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-   -   Bertha variant? (http://www.oldrocketforum.com/showthread.php?t=15286)

A Fish Named Wallyum 08-02-2015 11:48 PM

Bertha variant?
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-RAR...c#ht_962wt_1140

I've been watching this on Ebay. I don't ever recall seeing this facecard. It's not a catalog pic as far as I can find, and I don't remember seeing it in the Bertha roster that someone put together a few years back. I've got a Bertha ready for paint and I'm planning to try this scheme in yellow, white, black and red, but that's just a guess.

ghrocketman 08-03-2015 12:39 AM

I have seen that facecard before but I do not know what year it is from other than it is between 1973 and 1977.
The facecard from 1978 onward was different.

A Fish Named Wallyum 08-03-2015 12:48 AM

It looks familiar, but at the same time it doesn't. Apparently I either didn't see or just didn't pay attention to the Bertha in the summer of '77. Figures. It would have been the perfect rocket for me back then.

Initiator001 08-03-2015 01:12 AM

I have one of those particular Big Berthas still sealed in the bag.

I think the packaging is early 1970s.

ghrocketman 08-03-2015 02:15 PM

Estes went to the Skill Level colored header cards either in late '72 or during '73.
I'm pretty sure it was '73.
In 1978 this kit went to a multi-colored face card similar to the one used on the no-longer-Citation bagged Patriot.

Jimid123 08-03-2015 05:09 PM

Yes you are correct this is from 1973. I open a small Model Rocket shop in 1972, Estes had there prices pre printed on the headers in 1972 they stopped printing the price on the headers in 1973

Jimi

Woody's Workshop 09-05-2015 05:42 PM

This was the first rocket I ever built and flown.
Every GD time it ended up in the trees.
Weather cocking is an understatement for this kit.
But I have many, and I love to fly them to this day.
The latest is a BT-80 upscale of the Baby Bertha to scale.
Decals currtisy of Sticker Shock.
Called Bertha Butt.
Nice Fat Juicy butt cheeks in underwar for the fins.
It's ready for primer, if ever stops raining here.
I have to find my camera and post picks when done.
Fat Bottomed Girls makes the World Go Roud!

Joe Shockcord 09-06-2015 08:43 PM

2 Attachment(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by ghrocketman
...I have seen that facecard before but I do not know what year it is from other than it is between 1973 and 1977...


That makes sense, as I bought my first Big Bertha in late 1977 and it had that face card.

Even though I had the catalog, I based my paint scheme on that face card because I was neither skilled enough to copy the catalog pattern nor did I have any yellow paint. And since the face card image was black and white, I decided I would go with that and use what I had: white spray paint and black electrical tape. I cut out the "BIG BERTHA" header from the instructions and glued it to the rocket as a decal, since at that time there were no decals in the kit.

That was a great rocket that served me well in junior high school (see first photo) but it eventually disappeared. Recently I built a reproduction. I could not find an image of this face card anywhere so I had to guess by the few photos I had of the original, but I got it done in time to take to NARCON last year and had the great honor of having it signed by Himself and Herself (see second picture). Now it resides on my highest shelf.

LeeR 09-07-2015 12:57 PM

Joe,

Most excellent! That Bertha is definitely to be cherished, being signed by "Himself" and "Herself". :)

dlazarus6660 09-08-2015 06:18 AM

Bill, you said you were watching this. Did you bid? Win?

I see Estes changed the catalog numbering system sometime between 1974-75. The header card has both catalog numbers on it. Would it be a safe bet that it was packaged sometime then?


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