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Estes Alpha Questions
I am familiar with the difference between the Alpha 1 and Alpha 3 though I have never had either. I have seen allusions to an Alpha 2 and an Alpha 4 as well and have never seen either in person or in a catalog.
Can anybody tell me about these variants and, if possible, give me kit numbers and/or photos? Thanks
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John A. Lee O.S.L. Alamo Rocketeers NAR Section 661 NAR 87285, L1 8 March 2008 TRA 03040, L1 8 March 2008 Photos of the "Fleet": http://www.flickr.com/photos/23694991@N03/ I used to tell Mom, "...I want to fly rockets when I grow up!" She said, "Make up your mind, you can't do both!" |
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Alpha II was an educator's version of the "regular" original Alpha - slightly different internal arrangement but otherwise similar.
Alpha IV is an Estes 40th Anniversary special edition of an Alpha III with black fins and NC, red "holographic" body tube. It was only available one year. I know I've a family group of Alphas posted on here somewhere..... added: Ah, here it is. First picture in this post .
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Bernard Cawley NAR 89040 L1 - Life Member SAM 0061 AMA 42160 KG7AIE |
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The Alpha IV (new 1258) was a a special kit for Estes' 40th anniversary in 1998. The only real difference between it and the Alpha III was a prismatic red body tube, a black nose cone (PNC-50K), a black fin unit, a black plastic launch lug unit, and a different crack-and-peel decal sheet. The Alpha IV was a limited-run kit that was available in 1998, and it was never in the catalog.
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'Til next time, Mike Toelle NAR 31692 L1 SAM 0373 |
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Thanks for filling me in. I very much appreciate it.
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John A. Lee O.S.L. Alamo Rocketeers NAR Section 661 NAR 87285, L1 8 March 2008 TRA 03040, L1 8 March 2008 Photos of the "Fleet": http://www.flickr.com/photos/23694991@N03/ I used to tell Mom, "...I want to fly rockets when I grow up!" She said, "Make up your mind, you can't do both!" |
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I've got a built one and another still in the package. The body tube wrap is anything but durable. Mine started coming apart on the second flight. Amazing that the company let the 50th anniversary go by without any kind of Alpha at all. Even more amazing since they had that gold prismatic wrap available. Glad that management team is elsewhere.
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Bill Eichelberger NAR 79563 http://wallyum.blogspot.com/ I miss being SAM 0058 Build floor: Centuri Design Contest F-150 Hurricane Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II Semroc Cyber III Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark, Groonie Der V 1/2 |
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Maybe they should have put a gold wrap on a Metric Alpha |
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Forgot about that. Yes, the Alpha IV has the plastic launch "lug" that is seen on many of the current RTFs for standard motors, rather than a normal launch lug as included in the Alpha III kits.
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Bernard Cawley NAR 89040 L1 - Life Member SAM 0061 AMA 42160 KG7AIE |
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Once again, Estes has four versions of the Alpha in its current catalog.
Quick Quiz: In the 1979 and 1980 Estes catalogs, how many versions of the Alpha are shown? ........ ....
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Mark S. Kulka NAR #86134 L1,_ASTRE #471_Adirondack Mountains, NY
Opinions Unfettered by Logic • Advice Unsullied by Erudition • Rocketry Without Pity
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#9
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Ken "The Rocket Doctor" asked me to post this image:
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Leo My rocket fleet and more @ Leo's Leisure Site and on YouTube - My latest project: ALTDuino |
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