Quest Kits and Parts To Be Made in the U.S.A.?

December1 on YORF, CTRRockets posted the question:

"I was in my local hobby shop looking for a kit and some engines and I asked for Quest engines. They told me they have been having issues with Quest kits and engines being supplied to them. I am curious, are they in a slow down with production? I rather enjoy their kits and engines so I am hoping this is temporary."

CTRRockets emailed Quest/Aerotech Directly and this is the response he got:

"No, there aren’t any Quest products that have been discontinued. We are working to source all parts domestically to avoid long delays in the future" 

CTRRockets added:
So it looks like you are all correct in that they are sourcing to manufacture their products in the US. Good to know. The only kit of theirs that my hobby shop has in stock is the Astra 1. A good little kit but I already have two. Have to substitute Estes motors for quest for now it seems.

There has been some talk about Quest bringing their kit and BP engine production back to the US. We'll see!

UPDATE from Bob Jablonski:
Talking to Charlie AT/Quest GM the new USA made motors are at NAR testing. Until last fall they had supply issues but it has pretty much been cleared up. Look for some cool stuff in the pipe line. Thats all I can say.
Mr. Bob

Booster 55 / 60 and D12-0s on Closeout?

Bernard Cawley posted this on YORF:

D12-0s on close out

---

Apparently the Estes ARF models with the accessory boosters (Booster-55, Booster-60) aren't doing well enough in the mass market channels and at least one chain - the Pacific Northwest variety store chain Fred Meyer - is closing out the accessory boosters for $2 each. But more interestingly, two-packs of D12-0s are being closed out for $3.98 - if you can find 'em.

I tried three Fred Meyer stores relatively near my house yesterday and didn't find any. This afternoon I tried the store nearest to work (Renton) and hit the jackpot. I picked up 15 two-packs and left a few behind. Based on where I found them - NOT with the current display of rockets but mixed in with/above toys on sale - there may have been some in the stores I looked in yesterday and I was just looking in the wrong place. The regular shelves had all been reset for the new assortment which includes the Blurrzz and a wider selection of air rockets, and many fewer ARFs.

It MAY be (I have not confirmed this) that the Wal Mart stores that have been carrying the ARFs and boosters could be doing the same thing. Not many Wal-Marts around here have carried rockets lately so I haven't looked - yet.
But it might be worth a look......
I know Hobby Lobby was closing out the accessory boosters as well (for as low as 99 cents) but not the motors.

Happy bargain hunting.

Thanks to Pat Fitzpatrick for telling me about this on Saturday at the BEMRC launch.

__________________

Bernard Cawley

NAR 89040 L1

SAM 0061

AMA 42160

KG7AIE

EDIT: Manuel Mejia Jr. emailed:
The local Hobby Lobby in Tavares (Florida) is closing out D12-0s at $6.00 a 2 pack.  I do not use the motors except in 24 mm Saucers (which I have not flown one in a few years).  I hope I can still order them when I need them from a vendor or Estes.  D12-0 do have their uses.

New Estes Kit Hints?

From a John Boren post on YORF:

Keep this just between you and me  But I've uncovered a WHOLE bunch of old nose cone blow mold tooling and IF they are usable by our vendor you are going to see a whole lot of old nose cones being used in either bring backs or stuff I create over the next several years This goes for both Scale, Sci-Fi and sport models.

John Boren

There were also some exchanges hinting (and hoping) for "bring backs" of the Estes Manta Bomber and the (Centuri) 1/100 Saturn 1B. But it might be a year until you see your favorite.

3 or 4 "Starters" (Igniters) In Each Engine Package? Part 2

Years back Estes did package four NWI-1 igniters in a 18mm three engine package. These NWI-1 (blue or brown coated) igniters were better than bare nichome but not as reliable as the newer Starter igniters.
Mini "T" engines had five NWI-1 igniters in a four engine package.

From the 1972 catalog:

On the next page of the same catalog:

The NEW Solar Igniters!
(Check out the price - 6 for 30 cents!)
When Estes started inserting these into the engine packages, the "extra" igniter was gone.
3 Igniters were in a 3 engine (18mm and 24mm) package.
4 Igniters were in a 4 engine (13mm) package.

And a final post from Fred Shector:
"I loved the NWI-1 igniters. They came in at least two versions.
The original was around 30 ga with a smashed section that was coated with the blue flexible pyrogen. you bent it at the smashed spot and that spot had higher resistance and heated a bit faster than the rest of the wire.
The later version was 31 ga and had no smashed section.

