

Clear paint? Do you buy that at the same place as portable holes? :D

[BEC]

.....cue music from “Yellow Submarine”......

[Shreadvector]

Or the original:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI-I8DQD4LI

.....cue music from “Yellow Submarine”......

[BEC]

Except that that is painting a tunnel on a wall....

Maybe this, better: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFNx7YFwFfI

[tdracer]

John, may I suggest something like the Q-Modeling upscales of the Mars Snooper and Starship Vega? Based on the interest when I show up to fly them there must be some interest in a large market release (and the spring loaded legs are cool). I'm not sure what became of Q-Modeling and Google didn't provide much help (I have a vague recollection that he got flooded out but...)
Also I'd second the request for something like the K-21 Gemini Titan.

[ghrocketman]

Would REALLY like a 29mm upscaled Mars Snooper II with the spring loaded legs the Q-modeling one had. Missed out on the first run of those and the 5-year-long "coming soon" return of Q-modeling has turned into pure vaporware.