Estes Astro-Launch controller
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The Astro-Launch controller appeared in the 64 catalog..and it was high on my want list. I recently acquired some NOS/OEM switches and pilot lights that were used by Estes/Centuri in their controllers. So, here's my attempt at recreating that siren call of the early 60's. I have never seen a real one, but I'm guessing it came out of the "wood shop". Centuri EP-612 not quite finished.
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Those both look great.
I love those black crinkle-finish cases. |
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On the subject of Estes launch controllers, here's another early one. We bought it so we could launch using the car battery. The D-cells were always dead in the Electro Launch pad/controller combo that came with our starter set, so we added this setup some time later around 1970 or 71.
Doug . |
I never got much use out of my Electro-Launch pad. I just never seemed to have enough extra money to buy batteries for it. All cash was earmarked for parts and motors.
We eventually built our own controllers to use with a car battery. If we rode our bikes to go fly at rockets, it was Jetex fuse to light the motors. |
John - nice work!
Lee and others: The Electro-Launch works just beautifully wth 4 modern alkaline D-cells in it (as long as you can give it a flat place to sit). I picked up two of them off of eBay a few years ago and completed the one (it had never been finished and it launched its first rocket in its 49th year) and refurbished the second and I bring them out for the "classics" themed September club launch each year (and occasionally at other times). I also bring out one of those Launch Control Systems (Doug's post) and an Astron system (the Launch Control System's successor). We use the latter with my original Tilt-a-pad and an early Porta-Pad (also an eBay acquisition). I think this year I'll add in one of the R2D2-shaped launch controllers that came with the Star Wars sets in the 1990s. I sometimes aspire to the controller John has cloned but haven't worked up what it would take to do that (or a wood-cased Electro-Launch). |
If someone made a "wood Electro Launch and controller" kit, maybe from laser cut bits, I'd buy it.
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Wood Electro-Launch
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With a lot of help from Vern, Ted Mahler and the MOF I was able to come up with a pretty good replica, throw in the Scout and you have the 1963 starter kit.
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But do you have the vintage pre-metric motors that would have been supplied at the time? ;)
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Quote:
Doug . |
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Not sure what year they made the the change, 1967 catalog shows only lb-sec. That would be my earliest motors. I don't believe "Mabel 2" came online until fall of that year...so I'm hoping these are some of "Mabel 1's" offerings.
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