In an age where parents routinely bubble wrap their children for safety, the embracement of model rocketry is certainly an entertaining lunatic fringe anachronism worthy of your parent's health insurance. In previous reviews I have mentioned my childhood fondness for "dangerous toys," so you can imagine my elation when I could spend many an after school playtime shoving a quarter stick of dynamite in a cardboard tube and blasting it into space. By leaps and bounds, Estes Industries made the best -- from relatively simple ready to fly models to far more complex multi-stage Apollo Saturn V rockets, Estes products were remarkably detailed and included many with cameras and locators. Most were hand-ignited with a fuse since the entire hobby was cool and frankly, when it came to safety, we didn't know what we didn't know. Before ATM's we only had dad who never really understood why the engines cost so damn much. But hey daddy-O explosives are expensive. For that matter, so is bubble wrap. T-minus five stars and two hours to the next launch. Remember to bring matches and your BB gun. read more

See all

I have loved their products since childhood. I wish they would bring back great designs such as the Gemini DC.

Growing up in the era of space exploration, you can't help but be inspired by the exploits of John Glenn, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and not to mention Robert Goddard and Werner Von Braun. So on the back of comic books were always advertisements for model rockets from Estes Industries in faraway Penrose, Colorado, where you can order your own rockets to build and fly. https://i.pinimg.com/736x/9e/f1/ef/9ef1ef7fb78cb51fe4ac688b43bc3bfc--vintage-ads-comic-books.jpg This growing hobby of the latter 20th century served to transform many 12 year old's dreams to become scientists, engineers and astronauts into the 21st century. Maybe Elon Musk started this way also? It certainly did for me. Before the internet and even fax machines, we would receive the annual full color catalogs by snail mail, fill out the paper order forms, lick a stamp on it and wait 3-4 weeks for our order to arrive. Amazon Prime? Ha! It just goes to the longevity of the hobby that you can still order rockets over the internet, though it seems fewer and fewer kids are interested anymore. It's surprising that you can still buy them from Toys 'R Us and Target. The rocket kits themselves are mainly paper, balsa wood and plastic. Add imagination into the mix (plus a class C explosive engine) and you have a deep space exploration mission or a science-fiction intergalactic war. The difference between fireworks and model rocketry is that the former explodes and the latter flies and returns. Model rockets are designed to be launched 500-1500ft and safely return (usually by parachute) to be flown again and again (with replaceable engines). It also teaches basic physics, chemistry and engineering if you have a little bourgeoning scientist or astronaut in grade school. If you're creative, you can even design and build your own rockets and are only limited by your imagination (and the laws of physics). What's a kid in NYC doing with rockets you say? Back in the day, we would go out to Flushing Meadow Park or Cunningham Park in Queens to launch our rockets and no one would say boo. I've lost quite a few rockets to stray wind gusts, trees and malfunctioning parachutes over the years. These days, finding a wide open area to launch is a challenge, especially with security restrictions as they are. But we'll still try even if we have to truck out to NJ or CT to colonize Mars or save the princess and destroy the Death Star! read more

See all