|
Rocket (with links to their pictures)
|
Flights
|
Actual
Flight
Pictures
|
Current Status
|
| Estes Mercury Atlas |
|
Waiting to build...
|
Discontinued in 1999, but I was able to find one (after reading
John Glenn's biography!). |
| Estes
Mercury Redstone (Gus Grisham's "Liberty Bell 7") |
0
|
|
3/13/01-Ready to launch! |
| MachBuster |
|
Waiting to build. |
This kit, purchased from the now defunct RocketVision
company, will fly 4000 feet high on an F72 engine. It will also
break the sound barrier and lift off at Mach 1.1!
I'll try to catch it on videotape, because I'm sure we won't see
this puppy again! |
| Estes
Pro Patriot (sold 1992-1996) |
|
Next to build....
|
Patterned after the largest rocket Estes sold.
It's a 3 inch body tube, with a cluster of 4 D engines.
The decals say "Scud buster" and "To Sadam from
George"! Simulation software (wRASP) predicts a maximum altitude
of ~950 feet with 4 D's, and over 2100 feet with 4 E's! I'll have
to hand cut all the parts, because this kit isn't available anymore.
One recently sold on e-bay for over $200! |
| Estes
Super Big Bertha |
|
Reissued 7/2000.
Waiting to build.
|
This is a "classic" kit from the 1986. It's much bigger
than my Big Bertha (above), 36 inches tall and 2.6 inches in diameter.
It ONLY flies with D engines (although I did buy some E's to see
if I can get it to really fly!). |
| Estes
V-2 |
|
Reissued 7/2000.
Waiting to build. |
This is a "classic" kit from the 1984. It's 22.2 inches
tall and 2.6 inches in diameter. It ONLY flies with D engines
(although I did buy some E's to see if I can get it to really
fly!). |
| Quest
Flat Cat |
|
Here's a catalog picture
Waiting to build.... |
A Boost Glider. It's got a rocket bedy which provides
the power to lift it (hopefully) to ~800 feet, then the rocket
part detaches and the glider cruises down gracefully (hopefully). |
| Russian
Proton |
1
|
|
The "Proton" was used on July 12th to launch
a key part of the International Space Station in a launch
sponsored
by Pizza Hut. This will be my first finless
rocket. See space.com
for more information (check out their multimedia presentation).
NOTE-This project and the SR-71 (above)
prompted me to add the t une at the bottom of this page. ;-)
October
15 Launch Report
|
| Estes
SR-71 Blackbird |
0 |
7/15/00-Ready to fly
|
Ready
to fly. Check out the details and design modifications.
I modified the Estes kit to allow me to launch with either one
or three engines! |
| Estes
Blackhawk (sold 1991-1993) |
1 |
5/16/00-Ready to fly
|
Scratch built from plans
on-line at Jim Z's site. An interesting dual pod structure,
with a central engine compartment. Called the "Stealth
fighter from the 21st Century" in the 1991
Estes catalog. Estimated to go ~800 feet on C engines.
See 7/5/00 Launch Report
|
| Estes
Silver Comet |
1 |
Painted and ready to
go (Dec 99).
Ready for another flight! (7/00) |
A birthday present from my older daughter. :-)
It flies great!
(see 7/5/00 Launch Report)
|
| Custom Rocket's SAM-X
|
1 |
Ready for first flight |
A 2 stage rocket which can fly to 2000 feet!
4/1/00 Update: Lost in space!
Launched with a C6-0/C6-7 combination, it took off at an angle
and flew to at least a 1000 feet. We saw the tracking dye when
the nose cone ejected, but never saw the parachute. We recovered
the booster, but not the main stage.
|
| Sputnik (1964 plans) |
3 |
Ready for its first flight... |
Scratch built from 1964
Estes plans
7/5/00 Launch Report
|
| The Flying Jenny, an Estes rocket
glider.... |
1 |
|
Estes used to sell a Space
Plane. They also provided free plans in 1964 to a "Flying
Jenny" (rocket boosted glider). Plans for both are
on-line. They fly to ~300 feet under rocket power on an A engine,
then glide back to earth.
The Jenny is a rocket powered biplane
with a rocket engine tube for the body. It's ready
to fly!
4/1/00 Update-Jenny's
maiden flight wasn't pretty! She flew about 50
feet up (A6-3 engine), then looped over toward the ground. She
hit the ground under power, ejecting the engine after
landing. All her wings came off from the impact. Back to the
drawing board.... I just got a new book by Tim
Van Milligan on rocket design. I think I'll better read
the chapter on rocket gliders and start with a kit!
|
Estes NASA X-15
(Estes #0889; sold 1988~1989).
Click above for a preview |
2
1 - 7/5/00
|
First flights 10/24 |
Scratch built from plans
on-line at Jim Z's site.
7/5/00 Launch Report-
|
Things go better with Cherry Coke!! |
2 |
It flies!!! |
Construction details on how
I built the Cherry Coke rocket
|
| Estes
Space Shuttle (Estes #1284) |
2 |
It flies great! |
Maiden flight October 11th
Ready for more!
|
| Estes
Yankee (built with my nephew, John, while visiting him in
Colorado) |
3 |
|
Lost from sight on a C-6 engine..... Never seen
again! :-(
|
| Estes
Big Bertha (kit bashed into a three 18mm engine cluster ala
Estes Astron
Ranger plans PDF version) |
2 |
First flight was beautiful! |
Flew to over 1500 feet on 10/24, then drifted ~two blocks before
landing gently in someone's driveway! Ready for more |
| Estes
AstroCam |
~8 or 10 |
Success! |
Repaired, and ready to go. A great picture was finally obtained
on 10/24 (check it out!);
ready for more flights! |
| Estes
Venom |
~5 |
9/5/99 launch |
Really jumps up there! |
| Estes
Wizard |
2 |
|
|
| Estes
Alpha III |
~5 |
|
Ready for more |
