Some rockets are more than kits—they’re touchstones. For veteran rocketeers who grew up with Centuri and Estes, few silhouettes spark more instant recognition than the Centuri Laser-X. With Laser X2, we invited one of model rocketry’s true pioneers, Lee Piester, to revisit his classic design and answer a simple question: How would you do it today?
A lineage of icons—and a living legend
Model rocketry has a handful of foundational figures. Vern Estes. G. Harry Stine. And Lee Piester, who founded Centuri in 1962 after turning his Arizona State University senior thesis into a working business plan. Centuri’s rivalry with Estes in the ’60s pushed both companies to innovate—technically and visually—helping define the look and feel of the hobby.
The original Laser-X (#KC-50) landed in the 1969 Centuri catalog—right alongside humanity’s first steps on the Moon. It stood out because it looked forward: not just a tube with fins and a nose cone, but a futuristic probe with attitude.
Back to the archives (and the drawing board)
Before we launched the X2, we went hunting for history. Our archives lead, Abby, pulled an original built Laser-X and its period appropriate box from the Estes collection. Side-by-side with our new build, the differences—and the shared DNA—tell a powerful story. Our art director, Jeremy studied that 1969 art and paid intentional homage in the Laser X2 package: bold shapes, purposeful typography, and that optimistic “next-decade” energy.
Two prototypes, one eye for the lines
Years before this release, Estes’ general manager, Bill Stine, approached Lee about contributing to our Designer Signature Series. Lee finally dove in during the summer of 2023 and, by September, had two flying prototypes—both fabricated from original Centuri body tubes and nose cones he’d saved in his shop.
- Prototype A: smaller fin area to offset potential tail weight.
- Prototype B: larger fin planform—more visual authority.
At a Phoenix-area park, both flew beautifully. In the end, we chose the larger fins. Why? Lee’s eye for flow. The proportions simply looked right—sleek, purposeful, unmistakably Laser-X.
Modernizing the build—without losing the soul
Lee’s redesign focused on honoring the look while simplifying tricky 1960s build steps that once challenged even experienced modelers:
- Plastic transition (new): The original used a formed paper shroud between tube diameters—a rite of passage, sure, but finicky to form and fit. The Laser X2 uses a precision-molded transition for a clean, repeatable result.
- Molded boat tail (new): The vintage kit’s decorative tail was a multi-piece balsa assembly around the motor tube—cool, but tricky. Laser X2 integrates a molded boat tail with the detail Lee loves and the durability builders want.
- Molded “laser” fin tips (new): Toothpicks on the original looked great—until landings. Laser X2 replaces them with crisp molded tips that keep the silhouette intact flight after flight.
- Signature scheme (new): Lee’s favorite combo—orange/black—gives the design a confident, modern stance while nodding to its Centuri heritage.
A return to the launch pad
One of our favorite moments from this project was watching Lee prep and fly a model rocket for the first time in over 20 years. From wadding to starter installation, he walked us through and narrated the process he helped pioneer. That process remains foundational to what we all follow every time we fly.
From greenlight to production
In May 2024, Lee visited Estes to review our first integrated prototype with all the new features. He signed off on the design, and our product development team finalized the mold drawings to lock Laser X2 into the 2025 release schedule. The result is exactly what we hoped for: a model that flies like a dream, builds cleanly, and looks every bit the futuristic probe that captured imaginations in 1969.
Why Designer Signature Series?
The Designer Signature Series is our way of letting pioneers tell their own stories—with hardware to match. These aren’t mere reissues; they’re re-imaginations by the original designers, equipped with the materials and manufacturing we wish we’d had then. Laser X2 is the latest chapter—and a very personal one for Lee.
Put history (re-imagined) in your hands
Ready to build the future as it was dreamed in 1969? Click here to order yours today!
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