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View Full Version : Estes Satellite Interceptor, Photon Probe and Hornet kits


scigs30
02-08-2010, 09:22 PM
Here are the pictures of the new kits from Estes. All and all, I must say these are nice kits with quality parts. Still confused about the parachute, but oh well. The balsa is excellent and the decals looks real nice. The Interceptor has a balsa nose cone that is a different shape than the plastic nose cone. Not a big deal because the Tandem X kit uses the same plastic nose as the orig. and you can have the tail piece that is missing in the new kit. Remember now, Estes plastic nose cones were never identical to the balsa cones. Out of the three kits, the Interceptor is the only one that has a built model on the package. The rest are all computer generated. I personally like the built kit on the package vs computer generated. The Photon Probe has the BNC-55AO nose cone. I have the Semroc and BMS BNC-55AO and they are great quality, but there are subtle differences between those and the original. The new Estes BNC-55AO is identical to the original Estes nose. I took a picture of my Goblins nose and the Photon probe nose. I never owned a Hornet kit, so I don't know what to say other than it is a cool bird. It has the BNC-55AO cone. Also the motor mount rings are now laser cut. I think these are excellent kits and hopefully will bring new rocketeers to the hobby.
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/scigs30/New%20Estes%20kits/DSC_0046.jpg
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/scigs30/New%20Estes%20kits/DSC_0050.jpg
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/scigs30/New%20Estes%20kits/DSC_0049.jpg
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/scigs30/New%20Estes%20kits/DSC_0048.jpg
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/scigs30/New%20Estes%20kits/DSC_0052.jpg
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/scigs30/New%20Estes%20kits/DSC_0053.jpg
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/scigs30/New%20Estes%20kits/DSC_0054.jpg
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/scigs30/New%20Estes%20kits/DSC_0055.jpg

scigs30
02-08-2010, 09:23 PM
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/scigs30/New%20Estes%20kits/DSC_0040.jpg
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/scigs30/New%20Estes%20kits/DSC_0042.jpg
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/scigs30/New%20Estes%20kits/DSC_0058.jpg
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/scigs30/New%20Estes%20kits/DSC_0057.jpg
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/scigs30/New%20Estes%20kits/DSC_0056.jpg
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/scigs30/New%20Estes%20kits/DSC_0059.jpg

tbzep
02-08-2010, 09:31 PM
They look good. I see some minor font variations on the S.I., but other than having to make my own tail cone, I like the looks of the kit.

Did you mail order these, or did you find them in a real brick-n-mortar store?

CPMcGraw
02-08-2010, 09:38 PM
Sweet!

Those look nice, Scigs! I'll have to start poking around Mobile to see if anyone (HobbyLobby, Michaels, or Hobbytown USA) has received any.

Now I'm really curious to see how well the original "Sustainables" sold since they arrived in WM...

One thing about it, the Satellite Interceptor and Photon Probe are not exactly 4FNC models. They do provide a bit of a challenge to the builder.

Tim beat me to the question about where you got them from. Mail order, or LHS?

scigs30
02-08-2010, 10:12 PM
I ordered them online from Amazon.com.........Still curious who is making the nose cones. From what I understand, the parts are made here in the USA and shipped to China for packaging. Now I could be wrong, but this is what Christine told me.
The new decals from Estes are much cleaner/sharper than the vintage decals. I don't know if they are still silk screening for just printing them out.

A Fish Named Wallyum
02-08-2010, 10:17 PM
Interesting side-by-side with the Hornet and Goblin cones. The Goblin wasn't on the list of reissues, was it? It should be. :cool:

scigs30
02-08-2010, 10:35 PM
I did not see the Goblin on the list. I agree, this would be a great bring back kit. I know, it is easy to clone. One of my favorite kits, I have 5 of these suckers. It is going to be interesting to see what happens with these "Classic Kits". At the hobby stores around here, the Der Red Max and Interceptors never stay in stock. I hope this is the same for the rest of the classic kits. Lets face it, clones, or these bring back kits will never replace the original for us, but thats ok.

jay
02-08-2010, 10:58 PM
Great pics scigs, thanks for sharing! :cool: I'm a huge Satellite Interceptor fan. Check out Tower Hobbies . . . . . .LONG TOM, late march delivery i think.

scigs30
02-08-2010, 11:10 PM
It looks like the Interceptor balsa cone is identical to the old Citation Vega balsa cone. I am at a loss here, how is Estes re producing these nose cones?

Der Red Max
02-09-2010, 12:25 AM
I am at a loss here, how is Estes re producing these nose cones?
I'm guessing a lathe?

