Hello!

[Druid]

Hey there,

Well, this is my first post here. I was really glad to discover this forum!

Name is Mike. I'm 42 and a kid at heart. A few weeks ago that inner teen in me got me thinking about rockets, and I'm back into it! I never built anything really big, but built a few in my day.

I've been purchasing a few kits here and there, when my wife reminded me about "the box" hidden downstairs. Imagine my joy when I actually found it, and inside were rockets I had TOTALLY forgotten about! Some need a fin glued back on, and a tube has a ding, but nothing big. In any case, I'm looking forward to getting out there and introducing my 4 and 5 year old daughters to this obsession....er, hobby :)

Anyway, here is a list of rockets I found today, all built:
- Calypso (excellent shape)
- Tornado (excellent shape)
- 3 more that I have no idea about

All are Estes (I think) and all were built in the early/mid 80s...or maybe late 80s/early 90s (I built a few while stationed in the Army).

Anyway, I'll post some pics when I get a chance, and let you folks ID them.

I'll be around again, with plenty of questions I'm sure!

[dwmzmm]

Welcome! You're gonna love it here. Feel free to ask any questions you may have. We have
plenty of long time model rocketeers who are more than willing to help.

[James Pierson]

Welcome to our forum Druid. We all here will be happy to answer any of your question as you get back into the hobby of model rocketry. Already sounds like you have some vintage kits in your stockpile to start collecting and/ or building. I look forward to see what else you have and hope to identify them. If I cannot other surely can, rest assured :D . JP

Once again, Welcome.

James Pierson
NAR# 77907

[cas2047]

Welcome Druid! It's funny how many of us BAR's start out with a first post very similar to yours. :)

You found THE best place anywhere to talk rockets. I've learned more here since joining than I could possibly have imagined.

Just a couple of years ago I was just getting back into the hobby as a BAR and today about an hour ago I put the finishing touches on an Estes #2001 Saturn V with a removable triple 24mm engine mount. I was able to do it thanks in large part to information and tips I was able to gather from the folks right here on this forum.

[CPMcGraw]

...Well, this is my first post here. I was really glad to discover this forum!

Name is Mike. I'm 42 and a kid at heart...I'll be around again, with plenty of questions I'm sure!...

Welcome to the asylum, Mike. You're going to feel right at home here. :D

Estes was the big name for many of us, myself included; while Centuri was the only name to go with for others. You'll find on this forum that we're builders as much as we are flyers, and a few of us are regular designers of new stuff in the old style.

Be sure to check out our "Favorite Links" for a treasure trove to drool over:

Ninfinger files (http://www.ninfinger.org/~sven/rockets/rockets.html)
Balsa Machining Service (http://www.balsamachining.com)
JimZ (http://www.dars.org/jimz/rp00.htm)
Ye Olde Rocket Plans (http://plans.rocketshoppe.com)
SEMROC Astronautics (http://www.semroc.com/Store/Scripts/default.asp)

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

I've been purchasing a few kits here and there, when my wife reminded me about "the box" hidden downstairs. Imagine my joy when I actually found it, and inside were rockets I had TOTALLY forgotten about!

I found my "box" when I was cleaning the basement in the old house. I always wondered what had happened to the Estes Little Joe that I had started around the time I got married, but never thought it could still be around. It was. Also in the box was one of the rockets (an Estes Hornet,) that my wife bought me for Christmas when she and my sister in law cleaned out a hobby shop that was closing in Arlington, Texas. I've yet to finish either of them. :o

[Druid]

Hey, thanks for the warm welcome :)

I'll try to post a pic here, see if it works. Th ese are the rockets I found. Thinking back, I think these were built in the late 80s, but no later than 1992 (that's when I met my wife :rolleyes: ). Some might have been built in the mid-80s, too. Anyway, if you know what they are, go ahead and let me know!

I'm currently going to build a Wizard and Alpha, just to get back into it. I also have a Redstone kit sitting on the shelf that I might have a go at, time permitting. But I like the older models, and like to fly them.

