Well, it surely Has changed with the times. I’m not sure I like the looks, especially the chute eye on top. But, the technology seems good. I agree with the black with yellow yellow stripes !! But then,,, I’m old school.....

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ENGINE COSTS ARE " OUT OF SIGHT " .....

The Rocket Science Starter Set has been much more widely available lately....but you are right, I haven’t seen motors stocked separately at Target since they carried a few RTFs a number of years ago. So once you use the two (Astrocam) or three (RSSS) in the box, one will need to go somewhere else.

In my area Fred Meyer carries motors (along with a couple of launch sets and the RSSS) at full list price. Hobby Lobby is a much better alternative for motors.

The Target web site says “limited availability” for the Astrocam at my closest store but I really do have the urge to go over there and look....even though I need another PortaPad II and Electron Beam like I need a hole in my head.

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Bernard Cawley
NAR 89040 L1 - Life Member
SAM 0061
AMA 42160
KG7AIE

It looks like the camera is self contained. You could make a custom shroud for it, or just tape it to whatever rocket you want.

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I love sanding.

Yes, the camera is just the black piece with a usb plug on the end (which goes into the aeroshroud on the nose cone). A rubber band stretches across the camera to hold it in place.

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Roy
nar12605

yep, in 2015 they cleared all their motors out, and I got about 20 packs of B6 and C6 for anywhere from 2.99 - 4.99 (the stores weren't consistent with their clearance pricing)

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Roy
nar12605

There’s no Targets in my area. Online search found several Astrocams, but none ship. I can wait.... more important kits I’m looking for. Still, I want one.

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ENGINE COSTS ARE " OUT OF SIGHT " .....

I did that two different times at our Walmart. I got tons of A10's and C6's, among other types. I ended up with their display boxes too. Many were 50 cents a pack.

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I love sanding.

This happened to me at a local Hobby Lobby. Found lots of D12 s @ 2.99 per 3 pk....

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ENGINE COSTS ARE " OUT OF SIGHT " .....

Hopefully Estes will offer either the cam or the rocket as a stand-alone item - Bill Stine said something to that effect during the webinar but it won’t be until later in 2021. The most intriguing thing about the cam to me is the weight - less than 8 grams - that should fly well on a bunch of different size rockets. That and the fact that Estes made another deal with a large, mainstream retailer to carry their stuff - should be another step in the right direction, ensuring Estes long-term viability.

And related to THAT, I see on target.com that the Rocket Science Starter Set has been revised. It now includes a "mini AltiTrak" rather than the paper tube/cardstock cutout thing one had to make up. It also is now $10 less expensive (at least at Target) than it used to be. They did reduce it to two motors rather than three.

It's interesting that just yesterday I saw the prior version of the Rocket Science Starter set at Fred Meyer (a regional chain owned by Kroger) at the $40 price. This set was, originally, a Target-only item.



I suppose at some point we should wander back to the 1/100 Saturn IB.....

__________________
Bernard Cawley
NAR 89040 L1 - Life Member
SAM 0061
AMA 42160
KG7AIE