This is awesome and just what I was looking for. Used your links, picked up the launch kit and a second rocket so my kid and I can build them together.
Basically this is just a toy set, made for kids ages 6-10. And for that purpose it works fairly well. I would probably recommend the original Alpha rocket kit. Yes it's a lot more difficult to build, and it needs to be painted. But if you are going to get into model rocketry, you should probably start learning how to build your own rockets and how to work with balsa wood. You will get tired of kits real quick. You will not likely reach over 100' with an A engine, and will likely lose interest real quick. I recommend the C6-7. That will get your rocket up there high enough to impress you. You will need a wide open space to launch it, and I know those are getting harder and harder to find. Have some binoculars to keep track of the rocket as it comes down. A kid should be able to chase it down. Stay away from trees and power lines. The best glue for model rockets is just plain old Elmers white glue. Get a piece of 1/4" PVC plastic pipe and a couple of end caps. Cut a piece of the pipe a little longer than the sections of your launch rod, and use it as a case to store the launch rod in. That will keep it from getting bent or lost. Get some fiberglass insulation to use as recovery wadding. It is 100 times cheaper than store bought recovery wadding, fireproof, and will protect your parachute jus as well as the super expensive stuff.
@@themodelrocket220 I am about to turn 62, and got into model rocketry at age 12. I still enjoy it, but have gotten way past the plastic toy stuff. Unfortunately I am disabled and do not have a lot of income, so I am still pretty much stuck with low power (A-D engines) But I now design and build my own rockets, with my goal being altitude. Pretty much every rocket and every launch is an attempt to beat my last altitude record. I paint all my rockets white and fluorescent orange to make them easier to see. I built my own launch system out of steel and high grade parts. I have spent almost as much time designing and building launch systems as I have rockets. It's my way of enjoying model rocketry on a budget.
I had fun with Estes model rockets during late elementary school. But the fun wore off after two years or so. Small model rockets typically have less than a second of powered flight, then most of the ascent is just drifting upwards on a delay charge for a few seconds (during which you often lose sight of the rocket). Then hopefully you can see the parachute when it deploys. Streamers will have less drift than parachutes, although they may be harder to spot at deployment altitude. So often my rockets would get lost (if I were still flying rockets today I'd feel guilty about littering public spaces!) I don't know - if I were a kid today I think I'd have more fun flying RC airplanes or drones. Larger engines such as C6-5s or C6-7 do allow for a little bit longer flights. But I remember their powered phase being somewhat unpredictable. I don't remember ever seeing a C-engine maintaining a truly vertical trajectory, significant pitching in multiple directions.
@@takashitamagawa5881 I despise drones. I have tried flying RC airplanes. It got very expensive, because I crashed all of them. Fortunately you can now get GPS equipped RC airplanes that are much harder to crash. I have managed to get low power model rockets (A-D engines) past 3000 feet. I am now disabled and cannot walk very far. I launch my rockets in the AZ desert. I have a battery powered off road scooter so I can recover rockets that drift some distance. I have also started using locator beacons in them, to help me find them. I agree that simply building and launching rockets from a kit would get boring pretty fast. Actually designing and building the rockets myself, and watching them achieve what I built them to do is where the fun is. I have some serious design software, and have developed many new ways of building rockets compared to how it was done back in the '70s, but still using the same engines. I would love to get into mid power or even high power model rocketry, but it's just not in the budget.
I remember playing with these when I was younger. Now I have kids I want them to have some fun also. Do you know if there is a cheaper alternative to the Estes rockets? The starter kit is about $22 and the engines are $50 for 24, seems like you would launch a couple times per setting so you'll be out $50 in no time.
The launch set isn't Alpha 3 specific so it should work on the Estes launch set you already have. But if you want another launch set and already have the Alpha 3 there are always other Estes Starter sets I can recommend for you
This is what I used for this video. www.amazon.com/dp/B0054G6S38?tag=themodelrocke-20 But honestly, model rocket people will argue for hours and hours about the best kind of glue to use for different scenarios. Everyone has their favorite. At the end of the day creating a rocket using ANY glue is better than spending all your time trying the find the PERFECT glue and never getting around to building the rocket. Here's another piece on it. themodelrocket.com/best-glue-for-model-rockets-it-isnt-super-glue/
That’s the exact first rocket I had when I was 7. Same decals and everything. That was almost 29 years ago.
Dang, you old.
Dang, you **experienced**
This is awesome and just what I was looking for. Used your links, picked up the launch kit and a second rocket so my kid and I can build them together.
Awesome that's amazing thanks Chris!! Y'all are going to love this kit, thanks for helping us grow the channel!
Cool video! Think I going to get back into rocketry..... Great job!!
I flew my first Estes model rocket when I was 13 back in 1977. A lot of fun. Now I fly drones.
Basically this is just a toy set, made for kids ages 6-10. And for that purpose it works fairly well. I would probably recommend the original Alpha rocket kit. Yes it's a lot more difficult to build, and it needs to be painted. But if you are going to get into model rocketry, you should probably start learning how to build your own rockets and how to work with balsa wood. You will get tired of kits real quick.
