Estes Signature Series Rockets
 

After taking a closer look at the new 2020 catalog, I noticed that the Orange Bullet is a part of the Signature Series. Estes promises to re-introduce some of classic and lesser known designs. This is a great idea and I am excited to see what they will re-introduce. I hope some will include Centuri designs that are not already put out by Semroc. What would you like to see?

Space Plane is classic, and something of a signature rocket.

Without getting into scale models or exotics: Saros, Mark II, Maxi Alpha, Cobra 1500, Optima come to mind.

Space Plane would be a great choice.
So would the original BT70 based Gemini Titan

If this is the case, it will be interesting. I myself second the suggestion of the Saros. Always liked the design, never got one. But so many other old Estes and Centuri kits were reproduced by SEMROC, and I was heavy into cloning years ago when BMS started making the classic nose cones available. Maybe they could kit some of the Design Of The Month winners?

Sky Slash.

Three Stage Ring Rocket.

The Saros and Nomad used the same plastic parts. That one may not be possible if the molds no longer exist. Would be cost prohibitive for a small run of a kit if they have to make molds.

That's the old story. Those molds likely didn't survive the fire, and we know how expensive they are. BUT lately Estes seems to be cranking out a lot of new plastic parts. So....I was thinking maybe there's still some love for the old Saros in Penrose, especially an ARF Saros.

The Gemini-Titan seems like a slam dunk as far as likely to reappear, but it is a scale model.

K-4 Astron Streak - I don't know that this has ever been re issued as a kit? I would buy a few.

K-2 Mark I or Mark II would be good

The Quasar with the silver wrap and fin can, Mini Bomarc, Parachute Bomarc, Citation Bomarc, Apogee I or II

Quasar, Mach 10, Mark, Argus, Mini-Dactyl, A-20 Demon, Mars Snooper, Valkyrie, Sandpiper.

The Astron Streak has never been reissued. An almost guaranteed loss if flown with above a 1/4A motor.

I would like to see the Argus return, but as a 3- stager with a SCALE flight profile; a deliberate POWR-PRANGG into terra-firma.

Fingers crossed for a Cylon Raider 😁!

The Saros is my oldest rocket, built in 1976. I carried to NSL-2018 in Geneseo. Vern and Gleda signed it for me. Yes, it has been retired. :)

I’ve always wanted it to get re-introduced. I started on an upscale but so far just have the nose cone turned. It will need the little fin “nubs” added.

I’d like to see the Centuri T-Bird three stager, and in the same diameter (same clear payload tube, too) the Centuri Payloader II. The latter was one re-introduced back in those bring backs about 7-8 years ago or so, but it was not the same diameter and just did not ‘do’ it for me. Centuri Skylab also.

Estes Bomarc...either Citation or parachute recovery.

Earl

Ooh, Skylab! Excellent choice. :cool:

You guys are all missing the obvious kit. An LTV Scout! Like the Saros it had unique plastic parts.

We wanted to leave something for you.

I agree - bring back the Centuri Skylab and LTV Scout.

Yes, so that impatient guys like me don't have to clone em!

The boost-glide Citation Bomarc would be great, NOT the chute recovery one.
+1 to a functionally flying Cylon Raider.
Black Hole Cygnus Probe Ship but call it something unrelated to the movie.
Nike Ajax.

I suspect that our "wish lists" might not quite conform to Estes' notion of "lesser known classics and launch never-before seen designs." I'd be surprised if there will be any 'lesser known classics' that are scale models.

I'd like to see the Arrow 300 and some of the Enerjet kits, especially the Athena.

+1. Here's the definition of "signature" as it applies to this thread's header:

Definition of signature (Entry 2 of 2)
: closely and distinctively associated and identified with someone or something

So maybe the Streak, Sky Dart, Mars Snooper, Starship Vega (Semroc repros notwithstanding)?

That would be the Centuri Signature series.

Estes already went through reissuing classics, including a bunch of Centuri classics, in 2010. I suspect that this signature series thing is something a little different from the usual BAR wish list. I can't speculate about what the never before seen stuff might be. But the "lesser known classics" I imagine might be those kits that one can look back and definitely see that it set a milestone for Estes, or exemplified an era or certain period in the company's history. All that - and it has to be something that might sell.


Classic kits that might work well with current Estes E and F black powder motors:
A kit from the late-60s mini-max days of Centuri
A Pro-Series kit from the early 1990s - Estes first "pro series"
A maxi-brute from 1977 - a maxi-Alpha anyone?