The original solar igniters were not so great and would break apart - even when new. They improved the tape strip and the weld of the bridge wire to the lead wires and they got better. Except for a bad period with the reddish pyrogen that would corrode the lead wires after sitting around. I think the lead wires are more of an iron-based wire and they would rust if exposed to the elements, but that red pyrogen would just decompose itself and the lead wires.

The last 20+ years of black tipped solar igniters were superior - especially when used with the plugs.

But I still love nichrome wire with a little loop formed around a straightened paper clip. I pre-load hundreds of motors a year with those so we can have faster club launches. The newbies alos love the demo I do where the loop of nichrome turns to molten metal when I hit the launch button."

3 or 4 "Starters" (Igniters) In Each Engine Package? Part 1

From YORF, I had an interesting exchange with Fred Shector:
My first post:

All of the recent engine packages I've purchased now have the clear tip starters.
I've been using those at the club launches where they have a 12 volt system.
I've still got a pretty good supply of the old Estes igniters and Q2G2s.
Most of my solo schoolyard launches use my older 6 volt Estes controller and the old black pyrogen tip igniters.
The new "Starters" remind me of bare nichrome. They take a moment longer to ignite.
Interesting to note, four of the Starters are included in each three engine package, like Estes used to do. Maybe anticipating ignition problems?
In the end I still might buy some dip and make my own.

Fred Shector's response:
"They have always packed 4 igniters in the 3 packs of motors because they packaged them for stores that did not sell igniters. This continues with the starters.
4 packs of mini motors also have 4 starters, not 5.
The new twin packs of 24mm motors have 2 starters . . ."

My reply:
The pictures show what I meant -
Most all the engines I buy are from Hobby Lobby with the 40% off coupon.
First picture: Older 3 engine package with 3 igniters (black pyrogen tips) and four plugs.
Second picture: Newer package with four starters and four plugs.
As long as I have gone to Hobby Lobby, they have sold extra igniter packages next to the engines.
These engine packages were sealed and opened to take the pictures.














Fred Shector's reply:
"Yes, I was not clear.
Estes sells/sold two version of the 18mm motor three packs;
One for hobby shops and other online retailers (including Hobby Lobby) who sold igniter packs as well as motor packs. Those have (or had) 3 igniters.
Another for mass merchandisers who do not sell igniter packs because they do not have room or they will just be stolen (Wal-Mart, Target, Fred Meyer, etc.). Those had 4 igniters and now have 4 starters. These also had the mini packet of wadding since these stores did not sell wadding, just like they did not sell igniter packs.

Of course, things change. The same packaging may now be multi-purposed. I think the current 3 motor 18mm motor package is now deeper so it can also be used for the twin packs of 24mm C11 and D12 motors. I have not checked to see if the hobby shop version now has 4 starters instead of the 3 igniters they used to have. your photo clearly shows the hobby shop version (no wadding) and it has 4 starters, so perhaps they are now doing this for all the 18mm motors. Interesting.

I am positive that the Wal-Mart packages currently sold have the wadding and 4 starters for the 18mm and also for the 13mm motors. Michaels now sells these as well, but they used to sell the hobby shop versions with separate wadding bags and igniter packs sold as well. not any  more..."

Model Missile Find From YORF

Danny Arnold posted these pictures on YORF CLICK HERE

"I worked for a Month getting these from a Very Old Hobby Store. They are Real ... just wanted to Share. Please write with questions/comments. Thanks, Danny Almond."

WOW! What a great find!
Trivia: It's interesting to note the long box. That was just to accommodate the single piece 36" long launch rod. 

John Boren's Navaho Cruise Missile

There's a good reason why John Boren works in R&D at Estes.
If you haven't followed the Navaho build thread on YORF you should check it out - CLICK HERE

John's scale entry at NARAM 56 is the SM-64 Navaho Cruise Missile.






It will be an RC boost glider.
John had plans to install two micro ducted fan units, but in the end they won't provide enough thrust.

This will be the "must see" launch at NARAM.

Here's the Navaho on display at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

This one one of the two models I always wanted to build, the Navaho and the Mercury Little Joe.
After reading the build posts I think I'll stick to pigs and aliens.

Hand Painted Estes Leviathan

From YORF, Here's a Leviathan by Kimble29

Estes Leviathan built and FINALLY painted

"Took forever to paint this thing. Lots of different reasons but I finally got it done. I went with a WWII fighter plane theme for this rocket inspired by one of my kids toy planes. I just kinda winged and figured things out as I went along. I did the girlie "nose art" last and it's pretty small... just over 3 inches tall. No decals on this rocket, everything is paint. The rivets actually came out a lot better than I thought they would and I heeded the advice I got in regards to painting them in a previous thread and used a micro brush to apply them. All in all I'm pretty happy with the outcome and I definitely learned a few things along the way. Enjoy the photos!"

