Ye Olde Rocket Forum

Ye Olde Rocket Forum (http://www.oldrocketforum.com/index.php)
-   Plans & Publications (http://www.oldrocketforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=4)
-   -   What happened to AmRocs? Anybody know? (http://www.oldrocketforum.com/showthread.php?t=16603)

CarlosMc 04-25-2017 08:58 PM

What happened to AmRocs? Anybody know?
 
Way back in the 60's, I got my hands on an AmRocs catalog. Soon after I ordered the Omega 123, a three stage rocket, unlike other three stage rockets of that era, because the fins of all the stages lined up. I didn't know the secret to line up and glue the fins perfectly in line but I came close enough.

Years later I became a BAR and my rebirth had me scratch build models inspired by television shows of my youth, Space Ranger, and one that I missed, Fireball XL-5. After building and launching my version of the Orbit Jet, and the afore mentioned Firball, I chose a less challenging model, the Omega 123. I still have trouble lining up the fins and gluing them one behind the other. I have built 3 versions of Omega, none of which were exactly like the original of my youth. And none have yet perfectly aligned fins.

The original Omega123 was a BT-20 about 18" tall. My 2014 version was about the same hgt. but fatter using a BT-50, because my older fatter fingers can't seem to manage parachutes in BT-20 tubes. The original had a hardwood nose cone, mine was balsa, that I turned myself. I immediately followed that with a near exact copy of that one but with a plastic nose one I borrowed from a Quest Viper. I lost it on its maiden flight.

It was about that time I discovered E motors. I made another replica of my 2014 model but made to accommodate E motors. The only change was lengthening the booster tube and expanding the fin width and length. In the process of building this E version, I cannibalized the third stage fins, as it had been lost for several days, and it had rained, and removing the engine proved much to stressful on the body tube.

The reason I tell you all this is because I really like that particular model and want to know what became of AmRocs? I had an accelerometer from them that I think I launched once as a kid with inconclusive results. I just finished a replica of that too, waiting to fly it. My iPhone is far superior an instrument, but: a), it won't fit in the Omega b), though it is more informative, I can't bring myself to risking it while my launch and successful recovery ratio is at about 50-50.

So, whatever became of AmRocs?

samb 04-26-2017 12:20 AM

Wow that's some model rocket history trivia. I have no earthly idea what became of AMROCS but that accelerometer doc has been preserved here:


http://www.oldrocketplans.com/publications.htm

http://plans.rocketshoppe.com/pubs/...celerometer.pdf




And ninfinger has a 1967 AMROCS catalog here:

http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/ca...7amrocscat.html

Hope that helps.

jdbectec 04-26-2017 04:22 AM

Amrocs was bought out by Space Age Industries, around1968-1969. They continued the kit line until they folded in 1971-1972. Their catalog is also on ninfinger.

Jerry Irvine 04-26-2017 05:17 AM

Claremont Rocket Society was a SAI dealer! We never saw Amrocs.

jdbectec 04-26-2017 10:20 AM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jerry Irvine
Claremont Rocket Society was a SAI dealer! We never saw Amrocs.



Jerry, if you check out the Amrocs catalog on the Ninfinger site you may recognise some of the kits.

Jerry Irvine 04-26-2017 10:37 AM

Some of those designs made it thru to SAI and MPC. Never saw that catalog till now.

We used the "Moon Go" at all public rocket demos because it was a promotional product with better availability, deeper discounts and freebies for demos. Estes also was heavy on promo models for demos and when Shecter moved to CA he and I went around and did Estes demos at all available retailers in socal. That was in the 64 Olds "rocket" of course.

CarlosMc 04-27-2017 09:36 PM

to an uninitiated like me, what does SAI and MPC stand for?

I've done searches on the web but I haven't concluded exactly what they mean. What did they do and how is it relevant?

BTW, I really like some of the U.S. Rocket models. The Sentra intrigues me.

tbzep 04-27-2017 09:47 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by CarlosMc
to an uninitiated like me, what does SAI and MPC stand for?

I've done searches on the web but I haven't concluded exactly what they mean. What did they do and how is it relevant?

BTW, I really like some of the U.S. Rocket models. The Sentra intrigues me.


SAI - Space Age Industries

http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/ca...age/saicat.html

MPC - Model Products Corporation, famous for plastic models more than rockets

http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/ca.../MPCInsert.html

Woody's Workshop 04-28-2017 03:52 PM

I looked at the catalog from "67"
The Omega, at first glance looked like a 3 stagger.
Then I see it's a single stage
That one would be nifty to clone the build as a 3 stager.
It would be nice to get a scan of the instructions, if such a thing still exists some where.

mojo1986 04-28-2017 09:43 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Woody's Workshop
I looked at the catalog from "67"
The Omega, at first glance looked like a 3 stagger.
Then I see it's a single stage
That one would be nifty to clone the build as a 3 stager.
It would be nice to get a scan of the instructions, if such a thing still exists some where.



No, the Omega by SAI was a three-stage rocket.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:27 PM.

Powered by: vBulletin Version 3.0.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.