I hope someone is capturing all this - great info on the history of our hobby!

I know you're getting a compatible replacement cap in the mail, but for others in the same situation:
I received the new retainers in the mail today, and tried it on the Sat. V. Since the caps are shorter than the white ones they will not lock down the fin unit. But, the thread pitches appear to be the same so.....
I cut a 1/8" thick spacer ring to make up the difference. This will work. I suppose you could also use a thick rubber O ring, or stack three or four centering rings of the proper size. Anything to make up the difference and lock down the fin unit.
And John, I realize Estes probably frowns down on jury rigged solutions. But this is an alternative that will work, in lieu scavenging off an RTF that not all people may have. Cheers.

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I like the unusual, the off beat, the avant-garde. No 3/4 FNC for me!

That’s cool, I have a feeling from the form factor that the new retainers will be heavier than the included retainer.

Good news! Thank-you for sharing this with us.

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-Wolfram v. Kiparski
NAR 28643 - TRA 15520
MTMA Section #606 President

I just got some of the new 18mm retainers from AC Supply and agree with BARGeezer's assessment that you can't tighten it down far enough to hold the fin unit on properly. But it stops going on before the inside is bottomed on the motor tube, so I think John Boren's comment that the threads are NOT the same is correct (and he should know, since he likely designed both parts).

However I can also say, now that I've tried it, that the retainer cap from an 18mm Estes ARF model (I used a Phantom Blue's cap to see) WILL work as a direct replacement to the one that comes with the Saturn V and therefore also properly retain the fins.

Other models that use this retainer are the Solaris, the Hyper Dart, Power Patrol and Dazzler. Also the currently available Galaxy Glow, Mix-it-Up, Space Crater and Flip Flyer E2Xs as well as the recently discontinued Mix-N-Match 50 parts set use this part. There may be others. Basically any RTF or E2X that has a BT-50 body diameter and a screw-on motor retention cap should have one that will work with the RTF 1/200 Saturn V.

In the picture, left to right, are the retainer rings from my Saturn V (over a dozen flights now), a Galaxy Glow and one of the new 18mm retainer rings.

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Bernard Cawley
NAR 89040 L1 - Life Member
SAM 0061
AMA 42160
KG7AIE

I bought two cases (6 per case) of the 1:200 Saturn V for our club members. I have one left.


We've been flying them and they are great on the C6-3 - slow and decent altitude. With the C12-4, they go very fast and straight off the rod.


I may buy another case soon, and then more cases when the second generation version becomes available.

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-Fred Shecter NAR 20117 (L2)
Southern California Rocket Association, NAR Section 430

I just checked and you should be able to used the screw on engine retainer from any of the BT-55 E2X models that Estes Offers as well as any of the BT-50 size ones.

The big question I have is why are people losing the screw on retainer that comes with the 2160 Saturn V. Is it normal to loose these retainers on other Estes E2X \ ARF models.



John Boren

Maybe they melted or otherwise damaged them?


As seen on TV:
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https://attachment.outlook.live.net...&animation=true

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-Fred Shecter NAR 20117 (L2)
Southern California Rocket Association, NAR Section 430

Mine worked itself loose and rolled off under my dining room table. My wife threw the little plastic piece of junk away. I couldn't be mad at her. It really looks like a little plastic piece of junk, especially after getting roasted after a few flights.

If this happened outside, and landed in the grass unnoticed... forget it. It's gone.

It's the only essential part of the rocket other than the motor that is not affixed to the rocket. It's removable and not attached.

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-Wolfram v. Kiparski
NAR 28643 - TRA 15520
MTMA Section #606 President

Fred,
I hadn’t heard about a 2nd generation version of the 1:200 Saturn V. Or were you referring to mention of a companion N-1 in 1:200 scale?
I’d jump on that. I bought two of the Saturn Vs, and would probably get a couple of the N-1s if they become reality.

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Lee Reep
NAR 55948

Projects: Semroc Saturn 1B, Ken Foss Designs Mini Satellite Interceptor
In the Paint Shop: Nothing! Too cold!
Launch-Ready: Farside-X, Maxi Honest John, Super Scamp