New 2025 Estes Catalog Is Posted

On Y.O.R.F., 

Turbofireball let us know and Earl posted this PDF link:

CLICK HERE

Look for the Red NEW 

bullet points to find the latest releases. 

New Estes 2024 Catalog Now Online

 

The new Estes 2024 Catalog is now online!

To see it: CLICK HERE

From YORF, Turbofireball did all the research on new products and discontinued items - 

Thanks Turbo!

New items:
Tri-Flyer Starter Set #0647
Roto Rocket Starter Set #0648
Olympus Mega Starter Set #0642 (available direct only, no hobby shops)
Green Eggs Starter Set #9990 (available direct only, no hobby shops)
Mini Alpha Launch Set #2458
Mini Bertha Launch Set #2469
Mini Max Launch Set #2445
Star Hopper Launch Set #2427
Long Ranger Kit #0814 (was Hobby Lobby exclusive)
Roto Rocket Kit #1322
Tri-Flyer Kit #1323
Saturn V Kit #1969
Mini Alpha Kit #2098
Mini Bertha Kit #2099
Mini Arcas Kit #2441
Power Patrol Kit#2481 (rerelease)
Vapor Kit #7294 (rerelease)
Space Shuttle RTF #9991
F15-4 Bulk Pack (available direct only, no hobby shops)
Launch Rail Launch Pad #2311 (available direct only, no hobby shops)
100 lb. Aramid Cord #3140 (available direct only, no hobby shops)
200 lb. Aramid Cord #3141 (available direct only, no hobby shops)
300 lb. Aramid Cord #3142 (available direct only, no hobby shops)
Pro Series Parts Assortment #9987 (available direct only, no hobby shops)
Cosmic Ray Bulk Pack #1112 (available direct only, no hobby shops)
Cosmic Cargo Bulk Pack #1752 (available direct only, no hobby shops)
D12-5 Bulk Pack #1786
Mini Launch Pad & Controller #2244 (rerelease)
Sanding Bar Sandpaper 180 Grit #2323
Sanding Bar Sandpaper 300 Grit #2324
Sanding Bar Sandpaper 400 Grit #2325

Discontinued items:
Gnome Kit #0886
Terra GLM Kit #7292
Xtreme Kit #7306
220 Swift Kit #0810
Mars Longship Kit #7296
Gnome Bulk Pack #1749

Catalog error:
MAV Rocket Kit incorrectly listed as #7297 (correct #7283)

New 2023 Estes Catalog (Page)

EDIT: The 2023 Estes Catalog is online for viewing at Jim Z's: CLICK HERE

On TRF, 

DMEhalko posted a page from the upcoming 2023 Estes catalog.

I knew about the SO LONG design but hadn't seen the two on the facing page.

BLACK BRANT XII

Length 54.6", Diameter 2.22"

Nylon Chute 

Single Stage E16-6 and F15-6

GREAT GOBLIN

Length 33.5", Diameter 3.0"

Nylon Chute 

Single Stage E16-4 and F15-6

We should see a catalog announcement from Estes soon!

New Estes 2022, Catalog Online

 

The new Estes 2022 Catalog 

is available as a PDF for viewing online:

CLICK HERE

You can also order a printed catalog.

New Estes 2021 Catalog is Online

 

Check out the new Estes Catalog!

CLICK HERE 

My First Catalog!

Kurt Affholter posted this on the Facebook, Estes Model rockets page:
"Anybody ever see these?"

This was the first model rocket catalog I ever saw. I was peeking over the shoulder of the classmate seated in front of me. He was supposed to be reading his class materials, but sneaked this Estes catalog inside his binder.

This was a temporary catalog:
"We have run out of our 1968 catalogs, and our new 1969 catalog is not yet completed. You will automatically be mailed your new catalog as soon as it is available, sometime in April."


Each page in this black and white catalog had four small (reduced size) catalog pages.

If this was 1968, I would have been 12 years old in the seventh grade. With the upcoming Moon landing, model rocketry sales were at their peak! 

