Hobby Lobby Clearance Rockets

I had a lightning strike yesterday. Not close to my house, but close enough. After getting a new modem a few days ago, my home internet is down again!
This requires me to go to McDonald's for breakfast and free WiFi. If I miss a post, it's not by my choice. (That and my printer may be down for the count!)

After seeing the TRF post by Goose In Co, I stopped by Hobby Lobby yesterday to check out the clearances and re-stocking of model rockets and supplies.
I picked up the Puma and Nike Smoke kits. The clearance prices are attractive at 40% off. I couldn't combine the 40% off coupon on clearance items.
The Booster 55 units were down to 59 cents.
Also on clearance were: Super Neon, Sequoia, Mini Fat Boy, Indicator and the E16-8 and F15-8 engines.

Now, let's see what kits replace those on clearance . . .

Two More Estes Clearance Kits -

From TRF, Malbar 70 found two new clearance kits on the Estes website:

The QCC Explorer is on sale for $8.99 - CLICK HERE
The Conquest kit is priced at $10.99 - CLICK HERE

The QCC is a sharp looking rocket, but I don't want to fill those intakes again!
The Conquest has two of the same intakes underneath.
Here's my build of the QCC Explorer - CLICK HERE

More Stuff - Need More Stuff!

NO . . . Must Resist!!!

Estes has just added new bundles to the clearance sale pages: CLICK HERE

I still have some kits left from the last bundle deals. These are some great prices though.

All I Need . . .

I know . . . more on the build pile.
Sprint XL for $5.99? A great price and a blog build.
The Mini Max is a build, parts and maybe turn one into a Mini Goblin.
I have one Skydart already in the bag, a second was needed to do two a blog build.

I wouldn't normally buy a PSII but free shipping kicks in when your order total is over $50! Rather than spend $10 for shipping, I added the Ventris for $18.99 putting me just over $50. So in a sense, (rocketeer thinking here) I got the Ventris for only $8.99!
Yep, that's the justification I'm going with.

I would have put the order in last night but the Mini Max was showing "Out of Stock". On these clearance sales the out of stock items usually are back the next day - Sometimes.

New Specials from Estes

Lots of new kits and accessories are added to the SPECIALS page at the Estes Website: CLICK HERE

I was surprised to see some items - Crayons, Astron II Controllers and Launchers, Vagabonds, the Mini Max, Skydarts and Sprint XLs have been added. Many ARFs are also listed.
Five pages of CLEARANCE!

Booster 55 and Booster 60 On Sale

From the Estes website:
The Booster 55 is on sale at $2.99 - CLICK HERE
The Booster 60 is also on sale at $2.99 - CLICK HERE

I'm a little surprised, I've seen them used often at the NEFAR launches.
Somebody on the forums had found them on clearance. That might have been at a Hobby Lobby, I don't know for sure.

Estes Clearance Sale Extended

Now that July is over,
Estes has changed the Clearance Sale name from "Christmas in July" to "Back To School Specials".
To see the clearance kits, CLICK HERE

Most all the same kits are available, the PSII Leviathon is gone!
The Leviathon was my favorite of the original four PSII designs.

Best Estes Sale Value?

Here's my vote for one of the better values in the Christmas In July Clearance Sale at Estes.
It looks like the sale is going on through the end of July, but could be stopped at anytime.
24mm power, over 20" tall and a large BT-60 payload section. The lower body tube is a BT-55.
To see the listing, CLICK HERE
The normal retail price is $18.79, the clearance price is only $3.79!
That's right around 80% off.
I know a lot of people are buying the clearance models for parts. The large payload section alone is worth more than $3.79.

The fin design might look familiar.
Here's the S.C.R.A.M. from the 1986 Estes catalog. The SCRAM was part of the Mini Tri Pack. Three 13mm models in one kit.

The three piece fin design is also like the Custom Rockets M320 rocket.

The Laser Lance is a good sized model with strong BT-55 and BT-60 tubes.

The inset picture shows the 24mm engine mount with added Kevlar.

The fins are a three piece military missile style. While I like the look, the thin middle fin looks fragile.

On TRF, Etoyoc wrote:
"My daughter loves her Laser Lance, but the original fins were prone to damage and we ended up redoing them at least once. I haven't had to do a repair in a while and she usually launches it a few times a year." 

The inset picture shows a fin I drew up to replace the kit fins. I'd probably cut it out of 3/32" stiff balsa or basswood.
The instructions say to glue in the nosecone, but why would you?
Heck, for $3.79 you have the basis for a strong, sport payload model.

Estes Order Arrives

My July Sale order arrived on Friday, July 17. Pretty good turnaround considering the order was placed on July 9.

This ain't no Estes box!
I've mentioned it before, why not have the box stamped: "From the Model Rocket Capitol of the World!"

I have more kits now than I could build in the foreseeable future.
You've heard it before, the deals were too good to pass up.
There are two Solar Warrior kits, two Phoenix Birds and two Cosmic Interceptors.
The Cosmic Interceptor is BIG - 40" tall and a 2" diameter heavy walled tube. It also has a 24" nylon parachute.
Quite the deal at $16.99 while the sale lasts.

Estes July Sale

I gave in! I'm weak!
Estes has extended their July 4th Sale, it's now "Christmas in July!"
CLICK HERE

I went through the sale pages and almost added two Cosmic Explorers - until I went and checked the build pile, I already had three of those!

