#11
|
||||
|
||||
I think that the period from 1974 to 1990 could be considered to be FSI's "prime" years, when the company really had mojo. That period saw the addition of the following kits:
Black Brant II - 1st scale kit Echo 1 Eos Dart Maverick Hercules - 20th anniversary year Hornet - first kit for 18mm motors Megatron Nike Tomahawk WASP Javelin - 13 years after introducing its first scale kit, FSI release three more in the same year. We're now getting big, too. Viking V Competitor Excalibur II Streak - second of two 18mm-only kits As you can see, quite a few of the company's best kits came out in this period. The 1990s were not a complete loss. In 1990, FSI introduced the Sandia Sandhawk, Nike Smoke and what could arguably be its tour de force, the Intrepid, its last ever kit. It was this late spurt of brilliance that causes me to think that the company did still have its starch at that point, even though as you describe, the decay was becoming very evident.
__________________
Mark S. Kulka NAR #86134 L1,_ASTRE #471_Adirondack Mountains, NY
Opinions Unfettered by Logic • Advice Unsullied by Erudition • Rocketry Without Pity
|
#12
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
That's the one I got when I sent off for a catalog after finding the address in a list of suppliers. I sent for it in late '77 and finally got it in the spring of '78. Dad had a habit of throwing anything out that he considered junk, which in his mind was most of what I owned, so I hid all of my rocket catalogs, plans, scale data, etc. in the cushion of an old couch that we had in the basement. One day I came home and found that it had been donated to charity. I always wonder if anyone ever unzipped the cushion to find out what was causing that odd lump in the left cushion. I've been looking for another copy ever since I saw the one on Ninfinger. Tough to come by.
__________________
Bill Eichelberger NAR 79563 http://wallyum.blogspot.com/ I miss being SAM 0058 Build floor: Centuri Mini Dactyl Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II Semroc Cyber III Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark, Groonie Der V 1/2 |
#13
|
|||
|
|||
Mark:
I believe that Doug Platt was working for FSI during those prime years, and may have been responsible for the innovation and energy you mention! There was another 18mm-only kit. It was offered to members of the FSI club. I didn't get one (they substituted a Streak), but a friend did. I forget the name. It had an odd rounded nose cone. I still have my FSI club membership certificate, signed by Harold Reese. It came rolled up in a piece of body tube. Someday I'll scan it in. Stefan |
#14
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
__________________
Mark S. Kulka NAR #86134 L1,_ASTRE #471_Adirondack Mountains, NY
Opinions Unfettered by Logic • Advice Unsullied by Erudition • Rocketry Without Pity
|
#15
|
||||
|
||||
FSI club? That's a new one on me. I have been talking to folks about this company for five years now, and this is the very first time that I have ever seen any mention of a customer club. They never mentioned it in their catalogs. Do you have any memories of what that club rocket looked like?
__________________
Mark S. Kulka NAR #86134 L1,_ASTRE #471_Adirondack Mountains, NY
Opinions Unfettered by Logic • Advice Unsullied by Erudition • Rocketry Without Pity
|
#16
|
||||
|
||||
I would have to guess that the 20th anniversary year, 1987, was when the company reached its high-water mark, its zenith as a rocket company. The Hercules, Megatron, Nike Tomahawk, WASP, Javelin and Viking V (and the plucky little Hornet) were all released that year. Seven kits, including some of their very best work. Three more kits came out the following year. A total of ten kits, fully a third of all of the kit designs that they ever sold to the public, came out in that two-year span.
__________________
Mark S. Kulka NAR #86134 L1,_ASTRE #471_Adirondack Mountains, NY
Opinions Unfettered by Logic • Advice Unsullied by Erudition • Rocketry Without Pity
|
#17
|
|||
|
|||
FSI History
Quote:
I would think that the red chutes, were used because the supply of Select A Chutes had run out and they still had kits to package. ( kit's from the 1990's packaged in a bag with header card with instructions on back). Although I have built and flown several FSI Rockets over many years , I am not as up on every thing like you guys are . Estes and Centuri were the two main Model Rockets to be found locally where I lived as a kid, I found out about FSI Rockets like this: My older brother had a Estes Cherokee-D , nothing myself or any of our friends had could out fly it. One early summers day, I went for a bike ride into Utica Michigan, there was a new hobby store in town and I wanted to see what they had in the way of Model Rockets. I left the store with a FSI Penetrator and three E5-6 Engines. My brother or myself or anyone else didn't know what was coming. the Cherokee was left in the smoke trail as the Penetrator flew by and climbed at least another 1500' OH how I love those long burn E5 and F7 FSI Engines, I wish someone would put them back into production. |
#18
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
I was working for AeroTech/Enertek in 1987 and I remember FSI was making a stronger effort to interest hobby distributors/shops in their product. I even remember one hobby trade magazine had an interview with Harold Reese.
__________________
Bob S.A.M. # 0014 |
#19
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
A Sprint kit that I bought in mid 1986 had the solid red chute and streamer, while a Viking III kit bought in the same order came w/ the Black & Wht Select-a -Chute and streamer. I just assumed they used the red chutes when they were out of stock on the Select's. S |
#20
|
|||
|
|||
Another thing that comes and goes: Decals.
It's been 37 years, but I recall that my Oso came with a small decal sheet. The Penetrator I bought a little later . . . I don't remember. Voyager from about the same time, another "I think so." Black Brant II, yes. Intrepid, no. Viking V, I don't remember but I don't think so. The 1990 vintage Nova: No. |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|