New Estes 2019 Catalog and Website

The new Estes website is up and running!
Go to www.estesrockets.com

The new 2019 catalog is also up for viewing: CLICK HERE

The catalog is much different than before. Clean and easy to read. Lots of technical information is there for first timers.

Skill Levels 1 - 5 are now
"Building Classifications"

Here's one of the new offerings, the SA-2061 Sasha. You can find it on Page 60.

Other new models are:
Boosted Bertha - Page 38
Double Ringer - Page 42
Black Brant II (new reissue) - Page 56

New equipment and accessories:
Display Cradle - Page 79
Lifetime Launch System - Page 90
Phantom - Page 92

New Estes 2019 Catalog

Here's a couple screen grabs from a short Estes 2019 Catalog promo video. It will be available in March. I like how the catalog is set up. To see the video, CLICK HERE

"Here's some of the past, present and maybe future kits."

On the NARAM Estes tour I did ask about the 1/100 Saturn 1B. Ellis Langford said it will be a kit but didn't give a production date.

The 1/200 Scale Saturn V is shown. It's hard to read the price but it looks like $69.99.
I'm not saying that's the price, that's what I see - 
There are clear plastic fins that are held in place by the screw on engine retainer.

Estes 2018 Catalog PDF Online

From John Boren on the NAR Facebook page:

The PDF version of the New Estes 2018 Catalog is now on the Estes Web Site.

To see the 2018 catalog, CLICK HERE

More New Estes Catalog News -

On YORF, JediBoss got the new Estes catalog:

"Just got mine today. A few surprises in there, the return of the Multi Roc (CLICK HERE & CLICK HERE), the Explorer Aquarius, and the #2157 Apollo XI Saturn V with some kind of a mystery bonus! The Little Joe I is on the back cover and inside too. Listed at $32.99."

New Estes Scale Offering -

I had a feeling this one was coming up! Hey, that capsule should be black . . .
I built a Mercury Little Joe two years ago. A quote from the August 20, 2016 blog build: "With the success of the recent Estes scale model releases, I wouldn't be surprised if Estes came out with a MR Little Joe I using the 2" diameter Centuri capsule and tower."
Here's my earlier build: CLICK HERE 

From the Estes Facebook page:
"Product Development Director, Mike Fritz, loads a production model of the NEW Little Joe 1 kit due to be released soon. Witnessing the launch are Estes team members (left to right) Dave DelVecchio, Mary Roberts, Chandra Serfoss, and Angela Everhart."
Wait a minute - Angie Everhart works at Estes?

This kit looks like it is based on the ST-20 based Enerjet News Little Joe I using the old Centuri plastic capsule and tower. 
Get ready for lots of Facebook and forum complaints about how hard the tower is to assemble.
Here's the easier assembly links to the capsule and tower assembly: CLICK HERE A, CLICK HERE B 

The new 2018 Estes Catalog is available by mail order from the website. An online version should be out in a week or so -

New Rocket Room Picture

I have one room in my home for rockets and rocket supplies. All of the Odd'l Rockets parts are stored there.
The walls have been bare since the room was remodeled two years ago.

I found and bought an original Estes ad on Ebay. This is the same ad I saw in 1969. I sent for the catalog after paging through a classmates catalog in my eight grade home room.
Estes ran out of the 1969 catalogs and sent out Xerox copies, reduced images of the pages.

The magazine ad brought back memories and will fill up some empty space on the rocket room wall.

Estes 2016 Catalog Online

The new Estes 2016 Catalog is online! To see it, CLICK HERE

Upcoming new products include a BT-60 based Nike Smoke and the Estes Shuttle. The "Apollo 11" Saturn V is scheduled to be re-released in June, this time with E12-4 or E30-4 power. This Saturn V has plastic fins, a big improvement over vacu-form. Another bring-back is the Super Nova.
The Porta Pad II (with lightning bolt legs) is now molded in red plastic.

I was surprised by how many clearance models are still listed in the catalog. The original three PSII kits are shown, but not the Leviathan.
No prices are posted yet.

