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-   -   Estes "The Dude" pricing? (http://www.oldrocketforum.com/showthread.php?t=10043)

blackshire 10-05-2011 11:49 PM

Estes "The Dude" pricing?
 
Hello Doctor (and everyone else),

The owner of a store in my neighborhood that carries model rockets was offered seven unopened Estes "The Dude" kits (the inflated aluminized mylar rockets) by one of her customers, who found them in his garage. She has no idea of what price to sell them for, and I wasn't able to give her even a ballpark figure. While "The Dude" is an out-of-production kit, I don't think it is one of the "more missed" ones, nor was it (if memory serves) said to be a great flier. However, I told her that it might make a satisfactory demonstration rocket for her teacher customers. Many thanks in advance for any price suggestion(s) that you (and/or anyone) can suggest!

jharding58 10-06-2011 12:15 AM

They range on Ebay from $19.99 to $29.99. I believe that The Dude was only ever sold as a starter set and went for $40.00 or so MSRP but Walmart had 'em for half that.

chadrog 10-06-2011 12:15 AM

They seem to usually go in the low 20's on fleabay.

chrism 10-06-2011 12:28 AM

There are three on ebay now, one for $20 and two that are $25.

A Fish Named Wallyum 10-06-2011 12:28 AM

I saw two "fly". Both ended the day deflated because the burning particles rebounding off the blast deflector burned multiple holes in the rearmost end of the Mylar. I wouldn't pay $5 for one unless it came with custom "TROJAN" decals.

blackshire 10-06-2011 12:34 AM

I thank you all very much for this information! I didn't know whether a collectible-type price might be appropriate for them (although I doubted it). I suspected that, like the old balloon-tank Atlas, The Dude might be on the fragile side... :-)

raohara 10-06-2011 12:47 AM

We sold four on eBay last year for $7.99, $16.00, $18.00, and $18.50. Fragile, maybe, but fun to watch. And isn't it all about fun?

- Rich

jharding58 10-06-2011 12:52 AM

The scuttle was to tape the rod about six inches from the base to keep the mylar away from sparks.

blackshire 10-06-2011 01:32 AM

Using a flat metal can (like a cat food tin) filled with water instead of a regular jet deflector might prevent sparks from the engine's exhaust plume from being deflected upward against the rocket's mylar balloon/body.

A Fish Named Wallyum 10-06-2011 02:03 AM

Quote:
Originally Posted by raohara
We sold four on eBay last year for $7.99, $16.00, $18.00, and $18.50. Fragile, maybe, but fun to watch. And isn't it all about fun?

- Rich

Feh. It's like blowing up a long balloon and letting it go, but with a measure of smoke and flame from the wasted engine. I thought they were an insult to our collective intelligence when they first came out and nothing I've seen since has changed my mind. Glad THAT version of Estes is no more. Those were some bad days.


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