Ye Olde Rocket Forum

Go Back   Ye Olde Rocket Forum > Weather-Cocked > FreeForAll
User Name
Password
Auctions Register FAQ Members List Calendar Today's Posts Search Mark Forums Read


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 08-17-2019, 09:38 AM
BRS Hobbies BRS Hobbies is offline
Intermediate Rocketeer
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: USA
Posts: 76
Default If Estes wants more of my money, then...

Estes is doing a lot of cool things, even more so with the new ownership. With that being said, if Estes wants more of my money then -

1) Bring back the classics with some sort of twist - upscale, different decals, larger motor mount, etc. I love the Cherokee E with the different color decals, E motor mount and longer body tube.

The recently released Multi-Roc is cool but I would be running out to get one right away if they upscaled it to a BT55 body tube size. It would be so much cooler in a slightly larger size. Same with the Citation Patriot, if they did it in a BT80 size, more people would be excited. These kits are still cool but how about getting a little crazy and brings us something that gets us all excited.

The Boosted Bertha seems to be selling well but why not throw in an extra nose cone and design it so it can be flown multiple ways - Big Bertha and a Baby Bertha or as a Boosted Bertha.

2) Estes please release some more boost gliders like the Scissor Wing Transport or the Tomcat that have a moveable main wing. I love it when the wings spring out at ejection. But not only bring it out again as is, see if you can improve the design for better performance or even upscale it slightly.

3) Pro Series Jayhawk (BT80 size) - This is a classic scale kit that most want to have without paying crazy prices on eBay.

Basically, this is 2019, let's honor the old but give it a twist that gets the model rocket community in a frenzy.

What does Estes need to do to get more of your money?
__________________
www.BRSHobbies.com - Full line of model rocket products! Free shipping offer! No backorders or delays!

Last edited by BRS Hobbies : 08-17-2019 at 10:05 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 08-17-2019, 10:28 AM
Scott6060842 Scott6060842 is offline
Master Modeler
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: NW Pennsylvania
Posts: 665
Default

My money? -

New motor choices (C5-3, A3-6T). Vintage re-releases true to the originals (Mini-Bomarc, Black Widow, Quasar Estes and Centuri, etc)

Sorry, I won't buy a Goblin with a plastic nose cone
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 08-17-2019, 11:04 AM
ghrocketman's Avatar
ghrocketman ghrocketman is offline
President, MAYHEM AGITATORS, Inc.
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Nunya Bizznuss, Michigan
Posts: 13,443
Default

Upscale classics like a jumbo Farside-X in 24mm or an Astron Skydart upscale boost glider for R/C.

High-thrust port-burning motors like the B14, B8, C5, and something like a D20 or E30. A reliable version of the old FSI F100.

Release of more classics like the Nike Ajax, BT70 version Gemini Titan (K21), Astron Scrambler.
All classics need to be of the same configuration as the original (if it had a balsa nose or plastic fins so MUST the reissue).
The balsa nose balsa fins reissue of the Phoenix Bird made ZERO sense, especially seeing as the Enerjet fin can still exists.
__________________
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, and HAVOC !
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 08-17-2019, 11:07 AM
chrism chrism is offline
Master Modeler
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Greenville, PA
Posts: 1,291
Default

I like what they are doing now. John is designing some fine looking rockets. I do like the idea of re-releasing some of the classic kits as well as the Centuri ones as well.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 08-17-2019, 09:22 PM
mwtoelle's Avatar
mwtoelle mwtoelle is offline
Flying since 1977
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Middle TN
Posts: 452
Default

Personally, I would leave Centuri reissues to eRockets/Semroc. At least Semroc uses the correct tubing sizes. The last time Estes issued Centuri designs, Estes tubing was used instead of Centuri tubes.
__________________
'Til next time,

Mike Toelle

NAR 31692 L1

SAM 0373
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 08-17-2019, 09:24 PM
LeeR's Avatar
LeeR LeeR is offline
Retired with Way Too Many Kits
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Colorado
Posts: 3,222
Default

Sourcing balsa for large runs of kits has been an issue in the past. I’m guessing that getting a supplier for the latest kits is no different. If you really want a balsa cone for a classic, there is always eRockets. I’m lucky since I have a lathe and can make pretty much whatever I might desire. It usually boils down to the plastic cone not being exactly what I want, such as the Der Red Max nose cone (60AH) being supplied with the Super Alpha kit a few years ago.
__________________
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
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 08-17-2019, 10:04 PM
Earl's Avatar
Earl Earl is offline
Apollo Nut
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,893
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by mwtoelle
Personally, I would leave Centuri reissues to eRockets/Semroc. At least Semroc uses the correct tubing sizes. The last time Estes issued Centuri designs, Estes tubing was used instead of Centuri tubes.


Yes, I guess I am a purist also. With all due respect to prior re-issues, i don't like a classic re-issue that looks 'similar' to the original, I want it to look/be exaxtly like the original. Which is why for the very most part, I build original kits, not re-issues. It is certainly more expensive going that route, but I want to try to recapture the full effect of building the many, many kits I missed in my youth simply because I could not afford them then.

But I have purchased some of the more significant re-issues such as the Estes re-issue of the Centuri Saturn 1b in the very early 1990s and the more recent 1/45 Little Joe Ii. Though I had orignals of those, the price point on the re-issues was just too good to pass up.

I don't mind upscales as an *additional* option, but if given a choice between a clean, true reproduction or an upscale, I'll go with the former every time.

But I am very, very happy to see the renewed 'freshness' in leadership at Estes. I think that bodes well not only for us as consumers, but hopefully for Estes employees also.

Earl
__________________
Earl L. Cagle, Jr.
NAR# 29523
TRA# 962
SAM# 73
Owner/Producer
Point 39 Productions

Rocket-Brained Since 1970
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 08-18-2019, 09:34 AM
PaulK PaulK is offline
BAR
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: WI
Posts: 1,847
Default

If Estes wants more of my money, keep doing what they're doing now! I can't build fast enough.

Probably the most practical for me would be a wider variety of motor bulk packs. C6-0, C6-3, D12-5.
__________________
Paul
If we weren't all crazy, we would go insane - Jimmy Buffett
NAR #87246 www.wooshrocketry.org
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 08-18-2019, 11:21 AM
ghrocketman's Avatar
ghrocketman ghrocketman is offline
President, MAYHEM AGITATORS, Inc.
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Nunya Bizznuss, Michigan
Posts: 13,443
Default

If I could only have one new thing from them it would definitely be core/port burning high-thrust SU BP engines.
It is the one thing SERIOUSLY lacking in this hobby now.

The thrust profiles of virtually all BP motors currently in existence STINK for booster motors.
__________________
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, and HAVOC !
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 08-19-2019, 07:44 AM
tbzep's Avatar
tbzep tbzep is offline
Dazed and Confused
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: TN
Posts: 11,610
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by BRS Hobbies
Same with the Citation Patriot, if they did it in a BT80 size, more people would be excited.

I scratch built a BT-80 Citation Patriot. I used 1/4" thick balsa TTW fins and turned my own nose cone for scale accuracy. It can fly on a single D12-3, but it's too heavy to come back on dual 24" chutes without damaging those big fins. The only way to do it with good survivability is to go with plywood TTW fins, and that means at least a composite E15 or E30. Before you know it, you will want to go with heavy tubing, and you'd need to fly on at least an F25 composite. Estes wants to sell their motors.
__________________
I love sanding.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:52 PM.


Powered by: vBulletin Version 3.0.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Ye Olde Rocket Shoppe © 1998-2024