Thinking about the Streak would a rocket that ejected motors be off the table? I suppose they could do something with a 13mm design and a recoverable pod of some kind.

Out of curiosity what is the policy for ejecting motors at a NAR santioned launch?

[QUOTE=astronwolf]Estes already went through reissuing classics, including a bunch of Centuri classics, in 2010. I suspect that this signature series thing is something a little different from the usual BAR wish list. I can't speculate about what the never before seen stuff might be. But the "lesser known classics" I imagine might be those kits that one can look back and definitely see that it set a milestone for Estes, or exemplified an era or certain period in the company's history. All that - and it has to be something that might sell.


I stopped briefly at the NARAM that was held in Michigan (I was in the area) and was part of a conversation with Mike at the Estes booth about the Flutter By. He led me to believe that they got burn't on that one and wasn't real keen about other vintage Centuri designs. I did get a free one he was passing out.

LOL... :chuckle: Yeah they got burnt all right... on the Flutter By, the Twister, the Photon Probes and their ilk, and all the other kits that hang around forever at AC Supply long after being discontinued. These "unique" and "fantasy" type kits don't seem to do very well.

But the Star Trooper soldiers on - the only Centuri remnant left in the 2020 Estes catalog. The Star Trooper has been offered by Estes for more years than Centuri ever did. Of the Centuri kits that stayed in production for 30+ years (Centuri + Semroc) only the Laser-X was a unique, fantasy kit. The rest are all simple rockets: L'il Hercules, Javelin, Micron, Astro-1, Snipe Hunter....

I don't know of any rule in the safety code. But a NAR-sanctioned launch is a contest, where ejecting a motor gets your flight disqualified. I think you mean a NAR sport launch. The NAR doesn't sanction those.

DOM designs: Raven, Commuter, Nimbus, Saturnian and Ganymede. If they were to redo the Saros, I would hope for it to be a bit more sturdy and stable. Maybe enlarge the fins 10%? Bomarc would be great if they did the copper nose again. I’ll be happy to see a 1/100 scale S1b before too long.

I believe Estes had problems obtaining the mylar BT-10 used in the kit.

I thought the Streak being discontinued was some sort of "anti littering" campaign due to them being non-biodegradable and never-recovery.

Ahhh, the Star Trooper. I was pleased to get several last year ... during the Hobby Lobby Clearance. For $1.99, this gem of a kit provides a nice tube and nose cone for some boost gliders I want to build. :)

:chuckle: My reaction too... Ahhh the Star Trooper... LOL
Who woulda thunk that by this day, Centuri lives on as the Star Trooper? I mean people on this forum are like, bring back the Sky Lab!.. but what has longevity? Javelin... Micron.... Star Trooper...

Also, you have the plastic Mercury capsule and tower (first issued by Centuri late 1970), the 1/45th Little Joe II capsule and tower (first issued by Centuri in latter '68), and the Enerjet 1340 plastic fin can (first issued around late '72), ALL being used in current Estes kits (well, I think technically the Little Joe II kit has just now been listed as out of production).

But still, here are three Centuri items -- the oldest over 50 years old, and the other two not far behind -- still in production, and that 1340 plastic fin can has been used in 4-5 different Estes kits now since the late 70s or 1980 (Challenger II launch vehicle for the Astrocam I think was the first Estes use of that fin can).

I understand what you are saying, and it is a shame that more of those older Centuri designs have not been re-issued than they have (and some of those bring backs from about 9-10 years ago, of which the Star Trooper was one, were not true to their originals and suffered greatly because of it...'similar' is not close enough).

But the residual DNA of Centuri is probably a little more infusive than might readily be apparent.


Earl

Orange Bullet is now available on the Estes web site...

I want this kit, but with the shipping cost I am waiting till the Doorknob is available too.

This model is well suited for a 24mm first-stage, with the ST-10 tubes there's still room for couplers - it seems hard to imagine Estes would want to do such a custom tube size, though. Fortunately, all the parts are available from eRockets.

I'd rather have the Arrow 300 (with proper WOOD fins, NOT cardboard) over the T-Bird.

I agree, I'd love to have the 300. I do have all the parts to clone (or 2), but I need to find decals.

Plans and clean decal scan at JimZ's: http://www.spacemodeling.org/jimz/cen5037.htm