Estes Challenger 1

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

Anyone have any idea how many other kits the fin can from this kit appeared on? I seem to remember that the Star Trek kit featured it, but is it also the same as the fin can in the current Sky Writer kit? I just found a notebook last night with a cd inside that included the pictures of the Challenger 1 "restoration" that I did a year or so ago, so I thought I'd write it up for EMRR.

[Ltvscout]

Anyone have any idea how many other kits the fin can from this kit appeared on? I seem to remember that the Star Trek kit featured it, but is it also the same as the fin can in the current Sky Writer kit? I just found a notebook last night with a cd inside that included the pictures of the Challenger 1 "restoration" that I did a year or so ago, so I thought I'd write it up for EMRR.
Hehe. Sounds like a John Brohm project! Which fin cans go with which rockets.

[CPMcGraw]

Anyone have any idea how many other kits the fin can from this kit appeared on? I seem to remember that the Star Trek kit featured it, but is it also the same as the fin can in the current Sky Writer kit? I just found a notebook last night with a cd inside that included the pictures of the Challenger 1 "restoration" that I did a year or so ago, so I thought I'd write it up for EMRR.

This may not be a complete list, but it's all I could pull out of the XEKL on short notice:

#1235 Sky Writer #2
#1260 Sky Writer #2 (same kit, different package)
#1328 Kadet
#1333 Scorpion (used 2 fin units)
#1418 STAR TREK (starter set)
#1420 STAR WARS Proton Torpedo (starter set)
#1438 DUNE Guild Heighliner (starter set)
#1993 Lancer
#2026 Athena
#2042 America

As for whether all of these are the same, I think there are some differences in the molds, but that they represent the same fin units. Much like all of the different variations in the PNC-50K nose cone over the last 40 years...

Hope this helps...

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

This may not be a complete list, but it's all I could pull out of the XEKL on short notice:

#1235 Sky Writer #2
#1260 Sky Writer #2 (same kit, different package)
#1328 Kadet
#1333 Scorpion (used 2 fin units)
#1418 STAR TREK (starter set)
#1420 STAR WARS Proton Torpedo (starter set)
#1438 DUNE Guild Heighliner (starter set)
#1993 Lancer
#2026 Athena
#2042 America

Hope this helps...

Sure does. Enough that I'll give you credit in the review.

[John Brohm]

Hi Craig;

It's a very good list and covers most of the examples. As you say though, there is a difference in the mold, there being two distinct types.

The Challenger I fin can had fins that were molded in a slight diamond airfoil; this fin can was designated PRP-1G, and had P/N 032486. The Kadet had exactly the same fin can, with exactly the same part descriptors.

The later model kits (like the America, the Athena, and the Generic E2X) have fin cans with fins in a wedge airfoil shape; the part number for this model varies depending (I think) on the color of the plastic. For example, the Mongoose (#2092) has a Magenta-colored fin can with P/N 072651; yet the very same fin can appears in the Rattler-7 (#2150) in Green, with P/N 072401. Curiously, the old Scorpion (#1333) also has the wedge-shaped fin can instead of the diamond; I'd have to do some digging to see if this was the first use of the wedge-shaped fin can.

In any case, we cloners usually have to make do with what we can get our hands on, so a clone of the Challenger I is most likely going to be based on the later model fin can. It's doubtful that anyone would notice (or likely care!).

Bill - make sure you post a photo when the Challenger I is ready!




This may not be a complete list, but it's all I could pull out of the XEKL on short notice:

#1235 Sky Writer #2
#1260 Sky Writer #2 (same kit, different package)
#1328 Kadet
#1333 Scorpion (used 2 fin units)
#1418 STAR TREK (starter set)
#1420 STAR WARS Proton Torpedo (starter set)
#1438 DUNE Guild Heighliner (starter set)
#1993 Lancer
#2026 Athena
#2042 America

As for whether all of these are the same, I think there are some differences in the molds, but that they represent the same fin units. Much like all of the different variations in the PNC-50K nose cone over the last 40 years...

Hope this helps...

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

It's been ready. I've even managed to fly it. I just got around to doing the review last night after the build pics turned up.

[CPMcGraw]

The Challenger I fin can had fins that were molded in a slight diamond airfoil; this fin can was designated PRP-1G, and had P/N 032486. The Kadet had exactly the same fin can, with exactly the same part descriptors...

...The later model kits (like the America, the Athena, and the Generic E2X) have fin cans with fins in a wedge airfoil shape...

I thought there was a slight difference, as I had the Star Trek starter kit way back when, but I couldn't remember what the difference was. The later fin can is a simplification, but essentially the same size and shape around the edges.

As I recall, though, both fin cans had their share of warpage issues...

[CPMcGraw]

It's been ready. I've even managed to fly it. I just got around to doing the review last night after the build pics turned up.

Is that a patch of ice on the ground in the last shot?

I think it's cold when it gets into the upper 30's for more than a night. That's what I like about the south; we only get snow once every ten years or so...

The rest of the time we just get terribly wet and wind-blown...

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

Is that a patch of ice on the ground in the last shot?

I think it's cold when it gets into the upper 30's for more than a night. That's what I like about the south; we only get snow once every ten years or so...

The rest of the time we just get terribly wet and wind-blown...


Yeah, that was ice. It was on its way out on the day we flew. Temps were close to 50. Made for sloppy recovery, but no field fires. :eek:
I know what you mean about getting snow every ten years or so. We only get hurricanes every.......never. :rolleyes:

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

I thought there was a slight difference, as I had the Star Trek starter kit way back when, but I couldn't remember what the difference was. The later fin can is a simplification, but essentially the same size and shape around the edges.

As I recall, though, both fin cans had their share of warpage issues...

This kit had no warpage. The fins are so thick that I doubt it would be possible unless they were left on a black dashboard in direct sunlight with the windows up. ;)

[Ltvscout]

Made for sloppy recovery, but no field fires.
Hey, did you swap fire stories with Pavel while you were at NARCON?

[ScooterM]

It's been ready. I've even managed to fly it. I just got around to doing the review last night after the build pics turned up.

I especially like the rocket-as-table-centerpiece photo! If I tried setting the table like that, my wife would look at it and drop a bowl of mashed potatos on it! :eek:

This gives me an idea though! Take two late model mosquitos (with the plastic nose cones) and drill three small holes in the tip of each one and put a solid disk in the bottom and you'd have wonderful salt and pepper shakers! Then wrap them nicely and give them to your wife for your anniversary. I hear Motel 6 is pretty nice to lay low in...

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

Hey, did you swap fire stories with Pavel while you were at NARCON?

Nope. Somehow we missed that. :rolleyes:

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

I especially like the rocket-as-table-centerpiece photo! If I tried setting the table like that, my wife would look at it and drop a bowl of mashed potatos on it! :eek:

This gives me an idea though! Take two late model mosquitos (with the plastic nose cones) and drill three small holes in the tip of each one and put a solid disk in the bottom and you'd have wonderful salt and pepper shakers! Then wrap them nicely and give them to your wife for your anniversary. I hear Motel 6 is pretty nice to lay low in...


That's the kind of thing that you can get away with if you have some time at home in the afternoon before she gets home. I'm constantly being reprimanded for allowing my rocket projects to stray out of the basement or computer room. Go figure.