Designers: Michael Poss & John Simmance

Production Years: 1971-1974

Retail Pricing Range: $3.00-$3.50

Rarity: Moderately Rare

Description: Facecard is typical double panel design paired with yellow double oval hangtag. The upper facecard panel is brown color with overlaid static Sandhawk rocket in white, gray and black colors. Pricing ($3.25) is white letters contained within a black oval. The kit name is shown with white letters. The lower panel provides kit number, kit specifications and engine recommendations. Interestingly, the 1972 and 1973 Estes catalogs list the Sandhawk price at $3.00 after a debut pricing of $3.25 in the 1971 catalog. Are there K51 kits with two panel facecards with $3.00 printed in the pricing oval to match the pricing in the 1972 and 1973 catalogs? Collectors should check this possibility.

The Sandhawk is a well detailed semi-scale model (1/10th scale) based on injection modeled plastic nose cone, fins and payload section. Since the kit's inception, Estes offered a replacement plastic parts kit in all catalogs. Recovery is via dual parachutes for payload and main body. The Sandhawk is basically a 24mm D engine powered model but can be flown on 18mm engines with Estes' EM2050 adapter.

The K51 kit features plastic nose cone, fins and payload stage, a paper main body tube, one balsa sheets, 24mm engine mounting system, 18"and 12" parachutes, launch lug and instructions.

Additional information can be found at the following links;

JimZ Kit Plan Link: Estes K-51

Specifications: Length (30.1 in), Weight (5.0 oz), Diameter (1.325 in)

Recommended 24 mm Engine: D12-5

With EM2050 Adaptor: B4-2, C6-3 but B4-2 would be quite under powered for a 5.0 oz model

Estes Catalog Artwork

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