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Originally Posted by Quasar
My first model rocket was the Estes Quasar that came with the Citation starter kit that I got for Christmas in 1971. Naturally, I have a special fondness for this rocket and over the last 6 or 7 years I've acquired several examples and have done Internet research for whatever I could find on the Quasar. A few days ago, I was looking at the Estes kit list here:
http://www.rocketshoppe.com/info/es...ed_kit_list.htm
Quasar variations listed are as follows:
Chrome NC and clip-tip fins
White NC and clip-tip fins
White NC and non-clipped fins
However, my limited research differs. The only pictures of White NC/clip-tip fin Quasars that I've found have been on the face card for the kit and in the catalogs. I've never seen one on eBay, either. All of the pictures that I've found of White NC/fins Quasars have non-clipped fins. Also, I have in my collection a version that has Gray NC/non-clipped fins. A friend also has one of these Gray versions.
I have a theory on the clipped fins. I examined my Chrome Citation version's fins and found that there are mold lines along the edges of the fins EXCEPT the clipped section of each fin. This leads me to believe that the fins were originally regular Alpha III fins that were clipped manually and then chromed, which would work for a small production run like the Citation boxed version. However, for the presumably higher production bagged version, it would probably not be practical or economically feasible to manually clip the fin tips. But I'm just speculating.
So, my question is: Has anyone here actually seen a White NC/fin Quasar that had factory-clipped fin tips?
Thanks.
Mike Fields |
Hi, Mike!
The color of the plastic for the nose cones and fin units really wasn't the determining factor in making the distinctions between the three versions. Presumably, one could paint the gray nose cone to a white color, or leave it alone.
Where I was making the distinction was in the unique combination of components:
KC version -- Chrome NC and clip-tip fins...
#650 version A -- Non-chrome NC and clip-tip fins...
#650 version B -- Non-chrome NC and non-clip-tip fins (Alpha III fins)...
Your description of gray plastic NC and non-clip fins corresponds nicely with the #650 Version B, which BTW was a version that we actually questioned whether it existed, or was just a simplified revision of the plans. Do you have any slip-card artwork showing this version? I know that Scott would LOVE to get this image up on YORP.
The clip-tip fin can was counted as a stock component in the Estes inventory when the #741 Parts Catalog was released. My conclusion is that this was, at least for a time, a production piece. Hand-clipping of the tips would have been a labor-intensive job, and would not have been a consistent product without at least some jig or special tool to ensure the tips were equally trimmed. The trade-off would be the price of such a jig and the labor required versus the price of a mold set for the injection machine.
No question, the clip-tip can was derived from the Alpha III fin can. And certainly, Estes intended to use their toolings as much as possible. Just look at all of the later renditions of the Alpha III, including the (recent, special-limited-release) Alpha IV, the Quasar, the Liberty, and the two RTF models Minuteman and Patriot...