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Thursday, June 7, 2018

Two Bring Backs from Estes


Estes has listed two new kits on their Coming Soon page: CLICK HERE
The Black Brant III is a BT-50 based model. The nose cone and tail cone were introduced in this kit and later showed up in the Crossfire ISX.



This is the BIG one, the Mean Machine.
". . . the clever rocket designers developed a unique twist lock connector set that allows you to take your rocket apart right in the middle!"
The Mean Machine launches with the D12 and E12 engines. The earlier version could use E9 engines.
Instructions for the previous kit: CLICK HERE



The new decor reminds me of the Blue Bird Zero with the blue and white body. The fins have some red in the decals.
I'm not too hot on the decal design, a flying mouth with big teeth.

Both models are slated for a July release.
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14 comments:

  1. OpenroadJune 7, 2018 at 10:47 PM

    I have a Custom Rockets Equinox that flies really well so I don’t think I’ll buy a Mean Machine - but the Black Brant is nice looking scale rocket that I’ll probably have to have - the red/white/black paint scheme complete with a nifty maple leaf pushes my buttons somehow.

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    Replies
    1. Chris MichielssenJune 8, 2018 at 7:53 PM

      Hi Openroad,
      And the Custom Equinox is MUCH cheaper! I haven't built one before, but you could probably friction fit the upper half to make transport the rocket easier. This is how the ASP Too Tall rocket is done.

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    2. OpenroadJune 8, 2018 at 8:38 PM

      Yup, you sure can! That’s how I built mine. Did the same with one of my PSII E2X Mammoths though that one uses a bulkhead not a coupler. The twist lock is probably a good way to insure that a less than attentive builder doesn’t end up with a really wobbly rocket!

      Delete
  2. UnknownJune 8, 2018 at 12:16 AM

    That, "unique twist lock connector set that allows you to take your rocket apart right in the middle" is super handy with such a long rocket. I had a mean machine crash (it actually drifted too far and hit a school - staying on the roof for a week) and all I wanted was that middle connector so I could build another one. That and the decals. And I have it again hanging on two curtain rod holders in my den. :-)

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  3. Ed MittonJune 8, 2018 at 9:05 AM

    Glad to see these two making a return. If I was to do a Mean Machine build, I think I would go back to the old black paint scheme and a home print set of the original decal design. That's just me.....

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    1. Naoto KimuraJune 8, 2018 at 6:31 PM

      Of course the tricky bit to replicating the original Mean Machine scheme would be the decals -- you'll need to print in opaque colours. One possible method with standard inkjet would be to first print outlines of the markings onto white decal sheet. This white decal can then be used as an "underlay" for the final markings.

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    2. Chris MichielssenJune 8, 2018 at 7:47 PM

      Hi Ed,
      You might have to go through a vinyl producer like Sticker Shock for opaque replacement decals.

      Delete
  4. JimJune 8, 2018 at 10:18 AM

    I don't care for the new look of the Mean Machine. I have a black one with the yellow decals and like it much better. Even the original blue color name decal looked better than this new one.

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    1. Chris MichielssenJune 12, 2018 at 8:18 AM

      Hi Jim,
      Apparently the black Mean Machine would get too hot on a sunny day and the long body tubes could warp!

      Delete
  5. metalhead1986June 8, 2018 at 10:36 AM

    I haven't been doing much building or flying lately, but the Mean Machine will end up in my build pile, for sure.

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  6. The Rocket N00bJune 8, 2018 at 10:27 PM

    Am I crazy for thinking there was an Estes Black Brandt *something* that was BT-55 based? And it was black and white with toothpick antennae? Was it the BBII?

    I went to the Estes instructions database, but all they have listed is that red and white BT-50 version, and I don't see any toothpicks.

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    Replies
    1. Naoto KimuraJune 9, 2018 at 10:50 AM

      could this be the kit you were thinking of?
      http://www.oldrocketplans.com/estes/est1958/est1958.htm
      I do recall noticing that the instructions list on the Estes website appears to be incomplete. I'm guessing some of this could be result changes to the catalogue numbering systems (i.e. from the older K-#/TK-# to straight numeric code). Also looking through the JimZ and Ye Olde sites, I've there appeared to be some number code conflicts where the same code number appears for different products (usually from different product lineups).

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    2. Naoto KimuraJune 9, 2018 at 11:08 AM

      Aside from this, there appears to have been situations where a name got reused (e.g. Solar Warrior).
      http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/catalogs/estes91/91est30.html
      https://www.estesrockets.com/media/instructions/003225_SOLAR_WARRIOR.pdf

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    3. Chris MichielssenJune 12, 2018 at 8:16 AM

      Hi Daniel,
      The other Black Brant is the BT-55 based Black Brant II with the toothpicks that break off on the first flight.

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