Estes Plasma Probe Build Part 1 All The "Probes" Background

Here's the next project on the blog -
The Estes PLASMA PROBE, Kit # 3211

Compare the Plasma Probe side by side the older Centuri Laser X Space Probe.
The Laser X was Centuri's answer to the Estes Mars Snooper.
The old Estes Mars Snooper and the Centuri Laser X have smaller forward fins.
The colors and roll patterns are about the same. There is definately Centuri influence here.

Last year I called Lee Piester (Centuri Engineering President) and he mentioned there was a new Estes kit that looked a lot like the Laser X. This has to be the one he was referring to.

Centuri came out with the Stellar Line in the mid 1970s. The futuristic design in the series was the Photon Probe, kit # KD-16. That black and white pic on the right is from the JimZ site.
The forward fins on the Laser X have been replaced with the 8 small strakes.



Next up was the Estes Solar Probe, the reissue of that design.
This one is almost an copy of the Centuri Photon Probe but no dowels on the fins.
Both the upper adapter and rear boat tail are card stock shrouds.
All four previous models have the word "Probe" in the name.



Here's the back end from my flight worn Semroc Laser X.
There aren't twelve coolant vanes on the back end of the Estes Plasma Probe. No rear card stock boat tail either.

The Laser X had 1/16" thick balsa throughout, a little thin.
The Plasma Probe has 3/32" thick fins and strakes.