You will not likely reach over 100' with an A engine, and will likely lose interest real quick. I recommend the C6-7. That will get your rocket up there high enough to impress you. You will need a wide open space to launch it, and I know those are getting harder and harder to find. Have some binoculars to keep track of the rocket as it comes down. A kid should be able to chase it down. Stay away from trees and power lines.
The best glue for model rockets is just plain old Elmers white glue.
Get a piece of 1/4" PVC plastic pipe and a couple of end caps. Cut a piece of the pipe a little longer than the sections of your launch rod, and use it as a case to store the launch rod in. That will keep it from getting bent or lost.
Get some fiberglass insulation to use as recovery wadding. It is 100 times cheaper than store bought recovery wadding, fireproof, and will protect your parachute jus as well as the super expensive stuff.
Totally agree. And at the same time, as a 30 year old it still makes me smile to see a kit launch into the sky.
@@themodelrocket220 I am about to turn 62, and got into model rocketry at age 12. I still enjoy it, but have gotten way past the plastic toy stuff. Unfortunately I am disabled and do not have a lot of income, so I am still pretty much stuck with low power (A-D engines) But I now design and build my own rockets, with my goal being altitude. Pretty much every rocket and every launch is an attempt to beat my last altitude record. I paint all my rockets white and fluorescent orange to make them easier to see. I built my own launch system out of steel and high grade parts. I have spent almost as much time designing and building launch systems as I have rockets. It's my way of enjoying model rocketry on a budget.
@@geraldscott4302 That's inspiring I love it!!
I had fun with Estes model rockets during late elementary school. But the fun wore off after two years or so. Small model rockets typically have less than a second of powered flight, then most of the ascent is just drifting upwards on a delay charge for a few seconds (during which you often lose sight of the rocket). Then hopefully you can see the parachute when it deploys. Streamers will have less drift than parachutes, although they may be harder to spot at deployment altitude. So often my rockets would get lost (if I were still flying rockets today I'd feel guilty about littering public spaces!) I don't know - if I were a kid today I think I'd have more fun flying RC airplanes or drones.
Larger engines such as C6-5s or C6-7 do allow for a little bit longer flights. But I remember their powered phase being somewhat unpredictable. I don't remember ever seeing a C-engine maintaining a truly vertical trajectory, significant pitching in multiple directions.
@@takashitamagawa5881 I despise drones. I have tried flying RC airplanes. It got very expensive, because I crashed all of them. Fortunately you can now get GPS equipped RC airplanes that are much harder to crash. I have managed to get low power model rockets (A-D engines) past 3000 feet. I am now disabled and cannot walk very far. I launch my rockets in the AZ desert. I have a battery powered off road scooter so I can recover rockets that drift some distance. I have also started using locator beacons in them, to help me find them. I agree that simply building and launching rockets from a kit would get boring pretty fast. Actually designing and building the rockets myself, and watching them achieve what I built them to do is where the fun is. I have some serious design software, and have developed many new ways of building rockets compared to how it was done back in the '70s, but still using the same engines.
I would love to get into mid power or even high power model rocketry, but it's just not in the budget.
Liked the video....great for me and my grandson. Thanks much!! Sure brings back memories.
If you like the Estes A8-3, try the Estes Mini Motor A10-3T with Estes 13mm to 18mm adapter. You get 1 more motor in a pack of 4 motors.
Cool. Wood glue isnt great for mostly plastic rockets. Might work.
Great video!
Its not the worst!!
How were you able to obtain archival footage of the Apollo 11 crew? 4:39
I was hoping you'd show it built and launch it at the end!
We have a full build video here! ruclips.net/video/LphTrRpqUWs/видео.html
But you better believe a launch/review video is in the works
What size rocket engines will this model take? What is the lowest powered engine and what is the most powerful please?
I remember playing with these when I was younger. Now I have kids I want them to have some fun also. Do you know if there is a cheaper alternative to the Estes rockets? The starter kit is about $22 and the engines are $50 for 24, seems like you would launch a couple times per setting so you'll be out $50 in no time.
2 years later but Estes is the cheapest of kits out there.
l have this rocket. we dint get the lanuch set we got the spreate pack we all ready have launch set that we got before.
l will plan to get the launch set for chirstmas
The launch set isn't Alpha 3 specific so it should work on the Estes launch set you already have. But if you want another launch set and already have the Alpha 3 there are always other Estes Starter sets I can recommend for you
I'm ready for lunch
NO, the Baby Bertha is the BEST for a beginner! 😁🙃🤪🤣
What brand wood glue
This is what I used for this video. www.amazon.com/dp/B0054G6S38?tag=themodelrocke-20
But honestly, model rocket people will argue for hours and hours about the best kind of glue to use for different scenarios. Everyone has their favorite. At the end of the day creating a rocket using ANY glue is better than spending all your time trying the find the PERFECT glue and never getting around to building the rocket. Here's another piece on it.
themodelrocket.com/best-glue-for-model-rockets-it-isnt-super-glue/
esss-teez
Pronouncement? Nah bro, Es-Tehz!!
🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🇺🇸🚀🚀🚀
🚀🔥💯🇺🇸
79th sub
Awesome!