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  #111  
Old 09-15-2017, 09:02 AM
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Default Bill Simon Designs: The Astron Sky Hook

Bill Simon had a problem. After working long hours writing copy for the "Estes Model Rocket News" he was also responsible for putting together the layout for the 1964 Estes model rocket catalog. The problem was he had a partially blank page he had to fill, and he wanted to fill it with a new rocket design.

This is the cover of the 64-1 catalog which features the Cobra, also a Bill Simon design.



The "page filler" rocket that was born was none other than the Astron Sky Hook, catalog number K-8. Here's how that once blank page (page 15) turned out.



As Estes catalogs transitioned to model photos the Sky Hook would retain its original paint scheme. This particular model (or a close cousin) is in the Vern Estes Collection.



The Sky Hook was faithfully reproduced as part of Semroc's SLS line as shown in this eRockets image. Reports from Canada are that it positively screams on an Estes E9 (even with the exchange rate).



After a one year sabbatical in 1986, the Sky Hook would reappear as the "new" Sky Hook in 1987 for its final catalog appearance.



The G. Harry Stine collection has a very nice example of Bill Simon's Astron Sky Hook which has been finished in the traditional catalog paint scheme.

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Last edited by pterodactyl : 09-15-2017 at 11:18 AM.
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  #112  
Old 09-15-2017, 06:53 PM
Ltvscout Ltvscout is offline
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I'm still extremely grateful for Bill scanning his collection of Estes' internal newsletter called, The Estes Launch Pad, for me to post for all to enjoy. You can find that collection here along with an introduction he wrote for it:

http://www.oldrocketplans.com/elp.htm
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  #113  
Old 09-16-2017, 05:07 AM
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Here's a quick factoid that Bill offered on the Sky Hook:

Skyhook K-8 1963 I had built this as a personal model, but it was popular enough at Estes Ind. that we did a free plan in the MRN. Our customers started asking for a kit of it, so we obliged.
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  #114  
Old 09-16-2017, 08:34 AM
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The December 24, 1970 issue mentions that a 1 minute experimental tv advertisement was to be shot and aired in Wichita, KS and Salt Lake City, UT. Did this take place and did anybody see it?

BTW, the January 9, 1970 issue shows 331 employees at Estes. Wow!
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  #115  
Old 09-16-2017, 03:32 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tbzep
The December 24, 1970 issue mentions that a 1 minute experimental tv advertisement was to be shot and aired in Wichita, KS and Salt Lake City, UT. Did this take place and did anybody see it?

BTW, the January 9, 1970 issue shows 331 employees at Estes. Wow!


I think I saw bits and pieces of it on NBC's First Tuesday news magazine where Sander Vanocur did a report on modern, high-tech toys.
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  #116  
Old 09-18-2017, 10:32 AM
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Default Bill Simon In His Own Words: Apogee II

Apogee K-5 1963: Vern wanted a two-stage kit, so this is what we came up with. Forty plus years later I was the project management grunt in building another vehicle named Apogee--Bill Anders' 55 foot expedition yacht.

Apogee II K-5 1963: And later, when Vern was tackling the problem of multi-stage reliability, I suggested he try taping the two engines together to delay separation long enough to ensure upper stage ignition. This is the version with adaptations for better reliability.

Here we see G. Harry Stine's personal Apogee II displaying his characteristic NAR 2 identification.

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  #117  
Old 09-20-2017, 04:10 PM
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Default Bill Simon: In His Own Words

Scrambler K-37 1968: Somebody was egging me on . . . . .



Cobra K-10 1963: I don't recall why we produced this kit, but it was well-received at the time.

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  #118  
Old 09-21-2017, 01:00 PM
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The Cobra's fins are so great - looking. Like they're the legs of an animal that just took a might leap into the air.

Thanks for the inside look . . .
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  #119  
Old 09-21-2017, 01:12 PM
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Default Bill Simon in His Own Words: Astron Farside

Farside K-12 1964: If two stages are good, three are better. I wanted to build a model for maximum altitude, but large enough to be visible at the top of its trajectory.

Farside X K-12X 1964: If you're going to launch a tarantula, you need a larger payload compartment. "Smile little 8-legged fuzz ball; you are going where no spider has gone before."



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  #120  
Old 09-21-2017, 04:35 PM
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Default Bill Simon: In His Own Words

Meet Bill Simon at the Museum of Flight Saturday, September 23. Doors open at 10 am.



Bill says.......

L-R

Delta K-16 1965: "Launch vehicle for the Camroc; over-size fins to compensate for the relatively high-drag payload."

Little Joe II K-30 1968: "Interest in the Apollo program was heating up, so this was an ideal scale model to offer our rocketeers. It had large enough fins that no special provisions for stability were needed."

Avenger K-38 1968: "I just had to do it . . . . Long models tend to have much better stability, and are easier to see (and recover)."

SPEV K-59 1969: "We had an accumulation of parts in the warehouse that weren't being used. Either the kit that they were intended for had been discontinued, or some items had been over-ordered when the warehouseman thought the shelf was too empty. I gathered the various items on my desk and set out to find a rational way to combine them into a model. My recollection is that we just offered this in the MRN, and once the inventory situation was taken care of, forgot the design--until years later when Carl at Semroc dusted it off and offered a clone. If the Alpha is my favorite child, this is the kid you try to keep under the stairs."

Alpha K-25 1965: "Vern had been after me for quite some time to produce a new beginner's model. I built the first one in my spare time at home, and then went to work at writing instructions that would be perfectly clear to the beginning builder. I still like the looks of this model."


(Note: These models are not part of the National Collection)
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