NO DECALS HERE - All the detail work and rivets are hand painted!
This is a great example of patience and a steady hand.

To see more pictures CLICK HERE





Kimble29 did some great WWII Bomber Nose Art and a tribute to his wife Melissa.

Inspiring work -
Once in a while somebody gets it right!

Here's another example of some great hand painting:
CLICK HERE

Falcon 9 and Fairing Kit Now Available

The Space X Falcon 9 Fairing kit is available from the Space X website HERE
This larger model uses D and E engines and has a 3/16" launch lug.

JeffyJeep is doing a build on YORF, HERE
Jeff writes:
"The pre-wrapped BT's are nearly flawless this time--far superior to the last F9 & Dragon kits with the pre-printed wraps. Plastic parts are nice and smooth. BT's are rock hard. The die cut black foam adhesive faux landing legs for the booster are cut very well. It appears that on this kit the clear flight fins are not removable."

New Quest/Klima Engines are Closer!

Here's a timeline of selected posts from YORF 
Read the entire thread HERE
Notice the post dates:

From Bill Stine on YORF - August 12, 2011 -
So much for keeping this project "Top Secret"...
The new Klima line of motors will distributed exclusively by Quest Aerospace in North America (USA and Canada).
Details on pricing and availability are still aways off.
They will be stagable (and include booster motors) and will be available in retail stores. Of course, they will include Q2G2 igniters!
Follow the leaks from Germany, because there won't be a lot of information published by Quest until we are finished with DOT EX Numbers and NAR/CAR Testing.
These will be a Quest branded product.
This development project replaced the China one about 20 months ago... might still use the Thunderjet name for these...

From Leo Nutz on YORF - June 15, 2013 -
I'm going to bring up this old thread because it's finally happening. The new engines have all been certified and the first batch (C6-x series) have gone into production. They should be available end of July.

Another very good news for us Germans is that we are now allowed to fly model rockets with max propellant weight of 150 grams (it was 20 grams) without needing a permit
Consequently staging and cluster is now possible as well.

Here the list of all the cool engines: www.raketenmodellbau-klima.de
The above photo is Copyright Leo Nutz

From Leo Nutz on YORF - June 16, 2013 -
6 engines per package
For comparison:
6 German C6-5 cost 10.90 Euros = $14.55
3 Estes C6-5 cost 9.90 Euros = $13.21

From Leo Nutz on YORF - August 6, 2013 -
"Well, some of the "C" line engines became available last week just in time for one of our bigger rocket events held in Manching Germany.
To make it short:
These have got to be the sweetest engines I have ever held in my hands.
They completely outclass BP engines, have a sweet sound and hardly leave any residue at the aft end or through ejection charge.
I'm going to get rid of all my BP engines ASAP and will only fly the Klima engines from now on."

Thanks for all the updates Leo! We look forward to these engines arriving in the U.S.
Stop by Leo's Leisure Site at : http://www.leo.nutz.de/Rockets.php
It's a great resource!

On TRF August 14, Oliver from Germany reported:
"About 10 days ago, I was very happy to pick up a parcel with the first batch of the new Klima engines. Klima recently got CE mark for all his 18 mm motors: A6-4, B4-0, B4-4, C2-0, C2-P, C6-0, C6-3, C6-5, C6-7, C6-P, D3-0, D3-P, D9-0, D9-3, D9-5, D9-P and started manufacturing C-types in July (the rest will follow in August).
The engines are looking very neat, solid nozzles and smooth casings. Different to most BP engines, there is lot of space in the casings left: Almost 3 cm in the case of C6-5 or 3!"

Check out the Klima C6-5 page HERE
Remember - these engines are not black powder, but a composite propellant.

Another Bully Wannabe on YORF

Anyone who knows rocketry recognizes the designs from Shrox.
Except this guy - "Dyaugo" on the Ye Olde Rocket Forum.

Here's the link to the drama - HERE
I've always hated bullies, whether it was on the schoolyard or now on the Internet.
I remained sarcastic, civil and accepted his design challenge.
But, the moderator shut down the thread after Dyaugo threw around big words.
I would assume Dyaugo is younger and painted himself into a corner.

Too me Facebook is boring. Sometimes the Rocket forums can be hysterical.
You just have to recognize when someone is pulling your leg.
You should see the design ideas that are rolling around inside the box.

Edit: Thanks to Dick Stafford for noticing I wrote TRF instead of YORF the first time I posted this!