The dropping of so many kits, and the "So Long" like a message on the cover makes me think that Estes may be signaling that it is shifting gears. To what, I don't know. Probably something good I'm guessing.

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-Wolfram v. Kiparski
NAR 28643 - TRA 15520
MTMA Section #606 President

I posted about this before, but I’ll include a picture of my Estes V-2 and the Spacemonkey model, which I highly recommend.

At 1:24 scale, it is a tiny bit larger than the Estes (1:25). It has a blow molded body, so it has good detail of panels and rivets. Nose cone and fins are injection molded. Really a rewarding build. I have not painted mine yet, due to weather. My Estes V-2 has been modified to be more scale-like — pointy nose cone, scale fins, chain drive covers on fins. A comparison to a “stock” Estes V-2 would be more dramatic.

This model requires “flight conversion kit” to fly it. I bought one from Apogee, but it could be scratch-built.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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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

Thanks Lee for that side by side look. The Spacemonkey V-2 is awesome!

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John Scott B.

NAR #102949/L1

Hi all,

There is a nearly complete set of Estes Catalogs dating back to 1963.

https://estesrockets.com/catalogs/

Bob

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illegitimi non carborundum

NAR# 54643 L-1

SAM# 043

AMA# 157091

VRCS# 154

A&P# 42x xx xxxx.

WAAAYYYYYYY too many discontinued compared to the new kits.
Sheesh. C'mon Noww...

Estes has done WAY too many versions of the V2 in the past. ENOUGH already !
Give us something else good like bringing back the K-21 version of the Gemini Titan or bringing back the Nike Ajax or a "super" sized version with a BT-70 based booster, BT-60 upper stage.
Bring back the Mercury Atlas or Titan IIIC or Pershing 1A.

The Black Brant XII is a good start.
The 1/45 LJII was discontinued WAYYYYY too fast.

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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 !

guess I'm just being nostalgic, wanted an Estes kit but without paying ebay prices.

ebay has some of the lowest prices for Estes kits.
Probably the only lower place is AC Supply.

__________________
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 !

i think we're talking apples and oranges but..

the last Estes BBZ was $125

Oh ok.
I didn't realize you were talking "collectible" discontinued kits.
Yeah, you have to be willing to pay big $$ for discontinued originals or you aren't getting them.
If you want to build one, you can buy the Semroc BBZ or clone it yourself.

__________________
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 !

I'm glad their scale line is still there, but I've built all of those and am really over the man in space thing, I'm more into missiles personally. I got one of their rtf saturns at a cheap price but it just tumbled on the recommended motor so I gifted the clear fin unit to a friend who had one that was broken. Their Falcon 9 is way too expensive, I built one from boyce parts and at least I got to do some building and finishing and it flies really well and has nice detail. I buy estes nose cones and a few interceptors and mini berthas now and then on sale for rocket glider cones mostly, although I did get a DBRM on the $20 amazon sale but still replaced the fins with an upgrade kit so I could have it last, I'd probably do the same on a big goblin if it was on sale. But they really haven't had anything in years that I personally wanted to buy even with AC supply prices. I've had just had/seen too many failures of their bp motors/ejection charges to risk them in anything I cared about either.

Frank

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RC Rocket glider kits
www.dynasoarrocketry.com