The alpha-1 is loosely modeled after the V-2.

Once the chemicals were loaded in it with the liquid part in the nose of the rocket, you placed the sloted fuel chamber with the lockdown nozzle part into the inverted missle using a special supplied wrench. The rocket was then placed up-right on the lancher and the reaction began. After about 30-60 seconds you pulled the lanyard, unlocking the retainer pawl, allowing the rocket to literally impulse blast off the pad in a fine mist that was, hopefully, near neutral ph.

Note* There was a safety feature on the alpha-1. Realizing that kids and amateurs would inevitably push the boundries by stuffing in more chemicals to boost altitude and to avoid a catastrophic rupture of the missle body, they made the launch pad support pin a tiny bit smaller than the nozzle outlet and used a rubber "o" ring seal. Thus, anyone attmepting to triple load the thing and hold off launch for a couple of minutes would just see the o-ring seal fail and the fizz blow by it.

We altered one, machining a new launch pin to rather tight tolerances and used a double o-ring and got the rocket to over 300 feet. Fortunately, we never had that rocket rupture.

Some clever guy with modest skill sets could probably use this technology to make an interesting performer in these modern times that would shame the old Alpha-1 performance. No fire, either, from burning motors. Hmmm.....

The cost per launch using vinegar and baking soda could be virtually zip!

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I actually saw real cricketts launched thanks to Dr. Burke who invited us to a special mutiple launch showing at the university of VA in the early 60's. That thing really moved, too! The spray radius was about 25-30 feet around the tube