Ye Olde Rocket Forum

Go Back   Ye Olde Rocket Forum > The Golden Age of Model Rocketry > Model Rocket History
User Name
Password
Auctions Register FAQ Members List Calendar Today's Posts Search Mark Forums Read


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #31  
Old 04-16-2016, 05:52 PM
ghrocketman's Avatar
ghrocketman ghrocketman is offline
President, MAYHEM AGITATORS, Inc.
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Nunya Bizznuss, Michigan
Posts: 13,443
Default

Thanks for the explanation on the Zenix, Matt.
__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL
, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !

Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC !
Reply With Quote
  #32  
Old 04-17-2016, 08:55 AM
Jerry Irvine's Avatar
Jerry Irvine Jerry Irvine is offline
Freeform rocketry advocate.
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Claremont, CA "The intellectual capitol of the world."-WSJ
Posts: 3,780
Default

My deleted post explaining two workable fixes for the kit would make possible a release without reworking the molds. I am hoping Estes will read the post.
Reply With Quote
  #33  
Old 05-03-2016, 08:56 PM
Woody's Workshop Woody's Workshop is offline
Craftsman
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Reed City, Michigan
Posts: 258
Default

Estes probably will.
The problem is with the consumer "know it all" will never read directions.
Which leaves a safety problem, even when directed on exactly what to do.
Reply With Quote
  #34  
Old 01-21-2017, 10:20 PM
Initiator001 Initiator001 is offline
Too Many Initiators is Never Enough
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 2,394
Default Estes Stealth Nighthawk

The 1996 Estes catalog (Actually a mostly 1995 catalog with a 1996 product insert) announced several new products.

One was a large, rocket boosted, glide recovery model of the U.S. Air Force F-117A stealth fighter.

Product number was listed as 2117.

This model was to be molded from TufFlite(TM) foam-like material.

According to the catalog, it would be a Skill Level 1 kit.

"Vertical spiral boost to hundreds of feet"

"Returns with a long circling glide"

"Easy to build, no painting required"

"Great for fields of all sizes"

Length: 40.6 cm (16.0 in.)

Wingspan: 39.4 cm (15.5 in.)

Wt.: 170 g (6 oz.)

Engine: C6-3

This was going to be a large-sized model.

I do not recall ever seeing this model displayed at any trade shows I attended.
I did see a mock-up of the product box for the model.

As things turned out, this model never made it into production and release.
From what I recall at the time the model was having a difficult development with all the prototype models having flight issues. Whether the flight issues involved boost, recovery/glide or both I do not remember. None of the test models survived or their parts/remains.

It does appear that actual packaging for the model was produced and I managed to get ahold of one.

Interestingly, for a Skill Level 1 kit the supplies required for assembly on the box include contact cement, epoxy and yellow/white glue. Also paint is listed. So much for easy to build, no painting required.

If anyone has any additional information on this product please feel free to share it.

Attached are pictures of an apparent production package for this kit.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:  Estes F-117 001.jpg
Views: 216
Size:  276.7 KB  Click image for larger version

Name:  Estes F-117 002.jpg
Views: 157
Size:  263.8 KB  Click image for larger version

Name:  Estes F-117 003.jpg
Views: 75
Size:  1.02 MB  Click image for larger version

Name:  Estes F-117 004.jpg
Views: 71
Size:  1.12 MB  
__________________
Bob
S.A.M. # 0014
Reply With Quote
  #35  
Old 01-22-2017, 06:12 PM
5x7's Avatar
5x7 5x7 is offline
Sometimes collector
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 1,786
Default

Thank you for doing this, it is facinating!
Reply With Quote
  #36  
Old 01-23-2017, 10:52 AM
AstronMike AstronMike is offline
Craftsman
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Lakeland, FL
Posts: 224
Default

Yea, I recall being quite enthused about that Stealth glider, couldn't wait for it to be released.

That is, until I noticed its intended weight, likening it to the 'Foam Orbiter of Death' and SRX, both of which were DOGS on 18mm C6s.

Might make my own version, using 3mm Depron and paper, as it would not have to be overbuilt to use Estes C6-3s. Was going to do that back in those days, but hadn't gone far enough with Depron then, and the lightest stuff available was not going to save much weight.

