Is AC Supply still the "go-to" vendor for large motor and bulk kit purchases? I noticed their free shipping has increased from $75 purchase to $100.

We normally write a grant that covers us for several years at a time, so I don't purchase every year. Decades ago I used Belleville, but their shipping charges add about $25-35 to an otherwise competitive price schedule.

*****Note to ESTES. Please start packaging A8-5 bulk packs again!!!! A8-3's have too short a delay for little Alpha's and E2X's.*****

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I love sanding.

I don't know about AC Supply, but for the rockets, is BMS still offering their school rocket for $5.75 each? I would go with them is they are still available and try Hobby Lobby or even Hobbylinc for the engines.

With the caveat about the BMS School Rocket (a wonderful model), yes AC Supply is still a great go-to vendor for just about all things Estes.

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

The Estes Generic E2X is cheaper in bulk ($5.45) than Bill's School rocket kit.

I actually corresponded with Bill several years ago about producing their School rocket kit with a 13mm mount and streamer recovery. It would cost him about the same to produce and it would become an economic advantage over BT-50 size kits for schools on a budget.

It would be the perfect school rocket. The A3-4T is about 25% cheaper and the performance would be perfect for the little BT-50 kit. The fin shape helps prevent landing damage with the faster descent of streamer recovery. I was all set to build a bunch of dedicated fin jigs for the kids if he produced it, but it never came to be. As it is, the E2X is a little taller (therefore cooler to kids) and the white body tubes, plastic fins, and NC don't need paint, which drives up the final cost of the traditional BMS kit even more.

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I love sanding.

Randy Boadway has redesigned the ST-8 tubing-based Semroc “Boid” (http://www.erockets.biz/semroc-flyi...m-my-boid-ka-6/) to use fiber fins which lock into a slotted body tube and a 13mm mount and set the price at $5.99. So it could be an alternative as well (albeit at a little bit more per model).

For whatever it’s worth.....

That the Generic E2X can easily be flown “nekkid” and easily decorated with markers or whatever is an advantage with kids even though performance is kind of “meh” on an A8 because of its weight.

Of course the Alpha III is designed to not require a finish...but for some reason Estes is really proud of them from a pricing standpoint.

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

It is still light enough that it flies better on an A8-5 than an A8-3 unless it's really windy. That "meh" performance helps us get it back down between the trees on our small school playgrounds.

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I love sanding.

Fair enough!

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

https://bellevillehobby.com/product...ngines-24-pack/

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

Here is what Hobbylinc is offering in the area of bulk engines:

http://www.hobbylinc.com/estes-blas...assortment-1672

I wonder how old those A8-5 bulk packs are that Fred's post links to. There haven't been any for quite some time....not that old motors are an issue generally.

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