Big Bertha with Bag
001948 - Big Bertha™-0
Big Bertha Straight
Big Bertha Slanted
Big Bertha Fire
Recovery System
Estes 1948 Big Bertha Parts
Big Bertha Launch

Big Bertha®

SKU: 001948
$29.99
Sale
Intermediate

The Big Bertha gives you a slow, realistic liftoff. What a thrill it is to watch! Propelled by powerful Estes standard model rocket engines, this beauty travels to 500 feet. In one afternoon your Bertha is ready for an exciting time at the launch field!

  • Recommended Engines: B4-2, B4-4, B6-2, B6-4, C6-5
  • Projected Max Altitude: 500 ft. (152 m)
  • Slow realistic liftoff
  • Large 18 in. parachute

Overview

Big Bertha is an Estes original! She's an all-around Estes favorite that has truly withstood the test of time. Over the decades, Big Bertha has been most modelers' first big build. If you've never flown a Bertha, get one and launch it. Once you've flown it, you'll take it to every launch! 

The Big Bertha gives you a slow, realistic liftoff. What a thrill it is to watch! Propelled by powerful standard Estes engines, this beauty travels to 500 feet and comes back to Earth with an 18 inch parachute. Quality Estes body tubes, laser cut wood fins, molded plastic nose cone and easy to apply waterslide decals makes this rocket kit a perfect companion for an afternoon of building enjoyment. The Big Bertha is guaranteed to impress even the savviest of rocketeers. 

What You Need to Fly

Estes Porta-Pad II Launch Pad and Electron Beam Launch Controller, Estes model rocket engines, starters and recovery wadding.
Four 1.5V high quality AA alkaline batteries (sold separately)

Technical Specifications

  • Recommended Engines

B4-2, B4-4, B6-2, B6-4, C6-5
  • Launch System

Porta-Pad II
  • Projected Max Altitude

500 ft. (152 m)
  • Recovery System

18 in. (45.7 cm) Parachute
  • Length

24 in. (61 cm)
  • Diameter

1.64 in. (42 mm)
  • Weight

2.5 oz. (70.9 g)
  • Fin Material

Laser Cut Balsa Wood

Needed to Build (sold separately)

Scissors, pencil, ruler, fine sandpaper, carpenter's glue, hobby knife, masking tape, primer (white) and paint (black, yellow).
This product recommended for children ages 10+ with adult supervision for those under 12, and rocketeers of all ages.

Customer Reviews

Based on 15 reviews
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(14)
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N
Nicholas Taliaferro
Launch countdown

I wish I could give a full review. My purchase is for a Thanksgiving project with my grandson. It arrived on time like they said. Well packaged and in great condition. Can't wait to build and launches.

R
Robert Kelsey
A classic clean design

I love the fact that Big Bertha has a family! I recently cleaned out my childhood house and came across a few totes in the attic pack full of my rocket collection from the late 70’s and 80’s. This old girl didn’t age well in that heat but it brought back a lot of great memories launching at the school sports fields. I bought the entire set to start up a new collection and start new memories with my new family.

O
Owen
One of my favorite rockets

Great rocket to build and launch. Construction is straightforward and beginner friendly, and launch is high-performance. The liftoff is slow, as advertised (That is, compared to other rockets) and the rocket has a stable flight. The yellow paint scheme looks great and is visible in the sky. I have launched it about 8-10 times by now, and most launches were successful. There was one launch when the parachute failed to deploy, and the rocket plummeted to the ground, but surprisingly, suffered no damage so I was able to launch it again. I built mine stock, but it can easily be modified to take 24mm or 29mm engines if you want it to go higher.