Anyway, on to the pic....hope it isn't TOO big! The Calypso is about 16" tall, while the Tornado is about 9.5" tall... Perhaps not the prettiest things...my paint jobs (and repair jobs!) needed some work!

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/rustsleeps/rockets.jpg

[pantherjon]

Welcome to YORF Mike! You will find this is a cornacopia of information indeed! I too, am a BAR-Born Again Rocketeer! I got re-introduced into model rocketry after watching a program on satellite(can't recall, Discovery or TLC) called 'Wild Rockets'..Got back into rockets about mid-February, and like you began buying kits 'here and there'..Have built quite a few as well, tho not launched as many as I would like to.. :o

And so, since February here is my fleet..From zero to this! :D

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t21/Pantherjon/Fleet007.jpg

A couple more links for you to check out as well:

Jon Rocket (http://jonrocket.com/index.html)

Fliskits (http://fliskits.com/index.htm)

Again welcome to the nuthouse...umm, I mean freindly grounds of YORF! :D

[K.M.Knox]

I just got here myself, hello to Mike and to everyone else. I got the bug back a couple of months ago when a Alpha III starter set somehow made its way up to the cabin and my nephew and I were doing some launches.

One of those things, you feel like you are missing something and then wham that is what I am missing. I missed the building and construction parts. Spending the time on a kit to get it just right, and then to see it roar off the pad, or not. I can't say they always roared off the pad I guess.

I dug out the 'box' and found a few from the mid 90's: Maniac, Aim-9 Sidewinder, The Shadow, Skywinder, Shellshocked, Prowler, Firebird, NCR SA-14 Archer XL, & a Aerotech Initiator with a 19" extension.

I have since added a Estes 36 D Squared and Gauchito. I plan to get back into the swing of things with the X-Prize kits, except for the Spaceship One E kit, sounds like that one is not very good.

[maricopasem]

Here's the ID on one of your rockets: Estes Exocet (1925).

And welcome.

[jbuscaglia]

Here's the ID on one of your rockets: Estes Exocet (1925).

And welcome.

It's an Exocet alright, but it looks to be the one from the Mini Scale Combo Pack. It looks like the IQSY Tomahawk from the same pack is standing next to it.

[Ltvscout]

Here's the ID on one of your rockets: Estes Exocet (1925).

And welcome.
No, the #1925 Exocet is almost 2ft tall. The rocket in the picture is less than 12".

[Ltvscout]

No, the #1925 Exocet is almost 2ft tall. The rocket in the picture is less than 12".
I just read John's reply. He's correct, it's the mini-version that was packaged with the mini Tomahawk which is also in that picture.

[maricopasem]

I'm just happy I recognized it. :o

[Ltvscout]

I'm just happy I recognized it. :o
You got the correct missile! ;)

[Druid]

It's an Exocet alright, but it looks to be the one from the Mini Scale Combo Pack. It looks like the IQSY Tomahawk from the same pack is standing next to it.

Ah, that's it! I remember buying that "two for one" thing way back...

The only one I'm not sure about is the blue with black fins (on the left). I just don't remember, and the fin shape is kind of unique.

Well, I have 5 kits to make now, so that's what I'll be doing in the weeks to come. Will post more pics when they are done. Workin' my way up to the Mercury Redstone :)

Thanks for the IDs, folks!

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

Is the first one an Alpha with the fins on backward?

[dwmzmm]

Is the first one an Alpha with the fins on backward?

The first one looks more like the Estes Skyhook to me; and I thought the larger one in the
middle was the Estes Drifter (was one of my favorites back in the early days before I lost
it somehow; will have to build me another with the spare parts already on hand!)....

[Druid]

Is the first one an Alpha with the fins on backward?

LOL, I'm not gonna say it ain't!

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

LOL, I'm not gonna say it ain't!

AHA! The fisheye is 20/20. :D :cool:
I think there's someone on here that's a fan of that "design". I seem to remember a thread from a long time ago that concerned this very subject.