Thread: Akela-1 scans
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Old 07-27-2006, 05:37 PM
Green Dragon Green Dragon is offline
AL Swackhammer , power freak
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: New York
Posts: 1,255
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tbzep
Al,

The Estes Viking and the original Akela-1 are slightly different. I have both (edit: I have parts from the Akela, but not a packaged kit). The nosecones and body tubes are also different. The body tube of the Akela was thicker and stronger and was slightly longer. The nosecone was heavier and had a more rounded tip. The fins have only slightly different dimensions, but they are different enough for someone with a decent eye to notice if they are sitting near each other without having to measure. I don't care what anybody else has said in the past about them being identical...they didn't have the parts in their hands.

The Estes Viking came out in the 80's when they started marketing Centuri kits under their own name. I don't know if the Centuri Viking had already changed from the original heavy parts that the Akela used, but it definately was born of that rocket.

I've never seen a Vector V in person, but I'd bet it had the same body tube (not counting the larger fin area tube), nosecone and fins as the Akela.


OK, I knew the Estes release was ' Estes-ized' ( ie: BT20,etc ), but the Centuri ones I;ve seen were, iirc, still the thicker tubing and all.
Will be sure to grab my Akela when over at my dad's this weekend, and will compare to the Viking and Vector V ( and yes, the Vector has the Centuri thick tubing,etc - and originally had the plastic 2 piece cone, at least mine did , cone was lost and now has a BMS replacement cone when I restored it last summer ).

will try to get some postable pics - now I'm wondering if I should repaint / restore the Akela if it has such a history / 'following', lol....

I do still have the whole sheet of decals ( enough for the 12 pak, all printed on one sheet ), if anyone needs just a single set, lmk with a mailing address. decals should be topcoated, just in case, but have been well-stored, to best of my knowledge.

~ AL
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