Shreadvector
02-09-2010, 07:24 AM
In "The good old days", they had a pencil sharpener type of grinder to mass produce the nose cones on the premises in Penrose. I would expect the fab to be done elsewhere these days, but where I have no idea.
Massive amounts of balsa require lots of careful facility care - dust can be dangerous and you can get termites.

scigs30
02-09-2010, 10:45 AM
The only thing missing on the new cones is the little stub at the base. I expected variations from the original balsa parts, just because its been awhile since Estes produced them. So I was amazed to see these 2 nose cones are identical to the originals.

tbzep
02-09-2010, 10:57 AM
In "The good old days", they had a pencil sharpener type of grinder to mass produce the nose cones on the premises in Penrose. I would expect the fab to be done elsewhere these days, but where I have no idea.
Massive amounts of balsa require lots of careful facility care - dust can be dangerous and you can get termites.

The pencil sharpener type nose cone maker doesn't leave parallel tooling marks like a regular lathe. Of course, if you turn your own like me and Sandman, you sand 'em slick before taking them off the lathe and you won't see any marks. It makes for one less finishing step too. :cool:

Doug Sams
02-09-2010, 11:31 AM
Massive amounts of balsa require lots of careful facility care - dust can be dangerous and you can get termites.Before they burned down, we would occasionally trek down to Lone Star Balsa southeast of Dallas. They had an incredible selection and very good prices. I was quite fond of the place. But the air was filled with balsa dust from the machining operations - they kitted model airplanes as well as milled the balsa into the common sizes for purchase.

As an engineer and former factory worker, I've learned to look around and consider the what-ifs. Not only did they not have air handlers for dust control, they had nothing for fire suppression, as I recall. At the time, I couldn't help but think the place was both a fire-waiting-to-happen as well as a source for lung disease - the balse equivalent to silicosis I suppose.

When I turn wood on my lathe, I always were a mask. It makes a boat-load of dust, especially when you do the sanding on the lathe.

Doug

.

ScaleNut
02-09-2010, 12:18 PM
I believe these cones are made on a cnc grinder (cnc lathe with grinding attachment)

Shreadvector
02-09-2010, 12:58 PM
Before they burned down, we would occasionally trek down to Lone Star Balsa southeast of Dallas. They had an incredible selection and very good prices. I was quite fond of the place. But the air was filled with balsa dust from the machining operations - they kitted model airplanes as well as milled the balsa into the common sizes for purchase.

As an engineer and former factory worker, I've learned to look around and consider the what-ifs. Not only did they not have air handlers for dust control, they had nothing for fire suppression, as I recall. At the time, I couldn't help but think the place was both a fire-waiting-to-happen as well as a source for lung disease - the balse equivalent to silicosis I suppose.

When I turn wood on my lathe, I always were a mask. It makes a boat-load of dust, especially when you do the sanding on the lathe.

Doug


.

I used to go to Superior Balsa when they still existed here in So Cal. They had to clean the dust from the roof beams to avoid dust explosions or fire hazards and they also had periodic tenting for termites. I bought some wood from them with termite holes in it and I also found a live termite in one batch of wood. Luckily not a Queen. They did the wood for the Estes Astro Blaster and possibly some other models.

ghrocketman
02-10-2010, 01:20 PM
See that the new version of the Satellite Interceptor is missing the "engine bell" tailcone when compared to the old version. Know it was plastic on the original. Seems like they could have made a paper version for this kit to avoid plastic. On the original it was listed in the instructions "for display only" but I always flew mine with it attached. The bottom of the bell was flush with the engine and I saw no reason why it had to be "for display only".

ScaleNut
02-10-2010, 05:12 PM
that would change the skill level

tbzep
02-10-2010, 05:22 PM
See that the new version of the Satellite Interceptor is missing the "engine bell" tailcone when compared to the old version. Know it was plastic on the original. Seems like they could have made a paper version for this kit to avoid plastic. On the original it was listed in the instructions "for display only" but I always flew mine with it attached. The bottom of the bell was flush with the engine and I saw no reason why it had to be "for display only".

From Scigs30's original post in this thread...
Not a big deal because the Tandem X kit uses the same plastic nose as the orig. and you can have the tail piece that is missing in the new kit.

scigs30
02-13-2010, 10:56 PM
Got my Estes Magician and Mini Max.......Out of town until next week, will try to post pictures.

j.a.duke
02-14-2010, 04:40 PM
Got my Estes Magician and Mini Max.......Out of town until next week, will try to post pictures.

I saw Tower had the Mini Max in stock earlier in the week, but didn't order early that morning and they were out by early afternoon :( .

Where did you get yours from?

Thanks.

Cheers,
Jon

Vanel
02-14-2010, 11:55 PM
Both the Mini Max and the Magician are available from AC Supply (http://www.acsupplyco.com) .