Estes unveils a brand-new fly-and-display model rocket, the SpaceX Falcon 9.
Just like the real vehicle on which it is based, a new model rocket is ready to launch and land. The Estes Industries' SpaceX Falcon 9 with Crew Dragon can lift off high into the sky or touch down on your desktop for display. The latest model in the company's scale series of historic boosters, the Falcon 9 is already one of the most anticipated rockets in Estes' 60-year history. Brennan Johnson, Estes' product development manager, said in an interview that it has been a highly-sought product for a long time. The numbers are going to be better than some of the other products we have launched. "No pun intended," said the Estes' vice president and general manager.
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We're expecting to sell out. Standing more than two feet tall. (25.63 inches or 65.1cm) The 1: 100 scale Falcon 9 comes pre-finished, so no painting or decals are needed. The Crew Dragon is separate from the first and second stages. The rocket you've been waiting for is Falcon 9. There isEnlarge in pop-up window. The grid fins and landing legs that enable the first stage to land and be reused are static on Estes' version, though not for a lack of trying. "That was one of the things that we looked at early on, for a mechanical deployment of the legs," said Johnson.
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Due to their nature, we had a feeling that those would snap off a lot on recovery, which leads to a bad customer experience. One of the details that definitely got a lot of thought but didn't make it to the final cut was that. Estes considered what it would take to recreate the",There are certain cost factors involved that are limiting in what we can do, but yes, if there were unlimited funds and people wanted to spend unlimited money, it would be amazing." Even with a powered landing ruled out, recreating the Falcon 9 was not as simple as just shrinking down the real thing. In addition to finding the right balance between a static display and a flying replica, there were proprietary concerns to take into account.
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Johnson told that this one was more challenging than previous ones. "We had to do a lot of work to make sure we kept the aerodynamics the way we needed them for it to be a stable model rocket as well as have enough power to get it off the pad and provide a good customer experience on the flights." A metal rod runs from the inside of the rocket to the included stand when the cap is configured for display. The display and nozzle cap are removed for flight and either a C5-3 or C6-3 model rocket engine is put in their place. There are transparent fins that slide onto the base to support the rocket's ascent. A similar approach is used with Estes' other scale models. The presentation box that the Falcon 9 ships to is almost as nice as the model inside. Everybody loves the box. They will never throw it away. There is a diagram of the rocket in the hand-painted art.
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Everyone lights up when they see it. The Estes' SpaceX Falcon 9 with Crew Dragon retails for $149.99, It can be found on Estes' website and on the online shop of SpaceX. readers can save 10 percent when they order the Falcon 9 from Estes' website. There is a model rocket ready to fly or land on a desktop display. The Crew Dragon separates the booster from the rocket when it is launched. Estes' model rocket features molded landing legs and a display cap with nine engine nozzles. Estes Industries' SpaceX Falcon 9 with Crew Dragon model rocket can fly upwards of 300 feet (91 m) high and descend back to the ground for reuse and display with an 18-inch (45- cm) parachute.
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