2015 Estes Catalog

The new 2015 Estes catalog is available for viewing online:
CLICK HERE

The front cover shows the new Lynx and Scorpion models,
the back cover (on the left) features the re-issued Blurzz cars.
These three look to be the same model with different color schemes.
To see a Blurzz review from 2003 - CLICK HERE

The "Original" Estes Catalog?

Earl Cagle, Jr. posted this EBAY link on YORF,

An original 1962 Estes catalog.
According to the YORF posts that followed, this is the second "Penrose" edition. The first catalog was produced in Denver.

Look close on the left side to see the Gleda Estes sewing machine binding!

The EBAY link is HERE
















This catalog is considered highly collectible.
You can see full scans of every page - CLICK HERE

What's Wrong With This Picture? Part 2 Answer

A few days back I posted this picture from the 1973 Estes catalog - What's wrong with it?

Lonnie responded:

If the inside and outside diameters are correct, the tube thickness should be .04" instead of 0.021.

From RichsRockets :

No, because inside and outside diameters differ by TWICE the tube thickness... think about it.

Anonymous wrote:

I remember seeing this ad as a kid and wondering what parallel winding meant and why was a line drawn around the center of the tube. Still doesn't make sense to me.

Here's how the drawing should have looked:

The illustration in the 1973 catalog looked like two smaller length tubes joined by an internal coupler. Parallel wound BT-30 tubes had a wrap joint that ran down the length of the tube.

The inside and outside tube dimensions don't add up!

Outside Diameter           .765" 

Inside Diameter              .725

                                         .40 ?

BT-30 tubes were thicker walled, more like a BT-55 or BT-60, but not that thick!

The listed wall thickness is listed as .021". That's probably close to the truth.

I would guess the printed inside diameter was incorrect.

TRIVIA: I read somewhere the original BT-30 sized tubes were made from file folder manila material. Gleda Estes hand rolled them on the kitchen floor. 

What's Wrong With This Picture?

I was doing some parts checking and ran across this in the 1973 Estes catalog at the Ninfinger site: CLICK HERE

Can you figure out what's wrong with the listing?

2014 Estes Catalog is Now Online

On YORF, TurboFireball found the new Estes Catalog has been posted:
HERE

The models on page 12 (on left) look to be the most interesting.
Most other new models are E2X, RTF or ARTF.

I was surprised that many off the models from the big December sale are still listed. I thought those might be discontinued.
Most of the "Classic" line - like the Chuter 2, Flutter-by, Payloader 2, Long Tom and Star Trooper are still in the current kit lineup.

E2X = Easy To Build or Easy To eXecute

RTF = Ready To Fly

ARTF = Almost Ready To Fly

New 2014 Estes Catalog

Bob (Initiator001 on YORF) posted this HERE:

The new 2014 Catalog is available from Estes mail order for $2.99.
The new Dark Silver model is featured on the cover.

There is a few ways to get it "Free", explained on the Estes website:
http://www.estesrockets.com/new/2014-catalog-2927-14

I'll wait until it's available free online.

New Estes 2013 Catalog Online

The NEW Estes 2013  Catalog is online HERE

Lots of new RTF and ARTF models.
But there are some real "builder's" kits there too.
The Sprint XL is shown on page 22. BT-60 based and flys on 24mm engines.
The new launcher and controller - The Astron II is on page 80.
Two new nose cone assortments, one is a Sci-Fi package on page 83.

 The Mini FAT BOY is BT-60 based and flys with A10-3t engines.

Two new RTFs are the BLENDERS. 13mm to 75 feet with helicopter recovery.

These RTF "BOOSTERS" look very promising.
The Booster 60 fits a BT-60, the Booster 55 fits a BT-55 tube.
Both are designed for D12-0 engines.

On the back cover is the new Estes ALTIMETER.
Small, it looks like it could fit into a BT-20 diameter but no dimensions are listed.
The design reminds me of the Jolly Logic Altimeters.