Here's what I picked up - 
001351 - Cosmic Interceptor - Qty. 2 -  Subtotal $33.98
003024 - Phoenix Bird          - Qty. 2 -  Subtotal $12.38
003225 - Solar Warrior          - Qty. 2 -  Subtotal $12.98

TOTAL              $59.35

Reward Points - $6.00

Grand TOTAL  $53.34

An amazing deal, considering the six kits had a retail price of $189.94. (I know, I never pay retail either.) Throw in the few reward points, add free shipping and it was a no-brainer. It's a good thing I'm single.

More Added To Estes Sale

Many more kits have been added to the Fourth Of July Specials on the Estes website.

I was surprised to see the Cosmic Interceptor for only $16.99 and the Asteroid Hunter for $8.99.

The Maxi Alpha 3 is $15.59 and boasts "Proudly Made In The USA". Huh? I thought everything (except engines) was made in China. The most recent Saturn V was produced and boxed up in Penrose. 

Bundles are back! See it all, CLICK HERE 

In the Coming Soon section is the Sahara.
It looks like a cross between a short Argent with Partizon fins.

PSII Kits on Sale

This is the lowest price I've seen on the PSII kits.
All the originals - the Leviathan, Ventris, Patizon and Argent are now -

$22.50 !!!

CLICK HERE to go to the Specials/Clearance page.

EDIT: Estes just added more kits to the Specials page, MIRV, Cosmic Explorer, Super Neon XL, Chuter 2, Flutter-By. Phoenix Bird, Photon Probe and Xarconian Cruiser.

Oh boy! More kits on the build pile.

Estes and MPC Rockets on Sale

On TRF, goose_in_co posted links to:

Estes kit sale at Tower Hobbies
CLICK HERE
Prices are good but now quite as low as the recent clearance sales

MPC kit sale at Auto World
CLICK HERE 
These are the re-branded Sky model rockets

All I Need . . .

. . . is more rocket kits!

My Estes Clearance order came a few days ago.
I got three of the BT-55 based bulk packs.
BT-55 kits have always been a favorite. The 55 tube diameter and wall thickness make for very strong models.
I like the Hornet and Centurion designs. I'm not too fond of the Monarch. The Monarch kits will make great starts for kit bashes.
Oh yeah, that's a Leviathan laying down in front.

Have you noticed how many have gotten into the Estes resale rocket business on Ebay?
The clearance prices are too good to pass up.

The shipping box was a recycled kit container from China.
I hate Chinese cardboard, it's not anywhere near as strong as US made boxes. I think the Chinese boxes are only made for one time use.

The other side was pushed in. I was concerned about crushed body tubes but everything inside was fine.

Hey Estes, if you are listening . . . 
Now that you are back in the mail order business, why not have a stamp made saying:
"From the Model Rocket Capital of the World!"
It would be very retro, just like the newer parachutes.

I opened one of the Monarch kits. It has a two piece body tube and red coupler.
The coupler wouldn't slide into the adjoining tubes without sanding and rounding of the coupler edge. Way too tight!

Estes Clearance Sale

Well, I finally broke down and bought some rockets from the most recent Estes Clearance Sale. The sale closed (this time) on Sunday, February 1. I still haven't built everything from my clearance kits bought a year ago.
I ordered three sets of the Bundle 3 at $9.99.
The Cosmic Explorer and Hornet are favorites. I don't really care about the Monarch, it may end up a kit bash or used to parts.



The Leviathan is the only Pro Series II model I like. I ordered one.
It's just a big 4FNC model with great lines. Simple and clean.

The total order (Three sets of Bundle #3 and the Leviathan) came to just under $57.00, too good to pass up! My goal was to get some good sport models and have the total over $49.99 for the free shipping.

Ten rockets for $57.00? Not a bad deal!

Estes Clearance Bundles

Now they're selling them in bundles!
CLICK HERE and scroll down to the bottom of the page.
Prices are actually lower when you buy them in a group.

At the moment the bundles are "Out Of Stock".

EDIT: All four original PSII kits are in a bundle for $80.00 !!!

Another Estes Sale!

Oh No! Don't I have enough rockets?
Another Estes clearance sale is going on. I can assume it'll go through the end of December but I don't know the cut off day.

FREE SHIPPING on orders over $29.95 - CLICK HERE
You could buy a Pro Series II kit and an ornament and shipping would be free.

Estes Black Friday Sale!

Estes is having a Black Friday Sale! CLICK HERE
The Mega Mosquito aren't shown on the Clearance pages, but do a search and they show up on sale for $8.29. All four of the original Pro Series II kits are only $26.99

Free Shipping on orders over $29.95!

3 Kits On Sale At Quest

These three kits are on Special Sale at Quest Aerospace: 
CLICK HERE
The Aerosapce One model is a great flyer with a D engine mount upgrade!
That model with the 24mm mount was built on the blog.

Some Aerotech kits are now listed on the Quest website.

EBAY Rocket Listings

The Estes Reflector is up for bidding on EBAY - CLICK HERE

The same model built was here on the blog.

Also for sale is the 1976 ESTES NARAM Contestants Package.
Check out the listing - CLICK HERE
This is the vinyl case that holds all the literature.

Included are an Emergency Repair Kit (complete with dried out glue packet but minus the igniters)
MINT 1976 Catalog
Unopened Altitude Computer
Four sets of two fabric stickers
Model Rocket Data Sheet

There are many more pieces than are shown here,
Most everything is MINT, there are some folded corners.
Technical Notes 1 - 5, blank order forms and more!

Stop by and make a bid!