The 2022 Estes Catalog

 I just received my new copy in the mail today.

Perusing through the pages, I was fairly delighted with the new model offerings:

A cool new Signature Series model designed by Bill Simon.

The return of the Orbital Transport (Yay!).  That one should never have gone away in the first place.

The Vesta Intruder in the Space Corps series.

The Universal Astrocam - an HD video/audio cam designed to fit 'most Estes rockets'.

And finally, the Blue Origin  New Shepard.

As for the scale and Pro series catalog sections, nothing has really changed there.  Pretty much the same thing with the lesser skill level series of models.

The biggest surprise of all, at least for me, is found in the motor section.

The A3-2T and A3-6T motors are back !!!  

Break out the party hats and noise-makers !!

Ever since I re-joined the hobby I have lamented the lack of these two motor types.  But they're really, truly back!

Here's to building some A-class boost/gliders and mini-motor multi-stagers... 

Another excellent change to the catalog is all about the photographs of the models.  Most are now shown in profile orientation which gives a better idea of proportion and appearance than the 'skewed' photos of near past issues.

General Kudos to Estes on the 2022 catalog! 

But then, of course, there are the price increases....(sigh)....

A Look Back At 2021

 Another year has come and gone...

Every January, I like to take a retrospective look at the past year here on the BlastFromTheBast Blog.

Even though 2021 still found us in the throes of a pandemic, I managed to get quite a bit of model rocketry done.

Here are the highlights:

8 new model rockets built.  

Five of these were part of the year-end multi-rocket build frenzy that is still in process.  I didn't get the remaining two completed due to the onset of colder weather and lots of windy conditions which precluded further painting operations.  These models will have to be part of the 2022 fleet addition roster.

54 Model Rocket Flights

These were spread out over 16 launch sessions:

    Five group launch sessions at Dove Valley Park in Centennial, Colorado.

    One launch session at Founders Park in Castle Rock.

    Ten launch sessions at Douglas County High School, also in Castle Rock.

Out of the total number of flights, one model was lost, and one was damaged irreparably.

One motor CATO was suffered.

Other Highlights:

One fleet model was retired after being launched on its 50th flight. This was my first ever model rocket, built in 1973.

I flew my first BAR-era D motors.  Up until this time, I had been apprehensive of going beyond Cs due to the relatively small fields I frequent. 

Several successful flight missions were flown involving altimeter and video camera payloads.

Finally, substantial progress was made on that old Steampunk Protostar build.  Sorry, no pics yet....

Our small group of rocketeers that meet at Dove Valley Park has expanded to nine individuals, including myself.

Here is this year's family photo of the flight-ready fleet for 2022:

Plus three more still residing in the 'repair hangar':

The fleet now stands at 30 models.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all of you who have, thus far, followed this obscure little corner of the wonderful worldwide web!  More to come in 2022!

Cheers!

My Newest Blog, Ever....

 Hi, All,

As if I don't have enough to keep me busy with writing this blog, a LEGO blog, and a woodworking blog, I've embarked on yet another keyboard-tickling venture that covers all of my other many and varied interests:

"Eddie's Random Ramblings"

Check it out by clicking on the link at the right under 'All Of  My Blog Pages'.

Cheers!

Faster Than A Mosquito On An A10 !!!

 That's how fleeting 2021 seemed to have flown by.

Happy New Year to all of you and yours.

Here's wishing you a blessed and prosperous 2022.

Keep em' Fliying !

BAR Fleet #140 - Big Daddy

 

Source:  Estes Industries Kit #2162

Type: Sport Model

Stages: Single

Engine Type: 24mm

Recovery:  Parachute

Length:  50.5cm (19.9 in.)

Diameter:  76mm (3 in.)

Weight Empty:  177.5g (6.26 oz.)

Nose Cone: Tangent Ogive

Fin Type: Swept

Number of Fins: 3

Color Scheme:  Black, Yellow, Red

Date Completed:  December 30, 2021

 A Large Diameter Sport Flier

 The Estes Big Daddy is a large, impressive model rocket designed to fly on 24mm D and E motors. 

This kit was given to me by a Colorado Springs friend in 2020.  The kit harks back to the late 1990s, hence the older style decal scheme.

As part of the 2021 Model Binge-Build, the model was a very fun, straight-forward project, featuring through-the-wall balsa fins, and a large plastic molded nose cone.

 This one promises to be a very good higher powered model suitable for smaller flying fields, due to the peak altitude being limited by the larger diameter.

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!

 To all of you and your families!

BAR Fleet #138 - Crossfire ISX

 Source:  Estes Industries Kit #7220

Type: Sport Model

Stages: Single

Engine Type: 18mm

Recovery:  Parachute

Length:  39.6cm (15.6 in.)

Diameter:  25mm (.98 in.)

Weight Empty:  35.2g (1.24 oz.)

Nose Cone:  Conical

Number of Fins: 3

Color Scheme:  White, Silver, Black

Date Completed:  December 24, 2021

An Attractive Sport Model

The Estes Crossfire ISX is one of those model rockets that just has that 'cool' look about it.

Perhaps it has something to do with the sleek 'sounding rocket' nose cone and the added tabs on the fins. Whatever it is, I made the determination to have one in the fleet, despite it being a relatively simple 3FNC bird.

The only variation with this model from the face card illustration is that I went with a metallic silver paint treatment on the nose cone and nozzle shroud.

I am anticipating good times at the launch field with this great-looking model.