As I mentioned previously, I contacted the Sithsonian Air & Space Museum inquiring about their model rocket collection and Bob Craddock.

Today I received an email directed to me. and here is what the email has to say.

Mike Neufield , the chair of our Department of Space History ,asked me to respond to your inquiry.

From my recollection, we have approximately 150 - 200 model rockets in the National Collection. As you know,almost all of those were donated by G. Harry Stine during the early 1970's. While we do have plans to make a model rocket display at our Dulles facility , we currently don't have the funding to do that. Thus, we do not have a dedicated display on model rocketry.

I had received support from the Smithsonian's Lemelson to document the history of model rocketry.Their support allowed me to conduct a number of interviews with some of the most notable model rocket pioneers. It wasa lot of fun and all of them are very nice and interesting people. While I did write and submit a book proposal about the history of model rocketry , I haven't had any interest from publishers. Also, what little money had left over from the Lemelson support was taken away from me a few years ago due to budgetary shortfalls. Eventually, I would like to come back to the model rocketry book , but I have a number of other funded projects to finish first.

Thanks for your interests.

Bob Craddock

So, this is the story on the collection and model rocket display and book as of today 10/9/07

Are they looking for donated model rockets? I think we could all come up with a few.

How much money will it take to get a model rocket display at the Smithsonian?

I think this is something the NAR should investigate.

Bob

The first thing that we should do is look into a publisher for his book.

And the second would be to find out how mich money would it take to get a display up and running.

In my opinion, ALL, the model rocket manufactures should kick in and get this project going, they would benefit from it.

And, I think my original ideas is better, have a total museum (not part of another museum) located at space camp in Huntsville, where, so many kids that are interested in space can be exposed to the hobby, but, once again, it's going to take money.

At least now we know the story from the source.

What's your opinions?

While I'd certainly be interested in reading Mr. Craddock's book, there are others doing a wonderful job of gathering and making available model rocket history, without the benefit of foundation support.

I would love to see a book by Terry Dean.

Ye Olde Rocket Shoppe, Ninfinger, JimZ, EMRR, and Dale Windsor all come to mind as folks also making significant contributions.

My thanks to all.

I have contacted Mr ceaddock again to find out what kind of funding it would take to get a display going. I will post the reply.

As far as the book goes, if he has it done and is looking for a publisher, that is much better than starting from scratch.

I spoke to Vern, and he has the first three chapters done, I would like to see Vern and Lee and Bill Simon and Bill Stine get there heads together and come up with "The History of Model Rockets", too bag something like this couldn't be done before NARAM 50.

The answer to my email to the Smithsonian is verbatum, this was their reply, what can I say ???

Perhaps NARTS could publish/sell Craddock's book.

I expect the 'donation' required to establish a hobby rocketry display will be somewhat pricey. However, the hobby has pulled together on the BATFE lawsuit so, maybe, we could do it, again, for a display.

I see the display as being a freestanding, four-side glass case that could be moved around as larger display areas are changed. Say 3-4 feet wide and 4-6 feet high.

The display could feature one side for the early days of the hobby (Carlisle, Stine, MMI, Estes, Centuri), a side for the hobby's peak during the late 60s-early 70s (Cineroc, Enerjet, Saturn models), the present (Oracle, Flis, etc.) and HPR.

All models displayed (Except for already built historical ones) would need to be built to high standards of assembly and finish, i.e., catalog models. The models should be 'overbuilt' to withstand moving and exposure.

Bob

I agree with this logic! Makes perfect sense and the most do able.

__________________
Have a good day
Bob
NAR 77103

I think the rocket community (here) should make this an effort to make it a reality, it seems the Smithsonian is dragging their feet......so sad !!

At the rate where going, we'll be celebrating the 75 anniversary and 3/4 of us won't be here to celebrate it.

I have another idea, what do you think about MINI rocket displays around the country?

Such displays could be held at all of the NASA centers, Smithsonian, Space Camp and the like.

These display would then expose more current and potential rocketeers to the hobby. Also, lets say there are 10 mini displays, they could be rotated around to each of the 10 sites. lets say every six months so that the displays will constantly be changing.

What's your thought about this?