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Initiator001 07-04-2017 07:23 PM

New Estes Alpha Paint Scheme
 
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I was out visiting several local hobby shops this Fourth of July.

As I went through one stores small rocket display I noticed the new packaging for several Estes kits.

I stopped and looked at an Alpha kit and realized there had been a change in the finishing scheme.

It was the same body tube and fin colors along with decals.

However, the nosecone was painted...WHITE!

Huh?!

What's going on in Penrose? :confused: ;)

Newbomb Turk 07-04-2017 08:11 PM

Heresy! I may only buy one or two because of this. I have a clone with a vintage nose cone in the 60's (I think) finish with the stars and bars and one finished in the 80's red and black.

tbzep 07-04-2017 10:19 PM

That same red, white, and blue paint scheme and decal first appeared in 1991, albeit with a red nosecone. The same scheme and decal in red and black was available from 1982-1990.

BEC 07-05-2017 02:45 AM

Bob,

Did the box rendering show the motor tube sticking out the aft end of the rocket by 1/4 inch? That's what the current instructions have one do (though I don't have any idea why).

I wonder, too, looking at what you posted, if the nose cone has changed again.....

On the red/white/blue color scheme.....sometimes the colored fin is shown blue, sometimes red. And of course at some point the markings went from waterslide deals to peel-n-stick. I'm not sure when that happened. One of the many Alpha evolution things I'd like to lay out on a time line in this 50th anniversary year of the Alpha kit.

blackshire 07-05-2017 07:11 AM

Quote:
Originally Posted by BEC
Bob,

Did the box rendering show the motor tube sticking out the aft end of the rocket by 1/4 inch? That's what the current instructions have one do (though I don't have any idea why).

I wonder, too, looking at what you posted, if the nose cone has changed again.....

On the red/white/blue color scheme.....sometimes the colored fin is shown blue, sometimes red. And of course at some point the markings went from waterslide deals to peel-n-stick. I'm not sure when that happened. One of the many Alpha evolution things I'd like to lay out on a time line in this 50th anniversary year of the Alpha kit.
...And speaking of the Alpha fins, has their planform been slightly "tweaked" again? (I have no particular reason to think so, but the 1/4"-protruding motor mount tube that you mentioned--which is puzzling to me as well--got me wondering...)

Rex R 07-05-2017 11:39 AM

I discovered a possible reason for the protruding motor mount tube (and a solution). the (now) stock motor hook is too wide to allow for the tube to be flush, one can't get a motor in or out of the tube. fortunately semroc/erockets has old style motor hooks that will work.
Rex

pterodactyl 07-05-2017 01:06 PM

....and one of the reasons Bernard is putting together a timeline on the Alpha is that the Museum of Flight is holding a 50th anniversary celebration workshop and fun fly on the weekend of September 23 and 24th.

Special guest and Alpha designer Bill Simon will be the guest of honor!

BEC 07-05-2017 03:07 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by blackshire
...And speaking of the Alpha fins, has their planform been slightly "tweaked" again? (I have no particular reason to think so, but the 1/4"-protruding motor mount tube that you mentioned--which is puzzling to me as well--got me wondering...)


Jason,

I have a bulk box of very recent Alphas (using it to plan for what Pat commented on just above) and the fins appear to be the same planform as they have had since they went to laser cut. That planform IS different than the die-cut version , which is VERY close to the original SP-25 pattern.


I guess I'm going to have to see if I can find one in the new style packaging that Bob reported on. I've seen that packaging for awhile at my local Hobby Lobby - but they don't carry the Alpha. So maybe HobbyTown.....

JumpJet 07-05-2017 04:07 PM

Hopefully by the next production run the nose cone will again be Red like it used to be. Looks like we have a Collectable here. By them ALL while you can. ;)



John Boren

Jerry Irvine 07-05-2017 04:54 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by JumpJet
By them ALL while you can. ;) John Boren
That might be the entire point. :D

My very first model rocket was an Estes Alpha on a B6-4.


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