At the 2010 iHobby Show, Estes displayed a Trident 'bring-back' model.

Since then, not a peep about it.

John B. can you provide an update?

Thanks.

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Bob
S.A.M. # 0014

I was wondering about that, too - especially since Semroc later released their much-easier-to-build rendition of the Trident after that. I would've expected Semroc not to do so if Estes was going to.

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

Here is one that launch this past W/E.
It belongs to TonyPV, CMASS member.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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If it flies, I can crash it!

Nice shot Danial.
It's the Semroc X-kit (the one that came out before the one that is out now) with Excelsior decals.

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Tony Vincent
NAR # 45082 L1
CMASS, MMMSC Member

The Estes Trident is on hold. Right after we announced the model we pretty much lost the ability to get balsa nose cones made in the thousands of cones needed for one production run and since this model uses nine balsa nose cones it would be impossible to do. Not sure how well received this kit would be if Estes tooled for all plastic cones so for now the state of this model is in limbo.

By the way if this kit ever does make it to market, the builder would have to cut the slots in the tubes just like the good old days since it would be a "builders kit".

John Boren

John-
Good Move !
I honestly don't think the market for this kit would want it without the traditional balsa cones.
That's what kept me from purchasing the Orbital Transport from Estes when they re-issued it with plastic cones...that one did not make any sense...cut your own fins from patterns but use plastic cones.
I picked up PDR and Semroc clones of the Orbital transport later due to the fact they use balsa cones and laser-cut fin sets.

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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, TURMOIL, FIASCOS, and HAVOC !

Well, then...... having built one the old way (cut the slots) and having the ejection charge blow the bottom section apart on the first flight (while also deploying the parachute) and having built one the new way - laser cut gas passages that are more precise, larger and aligned with a simple but effective little jig setup and which has flown a number of times very very nicely....well, I have to go with the newfangled Semroc version then. Sometimes the "good old days" weren't all that good after all....

Semroc's current rendition of the Trident still has the nine balsa cones, too. I'm very glad it's available and will have to get at least one more while it is.

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

I certainly wouldn't mind if you retooled the plastic nose cones to the original shapes! Otherwise, the Trident wouldn't look right with the current PNC-50Y, 50K, or 5W, just as the Orbital Transport re-release a few years ago just looks wrong next to a Semroc OT.

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Roy
nar12605

I know Semroc turns their own balsa cones.
Wonder why Estes can't kit the Trident ?
Are they no longer setup to produce balsa parts in-house ?
I guess that would not be surprising as until the new classic releases, Estes had not produced balsa cones in like 20 years.

__________________
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, TURMOIL, FIASCOS, and HAVOC !

John,

Thank you for taking the time to answer my question.

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Bob
S.A.M. # 0014