So you want to launch a model rocket but have never done so? It must be difficult, right? It is rocket science, after all…
Fortunately, there are kits today that make it as easy as just opening the box, loading in an engine and finding a safe place from where to fly. Of course, there are also beginner’s kits — some of which are profiled below — that include basic, step-by-step assembly instructions, adding to what many find fun and challenging about the model rocketry hobby.
Estes Rockets NASA SLS
So you are eager to get started and just want to skip to the launch — well, why not start with NASA’s next-generation heavy-lift rocket that will send the next astronauts to the moon?
Estes Industries has taken one of the most complex engineering challenges and simplified it to a scale model that practically anyone can fly. The SLS (Space Launch System) comes out of the box pre-assembled and pre-painted. In fact, it can double as a display model worthy of any office or space enthusiast’s room.
Pre-launch preparations are as easy as attaching the included transparent fins and loading the rocket with an Estes C6-3 engine (sold separately). You will also need a launch pad and controller, which can be used with most, if not all, of the rockets you will build and fly.
Estes Rockets Alpha III
Compatible with A, B and C-class engines, the Alpha III requires only glue and other common household tools (for example, scissors) to create a rocket that flies as high as 1,150 feet (350 meters). The body tube, nose cone and fins come in attractive black and orange colors and the set includes stickers to add to the decorations.
The Alpha III kit also introduces the basic assembly of the engine mount and recovery system (parachute) the will become the basis for many other more advanced rockets.
Estes’s Alpha III rocket sports a striking orange aesthetic along with a lightweight and slender design, which helps to create an awesome look as it soars through the air. It’s compatible with several Estes engines and would be great fun for any beginner getting into model rocketry.
Estes Rockets Journey Launch Set
If you want the simplicity of the Alpha III with an all-in-one out-of-the-box solution, the Journey is the set for you. Its high altitude, low weight and launch set make it a fun and engaging experience for beginners.
The kit not only includes a rocket designed for the beginner, with the same ease to build, but also the Porta-Pad II and Electron Beam Launch Controller, so you can launch as soon as you complete assembly! (Not included, but needed are engines, AA batteries, recovery wadding and starters, sold separately).
There’s no reason this wouldn’t be a good option for more experienced users, either, but with everything you need to launch, a maximum altitude of over 1000 feet and a striking aesthetic, this rocket is a top choice for beginners.
Estes Rockets Rascal & Hijinks Launch Set
This set takes the best of the ready-to-fly kits, doubles it to include two rockets and includes the launch pad from which to set them soaring! Pre-painted and with unique decals, the Rascal & HiJinks are perfect if you and a friend (or two siblings) want to share in the fun, or you just want the quick enjoyment of two launches in succession.
You still need the extras as identified with the Journey Launch Set, like the engines and recovery wadding, but there is no assembly required.
Just like the Journey Launch set, the Rascal and Hijinks set from Estes wouldn’t go amiss for more experienced flyers. But, you get a 2-in-1, it’s ready to launch, minus a couple of extras, and with a low weight and a cool look, it’s great fun and a top choice for beginners.
Stomp Rocket Ultra Rockets
Naturally, beginners include young kids and Stomp Rockets are ideal for little ones as they’re a great entry point into what model rockets can do.
Made of plastic and foam, and without the need for electronics, engines, explosives and any cords and sharp parts, kids can get their hands on and launch a colorful rocket up to 200 feet in the air.
It’s a great STEM kit and all it takes is for someone to stomp (or jump) on the pad, which will send a jet of air through a tube into the launch stand and propel the rocket up into the air. Of course, it’s aimed at younger kids and an adult looking to launch a model rocket would become bored with this fairly quickly, but it’s a great starting point for young ones and it’s safe for them to use.
National Geographic Power Rocket
Another top, safe-for-kids option, the National Geographic Power Rocket uses a motorized propeller to take off and simulate a launch, without the need for ignition or explosives.
There’s no hiding that this is better suited to kids rather than adults looking to take their first steps into model rocketry, but with three different modes, a maximum altitude of 200 feet and a rechargeable battery that will power 20 flights on a single charge, it’s hard to look past this rocket as a top option.
The real plus side of this rocket is that it simulates the excitement of a launch thanks to its motor; it’s made of safe materials, so kids can get hands-on and you don’t need recovery wadding as a secondary rotor extends out on descent, which allows it to return to the ground safely. It’s an inexpensive, safe and engaging way to get kids excited about model rocketry.