To the Moon Alice!

"To the Moon Alice!" Back in the day.....

Now we have Estes rockets to launch in hopes of reaching the clouds! Or even the moon!

Here's a little model rocket history...

"In the late 50's much of the world was captivated by the Space Race which was lead by the United States and Soviet Russia. As Russia launched the Sputnik satellite many amateurs rocketeers began to become interested in the hobby of model rocketry. Unfortunately, many people soon found out using homemade explosives with metals can be a deadly mix.
Along came G. Harry Stine and Orville Carisle, who founded the first model rocket company Model Missiles Incorporated in 1957. The company was unable to mass produce rocket engines, so they did what anyone would do, before the Internet, consulted a phone book. The first listing, in the Denver area, for fireworks was a family business called Estes. Vernon Estes, the son of the fireworks owner, took it upon himself to create a way to mass produce rocket engines. He later created a machine named "Mabel" which allowed workers to create a rocket engine in 5.5 seconds while only using compressed air. Later Model Missiles Inc. went out of business, leaving a large market for someone to conquer, that man was Vernon Estes.
Throughout the years Estes model rockets have continued to put out new and unique designs of many styles of model rockets. Estes helped create the Skill Level rating of rockets which helps rocket builders determine how difficult it is to assemble a certain rocket. Vernon Estes also helped the National Association of Rocketry create the Model Rocketry Safety Code which is a safety guideline for all rocketeers.
Mr. Estes has had an incredibly large impact on the model rocket world and continues to influence model rocketry. Over the years Estes model rockets have provided countless bulk items to schools and youth groups to continue the expansion of space travel. The impacts of Estes' decisions and business ventures have forever re-shaped the hobby of model rocketry."
http://www.321rockets.com

Boredom Busters

 Start planning your Pumpkin creation for our annual EPIC Pumpkin Carving contest! Carve or decorate a pumpkin and bring it to Durango Toy Depot on Saturday October 25 to enter to win a 2 minute toy shopping spree!

Details: http://durangotoydepot.com/events/

 Build and launch a rocket!

Whoa! Choose a kit and build a

model rocket that you can launch 

and have it return to earth! 

Choose from many of our Estes rocket kits!

Meet Wrigley! 

He's another Denver Broncos fan!

Do you have your gear to show 

your team colors?

Did Ya Know?

Do ya know how model rockets fly?

Rockets are always awesome to launch and watch fly into the air, but how do they work? In a very basic form, a rocket is just a tube of pressurized gas, and that pressure has to find a way to escape. The pressure comes from the engine which is a smaller tube inside f the rocket that contains a mix of chemicals to explode out of the rocket. When the pressure escapes from the bottom of the rocket, it is propelled upward until the engine runs out of fuel. Even after the engine is out of fuel, the rocket will still coast upwards. When it starts to fall to the ground, the recovery system will deploy and make sure that the racket makes it back to the ground safely. 

• Nose Cone - the conical head of rocket which reduces drag.
• Payload - the part of the rocket which is empty and can hold anything.
• Body Tube - the middle part of the rocket.
• Recovery System - the system which triggers the parachute and allows the rocket to come back to the Earth at a slow speed.
• Launch Lug - the lug which allows the launch rod to hold the rocket straight while it is placed on the launch pad for lift-off.
• Recovery Wadding - the protective covering which protects the recovery system from being burnt by the engine.
• Fins - the wings at the bottom of the rocket that balance and provide stability to the rocket during flight.
• Engine Mount - the part that holds the engine firmly in place.

Come into the store today to see what kind of rockets you can build! Then you can see firsthand how rockets work!

Did Ya Know?

Did Ya Know......

Estes rockets were founded in Denver?

Yup, right here in our home state. 

Yup, just over the pass on the front range.

"Estes Industries was founded in 1958 in Denver, Colorado. Vern Estes developed a machine that mass-produced solid propellant model rocket engines.

This invention gave people a consistent and reliable way to launch model rockets. Later, the company branched out into the mass production of balsa nose cones and adapters for model rockets. Estes® began selling model rockets by mail in 1960.

The company was moved in 1961 to a 77-acre tract of land on the outskirts of Penrose, Colorado. Rapid growth followed and soon Penrose became known as the “Model Rocket Capital of the World”. Estes Industries has grown to be the leading manufacturer of model rocket kits, engines and accessories in the world. COX® joined the Estes family of products in 1996.

For over 50 years, COX has been the choice of millions of families getting started in model airplane flying. COX products are designed for first time users who want the best start to a flying adventure and for more advanced fliers. Experience the magic of flying with COX Free Flying, Control Line or Radio Control aircraft. In January 2010, the Estes-Cox Corporation was purchased by Hobbico, a 100% Employee-Owned Corporation based in Champaign, Illinois, and will continue operations in Penrose, Colorado.

Industry leaders in their fields, Estes and COX will continue to turn kids and adults on to flight with innovative new products that will go FASTER, FURTHER AND HIGHER."