#1
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Return of the Ventris and How I’ve Been Wrong…
In the grand scheme of online hobby rocketry I’m a very tiny fish - maybe at the plankton level? But I have made a fair number of thread posts here, on TRF and FB. In many past posts I’ve stated multiple times we’ll never see the return of the “classic” mid-2000s PSII kits like Leviathan, Partizon, Argent and…Ventris. My logic has been Estes would never sell kits again that builders can’t fly on Estes motors but here’s what appears to be proof I was wrong - next week it looks like the #9701 Ventris is coming back…of course, the one PSII kit I have multiples of on hand!
Estes sent an email this afternoon and posted on their FB page about the return of a PSII kit - the picture is pretty much obviously of the Ventris. And the email strongly implies the neo-Ventris will work over current 29mm PSII BP motors - nifty!
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John Scott B. NAR #102949/L1 |
#2
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Thanks for the news. I never warmed to those kits, just too plain. Seemed like they only became popular when they were getting blown out at the end. Never did buy one, even at the huge discounts. OTOH, the 4" DRM and 3" Nike Smoke were great! And I've bought most of the current production PSII kits (still need the So Long) and built all but the Doorknob.
I wonder how they lightened them to fly on 29mm BP? The Star Orbiter, DBRM, and SBB all fly great on Estes BP - the Majestic is OK on calm days, but don't fly it with the booster! And the website STILL shows the wrong fins on the Star Orbiter!
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Paul If we weren't all crazy, we would go insane - Jimmy Buffett NAR #87246 www.wooshrocketry.org |
#3
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My Ventirs, which is pretty much stock, weighs 15.9 ounces sans motor. That's on edge for E16-4 and F15-4 based on recommended max liftoff weights.
Interesting, this. (I got the email, too, but in the email there's not enough picture to figure it out. In the picture you posted that is clearly a Ventris.)
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Bernard Cawley NAR 89040 L1 - Life Member SAM 0061 AMA 42160 KG7AIE |
#4
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Quote:
I got that email also and yes, the graphic in the email did not match that in post #1 above. I checked the Estes Facebook page (I don’t do FB, but went there just to see) and it IS posted there. Earl
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Earl L. Cagle, Jr. NAR# 29523 TRA# 962 SAM# 73 Owner/Producer Point 39 Productions Rocket-Brained Since 1970 |
#5
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The Ventris product page is live - $89.99 isn’t an outrageous price but I already have two Ventrii to build so it’s a pass for me. I wonder if a roll pattern decal is included this time around?
https://estesrockets.com/products/v...XAI#description
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John Scott B. NAR #102949/L1 |
#6
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Quote:
I ordered one for fun ($89.99). I will let you know about the roll pattern decal. On the one I built when the kit first came out I had to get a third-party decal set for the kit.
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Bob S.A.M. # 0014 |
#7
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Are the Ventris's parts found in other models? Did Estes find a pile of parts in a back corner and make a run of the kits?
I'll be curious whether these have non-retail packaging, like the Sahara and Panavia. I have a Ventris in my "build" box, and maybe another in my "sell" box, so I won't be going for this deal. I really like(d) the PSII kits. I fly them on Aerotech motors . . . wouldn't think of using a BP motor in them!
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NAR #27085 - Oregon Rocketry - SAM |
#8
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Please let us know what kind of wood is in the reissue. To fly the old Ventris using Estes BP motors, I would have put the Ventris on a diet. Balsa fins, or whatever that balsa-like wood they use in China, instead of plywood fins. Maybe paper centering rings too...
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-Wolfram v. Kiparski NAR 28643 - TRA 15520 MTMA Section #606 President |
#9
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The specs on the product page shows the same weight as the original - 15.6 ounces - so it’s unlikely the fins/rings are balsa/paper.
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John Scott B. NAR #102949/L1 |
#10
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Quote:
And the link to the instructions shows the original kit’s instructions listing plywood fins/rings so I’d say balsa/paper are out.
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John Scott B. NAR #102949/L1 |
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