Estes 1469 Tandem X Rocket-Building Kit, Beginner Flying-Rocket Model Kit for Ages 10+, Includes Launch Pad and Controller

The Estes 1469 Tandem X Rocket Launch Set has been an absolute hit for my son and his grandfather! This prebuilt beginner rocket set is perfect for bonding over a fun STEM activity. The set comes with everything needed, including a launch pad system, making it easy to set up and use right out of the box. The rockets are well-made and durable, with simple assembly that’s perfect for beginners. Watching them launch is thrilling, and it’s so exciting to see kids (and adults!) learn about aerodynamics and basic physics in a hands-on way. The instructions are clear and easy to follow, which made the experience smooth and enjoyable for both generations. This set provides hours of educational entertainment and is a wonderful way to encourage curiosity, learning, and family time outdoors. It’s suitable for ages 10+, but adults will enjoy it just as much as the kids.

Part of the reason I give this product 5 stars is nostalgia. As a kid I built and flew model rockets just like these. But I couldn’t afford the cool launch pad and rod, so I used a block of wood and a coat-hanger that I had laboriously straightened. Worked great, and tons of fun! The other part of the 5 star review is heart strings. These many years later when, my 8 yo son sat on Santa’s lap, the rotund old elf asked him what one present he would like to get from Santa. My son looked a little nonplussed to have to come up with ONE thing, but he gamely said, “I’d like a model rocket, just like my dad had when he was a kid.” Seriously? There was zero chance he wasn’t getting this for Christmas! A few folks have given this set less than stellar reviews, mostly based on misunderstanding what they were getting. Model rockets are not toys and they are not preassembled. Model rockets are actual functional rockets. They require basic model building skills (measuring, cutting, gluing, and painting), and they require engines to launch. This is not a negative, part of the joy of this hobby comes with the building. Here is a list of basic items you’ll need in addition to this kit to build and fly your rockets: 1) Good quality white glue 2) Plastic cement (the stinky kind) Cement Glue Value Pack Testors 2-7/8 fl oz tubes 3) Paint. Spray paint works well for solid colors, but enamel paint is great for detailing Testors Promotional Enamel Paint Set 4) Brushes Testors Nylon Paint Brush, Set of 3 5) Masking tape 6) Fine sand paper 7) Razor knife 8) 4 AA batteries 9) Fire resistant wadding Estes 2274 Recovery Wadding 10) 2 sets of engines As model rockets go, these are actually very easy to assemble. Fins are usually the hardest part because you really have to be perfect in their alignment, but not on these rockets. The larger “Amazon” rocket has an injection molded fin assembly that just needs to be glued into the body tube. The smaller “Crossfire” rocket has balsa wood fins (*sniff* just like the old days), except these have been laser pre-cut for you. Even the body tube is pre-cut to accept the fins. Hard to go wrong. Quick primer on engines. They mostly come in 3-packs. Each engine is single use, then dispose of. They are real rocket engines and they burn pre-loaded solid fuel. The designation (example C6-5) tells you everything you need to know about the engine thrust profile. “B” engines are twice as powerful as “A” engines, and are half as powerful as “C” engines. The first number gives the average thrust (bigger is faster), and second number gives the delay in seconds before the ejection charge pops the chute. Engines come with the required igniters, but not the wadding. The flame resistant wadding protects the plastic chute from the heat of the ejection charge. Forget the wadding and your chute may melt, or even burn; not a useful recovery strategy! In a pinch you can get away with just using a regular tissue; it might smoke a bit as it falls, but will extinguish before reaching the ground. As a responsible adult trying to set a good example for my child, I bought the flame resistant stuff. I used B4-2 engines in the Crossfire rocket, and C6-7 engines in the Amazon rocket. The B4-2s were perfect, but the C6-7s have too long a delay and gave us a heart attack as the Amazon rocket turned over and looked like it planned to become a lawn-dart - before the chute eventually deployed! C6-5s would be a better choice here. My son loved launching these rockets! He was ecstatic when he almost caught the Crossfire rocket in mid-air as it was returning to earth. A video of his very first launch is attached. This little father/son rocket set is most highly recommended. Edit: I changed my title to make it clear that this is NOT a boy's toy, it is not scary, and it is not rough and tough. Any kid with an interest in engineering, or science, or just going fast and high, would probably love this product. Edit2: Youtube video of my son showing his mom how to use the launch controller and launch her very first rocket. Very exciting for the whole family! https://youtu.be/YOO3cI2NWvM

Got this set for my son's 12 birthday. Thought it would be a fun project together. We decided to do the smaller white one first and started a Saturday afternoon. An hour into it he lost interest and I grow a bit frustrated with the slow process. Between the instructions and the little fragile balsa parts, cardboard tubes, straws and cutting just the right cuts and making sure everything is placed correctly, it was a 3+ hour project. The next day we spend another 1-2 hours on the paint and decals and where finally ready for the fun part. It worked great, but a word of caution, start with an A or B engine with a short burn, unless you have unlimited space. We started small and everything was fine, but on the 3 or 4th flight we got a bit bolder and tried a more power engine with a longer burn. It blasted out of sight and we didn't see it until the parachute opened. Even with a very light wind it still ended up +1/2 mile away in a different neighborhood (best estimate as we never found it). Fast forward 6 weeks. During the summer vacation, my son felt ready to try to build one himself. Less than two hours later he had the bigger black rocket completed and ready to launch. The difference is that the bigger rocket consists of just a few plastic pieces that are simple to glue together and they fit nicely and intuitively. Even the engine mount is simple and easy to operate. He had a great time building it and was proud to have done it himself. We went to fire it and it flew and work well. Again, the difference between the engines is surprisingly big. The smaller A engine was barely able to lift the larger rocket. The B engine worked well, but, of course, we had to try the larger C engine. Same result as the first rocket. Great flight but it went so high and came down so slow that we never recovered it (even a very light wind will carry it far!) So, the headline is also the bottomline. The little rocket is great if you really enjoy the building process itself and the intricate work. The larger is great if you want to fire rockets. My son actually build a second of the larger rockets and did it, by himself, in less than 45 minutes the second time around.

Product was excellent but packing was not good

Great kit to start with

Bon mes vraiment dure à construite!

NICE ROCKET EASY TO PUT IT TOGHETER KIDS LOVE IT AND I LIKE IT TOO

This turned out to be the best gift. Going to be a whole family affair. Dad, brother, uncles and cousins are all scheduling time to enjoy. Plus they all jumped in to get their own so they can compete. Never seen a group of grown men and teenagers so excited!