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  #11  
Old 08-09-2013, 01:20 AM
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blackshire blackshire is offline
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
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Quote:
Originally Posted by A Fish Named Wallyum
They didn't. They were created based on a catalog picture. Pretty cool set if you ask me. There's a Big Bertha set that was created the same way, and possibly an Astron Cobra set.
You just reminded me that I (briefly) had one of those "cheater" checkerboard fin Astron Mark decal sets (I'd bought it from Sandman to go with a Semroc Astron Mark xKit in a "care package" I compiled for a school rocketry program)! His red angled stripe and roll patterns (the 1969 Big Bertha Estes catalog decor scheme) are beautiful!
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  #12  
Old 08-12-2013, 06:30 PM
dannymrmissile dannymrmissile is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: NC
Posts: 594
Default alpha

Quote:
Originally Posted by Blushingmule
Hi gents and ladies...

I nabbed a '60s Astron Alpha from e-Bastad. Opened but with original 'chute,
TR-1, updated centering rings for the motor mount (the earlier ones were thin
paper) and all patterns, etc.

Have the parts to build 3 from Semroc, this one will be fun and only flown w/
1/2 A & A's...

Bob
p.s. The Alpha was my 1st. back in '68...Dad & I launched it at the UOG sport field
in the evening...swish pop and it vanished literally as the Sun settled.

My first was the Alpha also in 1967, I still have it !!! plus my 1st Constellation......
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  #13  
Old 08-12-2013, 06:35 PM
dannymrmissile dannymrmissile is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: NC
Posts: 594
Unhappy Alpha

I also have almost every Alpha ever made-- from the K Kit , Alphas 1 II III IV & Maxi Alpha & Maxi III. Just tried to sell the set - no one wanted them..
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  #14  
Old 08-12-2013, 07:17 PM
chrism chrism is offline
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Location: Greenville, PA
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The Alpha was my brother's first rocket when we first entered the hobby in 77 or 78. His Alpha had the balsa nose and he had to cut the fins himself. When I became a BAR, I built one of the newer issues of the Alpha with the plastic nose and laser-cut fins, but I painted it like an earlier version, a red nose, white body, one black fin with a narrow black stripe running the length of the body.
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  #15  
Old 08-13-2013, 01:37 PM
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kurtschachner kurtschachner is offline
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Southeastern Wisconsin
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Well what ya selling them for Danny? That makes all the difference

Quote:
Originally Posted by dannymrmissile
I also have almost every Alpha ever made-- from the K Kit , Alphas 1 II III IV & Maxi Alpha & Maxi III. Just tried to sell the set - no one wanted them..
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  #16  
Old 08-13-2013, 01:50 PM
dannymrmissile dannymrmissile is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2011
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Default why

Quote:
Originally Posted by kurtschachner
Well what ya selling them for Danny? That makes all the difference

Does this mean what as in How Much, or what as in Why ?? .......
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  #17  
Old 08-19-2013, 08:05 PM
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LeeR LeeR is offline
Retired with Way Too Many Kits
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Colorado
Posts: 3,222
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gpoehlein
Yeah - the Alpha was my very first rocket I ever built. I've always loved it - simple and classic. Still a great flyer - I built one of the newer plastic nosed units, but I recently started a new one using a balsa nose from Semroc - the plastic nose cone just isn't the right shape compared to the BNC-50K.


I've been away from rocketry for over a year (house remodeling, etc.) but recently started remodeling my wood shop. To make room for more equipment, I moved my large model rocket bench to an adjoining room, and had a chance to bring a few rockets out for display that were in boxes. Pulled out the Super Alpha I built when they first came out. Dissatisfied with the plastic nose cone in the kit, I turned a "faithful to the original" balsa replacement. The Alpha is painted red and white like the color cardstock insert in the kit (cannot remember what you call those ...).

I too think the Alpha is definitely one of the classic Estes kits. When my kids were in elementary school 20+ years ago, I ran a rocket launch program for several years. Helped kids build a LOT of Alphas. They were those horrid orange and black Halloween versions. :-)

I've heard from some of those kids that are young adults now, and they have really fond memories of building and launching those Alphas.
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Projects: Semroc Saturn 1B, Ken Foss Designs Mini Satellite Interceptor
In the Paint Shop: Nothing! Too cold!
Launch-Ready: Farside-X, Maxi Honest John, Super Scamp
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  #18  
Old 08-19-2013, 10:39 PM
dannymrmissile dannymrmissile is offline
I HATE ENGINE HOOKS
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: NC
Posts: 594
Smile

Quote:
Originally Posted by LeeR
I've been away from rocketry for over a year (house remodeling, etc.) but recently started remodeling my wood shop. To make room for more equipment, I moved my large model rocket bench to an adjoining room, and had a chance to bring a few rockets out for display that were in boxes. Pulled out the Super Alpha I built when they first came out. Dissatisfied with the plastic nose cone in the kit, I turned a "faithful to the original" balsa replacement. The Alpha is painted red and white like the color cardstock insert in the kit (cannot remember what you call those ...).

I too think the Alpha is definitely one of the classic Estes kits. When my kids were in elementary school 20+ years ago, I ran a rocket launch program for several years. Helped kids build a LOT of Alphas. They were those horrid orange and black Halloween versions. :-)

I've heard from some of those kids that are young adults now, and they have really fond memories of building and launching those Alphas.

And one day they'll want one of those " I had as a Kid ! " ..............
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