Estes New 'So Long' Pro Series Model Rocket- Highest Flyer EVER!

[@alantoon5708]

Many years ago I flew model rockets. Most of them ended up going "bye-bye". So...a fitting name for this rocket.

[@stemmentor9700]

Lol. Can so relate. I knew better. But goal was “aim high”. Christmas morning rocket. Late afternoon Christmas “tree” dinners. Never saw them back. If I had all those old Centuri and few Estes kits still today. I’d retire well at the cost of them. 🤣

[@modelrockets3215]

You can't launch and look away. Keep an eye on the whole process. And having additional eyes is really good also.

[@roccotarulli2464]

I was a rocketeer too back in the 1960's this is a real throw back memory for me. Maybe time to get back into model rockets.

[@stirlingpickett5253]

Looking forward to getting that whole new series of kits coming out I can't wait

[@modelrockets3215]

Yes me too. Especially the Black Brant XII

[@sparkymockenhaupt878]

Keith , you will love the Antar. Very challenging paint scheme..

[@garagemancave666]

Really looking forward to the build-n-fly!

[@jameswilkinson259]

Ooooh man, this kit has me excited, but I don't have a field big enough for this monster. Looking forward to seeing you launch this beast someday.

[@modelrockets3215]

Thanks I will attempt it! Should be fine🚀

[@LivingInDallasTexas]

interesting rocket... cant wait to see you launch it

[@modelrockets3215]

Couple builds ahead of this one. Line up is Jupiter-C, Antar, maybe this can be 3rd or the Saturn 1B

[@michaelc6817]

Have your walking shoes on when you launch this one! Looking forward to the build video and launch!! BTW, you can be building more than one kit at a time :), multi-task!

[@modelrockets3215]

Haha multi tasking. Indeed I usually work a couple at a time. Build video keeps getting mentioned. I may do that.

[@Aether-Entropy]

Had no idea they were even still making the Pro Series 2 line. I'll have to pick this up.

[@jonasclausen5755]

Mine is coming today! Should be a fun build. Looks like a force-fit motor retention for the upper stage? I’d hate to blow the motor out the back instead of the streamers out the top.

[@CraftedChannel]

First comment! Looking forward to seeing if you can launch to that altitude and successfully recover this one. ;-)

[@modelrockets3215]

My launch field is huge, shouldn't be a problem on a clear blue sky day, extra eyes and some tracking powder. Easy.

[@stemmentor9700]

@@modelrockets3215 We will be rooting ya one Keith. But they sure can drift. (Good military compass and get bearing where it lands 4 miles out will help 😉. Just kidding. But them land compasses and with a bearing in place for direction it would help if too far. Would have loved an area like that to fly as a kid.

[@stefanjones2637]

Thank you, I've been curious about this kit. The rear engine block and taped-together motors is OLD SCHOOL! I remember building an "Apogee II" that used that method. The Tazer Twin used it too. I'd be tempted to but a vented "outside" coupler on the interstage.

[@rosswarren436]

Better have some binoculars handy. Figure you do if you are into astronomy. 3,600 feet? Wow. We all launched Estes Streaks on C6-7 engines in the late 1960s and never found them again. LOL. They went to about 2000 feet. This will be a great launch video! Good luck! I hope you can recover it on a very calm day.

[@winstonsmith478]

Finally, Estes does what I had long ago planned to do but haven't done yet: make a LIGHT WEIGHT two stage rocket powered by their 29mm BP motors rather than a HEAVY (mainly due to those ABS plastic fins and centering rings) E2X kit. I think they should have used basswood for those fins although my easy method of using full page printer label stock for reinforcement on both sides of a fin thereby making a composite sandwich fin structure will work fine and be lighter than basswood.

[@timgodin2114]

DBRMAX shock cord breaks? Haven't launched the one I brought yet ,have E engines. But will replace the cord and add a chute blanket.

[@HPRRocketStuff]

Time for a complete build video!

[@modelrockets3215]

Possibly. I may do that. When I start it.

[@1-JBL]

Back when I was active in the hobby, I put engine hooks on every single stage rocket I built, whether it came with one or not. But you couldn't do that with multi-stage kits if you wanted them to fire right. REALLY looking forward to seeing this behemoth fly.

[@kevinhedspeth4303]

Looks cool but will probably need to replace the launch rod lugs with rail buttons if the rocket will be flown with F and above motors due to upcoming NAR rule changes...Estes should start including rail buttons on all of their Pro-Series kits.

[@mguerramd]

When I was a kid back in the late 60s, I wanted to fly the rockets that flew the highest. I very quickly learned the flaw in that thinking! After losing some multistage rockets, like the Astron Apogee, I decided to start boosting them with A motors, and putting a 1/2A in the top stage. I could enjoy the fun of building, a multistage rocket and actually get the thing back. Building this thing with F motors, holy smokes that’s going to require a jolly logic chute release! With the really high flyers, I don’t spend any time trying to get a beautiful perfect finish figuring I’m probably gonna lose it. I would just paint the booster black so my spotter could see it and then paint the top stage fluorescent orange. Same thing with the fins, I will give them a quick sanding and possibly round off the leading edge and let it go with that.

[@modelrockets3215]

Yes staging is great. But bring your A game. As those rockets can gonoutnof site in a hurry

[@modelrockets3215]

Black is not a good idea imho. I'm going bright fluorescent orange. Always had success with those. Black can blend in on the ground looking like a rock or a shadow. I want something that will reflect lots of light. ((bright))

[@mguerramd]

@@modelrockets3215 Yeah makes sense, black is visible in the sky, less so on the ground.

[@paintnamer6403]

So Long could have the connotation of "you'll never find this one after launch". I does look great, I would think of reducing the engine capacity/size for my launch area.

[@modelrockets3215]

Yes that name 'So Long' lol. I'll be adding some colored ejection dust and having a couple spotters. It will be flown No Gear Here. It's going lol.🚀

[@cooltheengines]

From my experience with Estes and other low power rocket brands, no multistage rocket ever has an engine hook, because it would prevent the engines from butting up against one another, which has to happen for one engine to ignite the next in mid-flight.

[@modelrockets3215]

Thanks but not true. I fly the Astron Omega 2 stage rocket that has engine hooks on the booster and sustainer. The So long uses the method of taping the 2 engines together like many other. You you can stage with engines hooks.

[@cooltheengines]

@@modelrockets3215 The Astron Omega 2 is an Estes model that I have not built so I stand corrected. Thanks for the info, I did not realize that…👍

[@terryperrott8567]

Thats just a little bit of altitude 😅😂, I think that would be a good paint scheme

[@modelrockets3215]

Yes going bright for sure. With a couple extra eyes

[@orlandonostagiafever1964]

The Mammoth is the biggest Estes Rocket.

[@stemmentor9700]

wish i had the area to fly something like this. think the nearest rocket club is 3 hr drive and i’m too close to an AF base and airport and live in “the burbs” vice the country side when i grew up. of course, never stopped me from maxing out my Centuri Long Tom. (pretty sure that was the kit. can’t recall if 2 or 3 stage, but loaded with C6-0 for boosters and C6-7. To this day that’s the sweetest and highest flying kit. straight up as an arrow. Crystal blue sky. No winds. And poof chute opens and i just waved if good bye as that sucker just drifted to nowhere land in the woods. ¯\(ツ)/¯. wasn’t the only time my maiden launch was my last. Look forward to seeing this bird fly.