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View Poll Results: Vote for Your Favorite Bill Simon Design
Apogee K-5 1963 1 1.25%
Apogee II K-5 1963 1 1.25%
Phantom K-7 1963 0 0%
Skyhook K-8 1963 2 2.50%
Cobra K-10 1963 7 8.75%
Farside K-12 1964 4 5.00%
Farside X K-12X 1964 13 16.25%
Drifter K-14 1964 5 6.25%
Delta K-16 1965 0 0%
Alpha K-25 1965 13 16.25%
Little Joe II K-30 1968 4 5.00%
Scrambler K-37 1968 6 7.50%
Avenger K-38 1968 11 13.75%
Semi Scale Saturn V K-39 1969 3 3.75%
Midget K-40 1969 2 2.50%
Birdie K-44 1969 0 0%
Beta K-45 1969 1 1.25%
SPEV K-59 1972 7 8.75%
Voters: 80. You may not vote on this poll

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  #1  
Old 09-14-2017, 08:34 AM
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pterodactyl pterodactyl is offline
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Default Vote for Your Favorite Bill Simon Design!

Bill Simon will be at The Museum of Flight on September 23rd in Seattle as we salute the venerable Astron Alpha. During his career at Estes Bill designed at least 18 of the early K-kit era products including the Alpha.

Vote for your favorite design and we will try to show some of the examples contained in the G. Harry Stine Collection in Seattle.

In case you need to tickle some dormant memory neurons, here's Bill's page at Vintage Estes Rockets (Eric Higgins amazing resource for rocket hounds).

http://vintageestesrockets.com/k-ki.../bill-simon.htm
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  #2  
Old 09-14-2017, 08:50 AM
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tbzep tbzep is offline
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There are a handful that stand out for me: K-12X, K-37, K-40, K-45, and K-59. It's really a tie with these for various reasons. If I had to step out and pick one, I guess it would be the Scrambler for it's combination of payload, cluster, and humor.

Now that I have read the post that goes along with the poll, I'd want to display the Farside-X for the general public to see more than my other choices, even though I chose the Scrambler as my favorite.
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Old 09-14-2017, 11:00 AM
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Doug Sams Doug Sams is offline
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Default Re: K-40 Midget

It's good to see the K-40 Midget is getting some love

Doug

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  #4  
Old 09-14-2017, 05:07 PM
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Joe Wooten Joe Wooten is offline
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I voted for the Avenger. I always liked the look of it.

I am doing another Space Ex MB for our scout troop this month, and as always I had them all buy an Alpha. I hope these boys have better fine finger motor skills than the last bunch 2 years ago.
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Old 09-14-2017, 08:26 PM
jetlag jetlag is offline
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I voted for the Sky Hook, but the Avenger almost won out. I was given a box of rockets by a friend when his family was moving. I was 6 (50 years ago). In that box were a few catalogues, a launch set, wires, tons of engines, a Sprite, and a Sky Hook. I launched those as much as allowance would allow. I became 'hooked.'
Ever since, I have had a soft spot for these, especially the Sky Hook
I should get the SLS version...

The Avenger was my first stager. At age around 9 or 10, I was a decent builder (I thought ), but I remember having issues getting the fins to match up!
Fun memories.

Allen
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Old 09-15-2017, 06:57 PM
Ltvscout Ltvscout is offline
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This is a public poll. That means you can see what kit your fellow YORF members voted for. Just click on the number of votes for one of the entries to see who voted for what. I personally went for the Farside-X. Just a cool looking 3-stager, IMHO. Second place was a tie between the SPEV and Scrambler.
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  #7  
Old 09-15-2017, 08:21 PM
Scott6060842 Scott6060842 is offline
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I voted for the Alpha. Cobra 2, Drifter 3.
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Old 09-16-2017, 09:15 AM
stefanj stefanj is offline
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Ooooh, Farside-X is nosing ahead.

I rank the Avenger higher. A more elegant and refined design.

I'm actually flying a Farside-X today; C6-0/C6-0/C6-7. A definite classic, but hard to prep, and kind of maniacally over-designed (huge fins, spin fins).
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  #9  
Old 09-16-2017, 06:27 PM
AstronMike AstronMike is offline
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Default Astron Avenger

Voted for this one, as I liked being able to use C motors in both stages and routinely get them back.

Also, it looked good with the checkerboard-type roll pattern decals I found somewhere...

Finally treed the sustainer after many flights back in '90. Been considering making an upscale of this, and somehow make the booster glide as well.

Also, around that time, I made a scratch built stager to replace the departed Avenger. Sort of a 4 finned Comanche deal, with BT55s. Booster of this DID glide, and rather nicely, on D12-0! Lost the sustainer, however, after only two flights, and wound up losing the gliding booster too. Guess I'd better stick to larger gliders then!
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  #10  
Old 09-16-2017, 07:31 PM
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I voted for the Avenger too. I really like those old timey two-stagers where the booster and sustainer fins fit together. The Avenger is a particularly graceful example.
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