Speaking of SRX, I had Estes send me one free, to replace a scratch glider toasted by a Bad Lot C5-3 (Fred knows about those ). Made my own D12 pod for that, and thus it performed WAY better than the standard-built clunker someone else locally had.

For all the guff that Barry Tunick gets around here, he DID try to get a LOT of neato concept type goodies out there, starting in '92, right after he bought Estes. Some great ideas, but horrid execution thereof.....
Reply With Quote
  #37  
Old 01-23-2017, 12:15 PM
ManofSteele ManofSteele is offline
Level 5 Certified
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Sandy, UT
Posts: 206
Default

This was a pretty neat model. The balsa prototypes had a real nice glide. The issue was getting the darn thing to boost straight. Dave Meyers, the designer, finally just fixed one elevator to roll the bird on the way up, and that solved the problem. The high weight was the nose weight required to get the CG far enough forward.

The foam molds for the production model never got completed; as problems continued to crop up between the mold maker and the production house, it finally was cheaper to pull the plug on the project than to continue. If I recall correctly, this was much bigger than the other products the foam molder had been making, and it may have been their equipment was not sized properly to make the parts.

Matt
Reply With Quote
  #38  
Old 02-02-2017, 03:22 PM
Initiator001 Initiator001 is offline
Too Many Initiators is Never Enough
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 2,394
Default NCRBE Orbit

In the mid-1990s, North Coast Rocketry (NCR), an early name in mid- and high-power rocketry, entered into an licensing agreement with Estes Industries to develop and release larger (mid-power) rocketry products.

Referred to as 'North Coast Rocketry By Estes' (NCRBE) this joint collaboration resulted in the release of eight rocket kits in 3" and 4" diameters along with a large Star Wars X-Wing Fighter model. Launch equipment, parts and a line of rocket motors labeled 'Dark Star' represented the original product release in 1998.

Additional products were expected and a hint of what they might be came in the form of a press release in October of 1998:

"Coming in February from North Coast Rocketry line is the Orbit(tm) High Impulse model rocket launch set. The minimum diameter Orbit(tm) is designed to fly over 3,000 feet on Dartkstar motors and is recovered by a huge fluorescent streamer. Kit also features pre-colored body tube and one piece fin unit for easy assembly. And because the rocket weighs less than a pound at liftoff, no FAA notification is required. The Orbit Launch Set also comes with the Modular(tm) Launch Pad and High Impulse(tm) Launch Controller."

So what was this 'Orbit' model rocket kit? Stay tuned...
__________________
Bob
S.A.M. # 0014
Reply With Quote
  #39  
Old 02-03-2017, 07:03 AM
Tango Juliet Tango Juliet is offline
Junior Rocketeer
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Mobile, AL
Posts: 16
Default

Definitely tuned in. This is some really interesting history. In about 1991 or so, I had gotten out of the hobby and just returned to it last year. The developments to MPR/HPR over the last 20 years is astounding. I suppose you could see in the current Estes PSII line a lineage to this early development with NCR.
Reply With Quote
  #40  
Old 02-04-2017, 03:08 PM
Initiator001 Initiator001 is offline
Too Many Initiators is Never Enough
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 2,394
Default NCRBE Orbit

The genisis of the Orbit launch set was a decision by Estes management which wanted a less expensive NCRBE starter set than the originally released Phantom 4000 set.

The goal of the Orbit launch set was a mid-power launch set with an SRP under $100.00.

As with the Phantom 400 set no motors would be included.

It was planned to make the Orbit launch set an exclusive product for either Sam's Club or Costco.

The Modular Launch Pad was the same NCRBE unit already sold withthe Phantom 4000 set.

The High Impulse Launch Controller was planned to be a less expensive unit than the Command Controller sold with the Phantom 4000 set. While it was never produced the High Impulse controller was the design basis for the eventual Pro Series II launch controller.

TBC...
__________________
Bob
S.A.M. # 0014
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:57 PM.


Powered by: vBulletin Version 3.0.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Ye Olde Rocket Shoppe © 1998-2024