or at least is on the hook for a larger-than-seems-necessary licensing fee to SpaceX. I just hope this isn't one of those deals like the Star Wars Episode 1 stuff that almost sunk Estes Industries at the time.

It's probably lovely, and I like the little 1/200 Saturn V, but at that price....I will likely pass on this Falcon-9, even if its a lovely desktop display model that happens to fly.

And 300 feet? Well... it will have to lighter than that 1/200 Saturn V to get there on a C5-3, that's for sure.

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

I don’t recall what I estimated the MSRP would be and don’t have enough interest to search for the post but $150 sounds about right for the intended market - well-heeled SpaceX fans won’t blink an eye at that price. 90% of these will be static displays in offices and dens. We - hobby rocketry enthusiasts and builders - are not who they plan on selling these to, any that we buy are just gravy.

The Falcon 9 holds very little interest for me as a model rocket but for you scale builders and SpaceX enthusiasts sake I do hope that Estes follows the same path as the New Glenn RTF/kit and makes a kit available eventually. If the detail parts are as nice as they appear to be it should make for a nice one.

Sounds about right. I think scale rocket kits are a niche market for Estes, and the very polished RTF models are for offices/dens as a niche market, within the aforementioned niche market.

As far as kits go, i don't think it makes sense for Estes to release a kit of any scale rocket that is already available on AXMpapermodels . 90%+ of market for scale rocket kits is likely adults, whom can go to AXMpapermodels and with some extra work and access to 3d printing services, scale the rocket to their desired scale.

Bob

I'd do a regular body tube core bashed with cardstock bits before I pay that.

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I love sanding.

Total RIPOFF.

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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, and HAVOC !

Now if it had Thrust Vector Control...............

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Web Site and Blog
https://rocketryjournal.wordpress.com

YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@AustinAerospace

3D Printing Designs
https://www.thingiverse.com/austin_aerospace_education

Software
https://sourceforge.net/u/austinaerospace/profile

How much will you charge to manufacture similar quality, pre-assembled product?

That’s not the point. Most of us want a really nice builder’s kit. If I was in the market for a display model … frankly, I would hope somebody would offer a really nice plastic model and I’d still assemble it and paint it myself.

I only find this release disappointing because I was expecting something like the RTF Saturn V and SLS (and priced similarly), while hoping a builder’s kit might arrive some day.

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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

Whatever the price—if I can’t build it, I don’t want it.

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Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

Elon Musk has to pay for Twitter somehow...


Bill

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It is well past time to Drill, Baby, Drill!

If your June, July, August and September was like this, you might just hate summer too...

Please unload your question before you ask it unless you have a concealed harry permit.

: countdown begin cr dup . 1- ?dup 0= until cr ." Launch!" cr ;

Give a man a rocket and he will fly for a day; teach him to build and he will spend the rest of his days sanding...