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  #1  
Old 02-22-2008, 11:30 PM
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Mark II Mark II is offline
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Default Rocket-Boosted Gliders: The List

Well, it started innocently enough...

Lately, I have gotten into building clones of some of the early rocket- and boost-glider designs, like the Astron Invader, Falcon and Nighthawk. In order to help in keeping track of who first introduced what kits and when they did so, I started to make a list. I thought that the list would be relatively small and manageable. I started with the Classic Kits Master List at Semroc's website; if the accompanying list looks familiar, it is because I borrowed heavily from that source, at least at first.

I did notice that the Semroc list did not have some glider kits that I know had been produced, so I started to do a little online research in order to get the list to be more or less complete. I checked the usual sources - Ninfinger, YORP, YORS, etc., and soon found plenty of kit names to append to the list. It seemed that wherever I looked, I kept finding more and more classic kits to add. Along with commercially-produced kits, I also started including plans that had been published in such places as Model Rocketry magazine, MRN and at the NARTS website. And then, since a few of those kits have been reintroduced, I decided to also add current kits to the list.

I think that I have compiled a pretty full list by now, but I certainly don't think that it is complete. The current count is 197 kits or plans, from 38 different manufacturers and publishers. They go from the 1959 Coaster Corp. Centauri right up to very recently introduced kits from Edmonds, FlisKits, Quest, The Squirrel Works, Semroc and others. In fact, at least 70 of the commercially-produced kits on the list are in current production.

What I have learned from this little project is that there is a long and rich history of building and flying rocket-boosted gliders in our hobby. I have also learned that this continues to be a very healthy and thriving segment of the hobby.

I have attached a PDF of the list, that is current as of a few minutes ago. It has some obvious gaps in information, though; for instance, the Available First and Available Last dates are either missing in many cases, and in a few others, I made educated (or not so educated) guesses. The overall structure still bears a passing resemblance to the Semroc list that was my starting point, but you will notice that I have rearranged some columns, dropped others, and have added considerably to that original list.

I am not much of a model rocket historian, having only rejoined the hobby 5 years ago after a 33-year absence, and I'm still working to catch up on all that I have missed. This list is, of course, still a work in progress. Please let me know what you think of it, as well as any additions, deletions or corrections that you think should be made. Also share any memorable anecdotes you might have about any of the kits or plans. Rocket-boosted gliders may have a long history, but this branch of rocketry is still rather new and unfamiliar territory for me, and I am interested in finding out much more about it.

Mark
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Last edited by Ltvscout : 02-24-2008 at 05:36 PM. Reason: Old list attachment removed. Please follow thread for latest version.
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Old 02-23-2008, 05:38 AM
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Skippy Skippy is offline
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You may want to include the Fun Rockets versions of the classic Holverson designs. I have a Fun Rockets Silver Hawk which is Model No: 1202 Someone will be able to fill you in with the model numbers for the Fun Rockets version of the Zoomie and Swinger.
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Old 02-23-2008, 08:30 AM
Ltvscout Ltvscout is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark II
I have attached a PDF of the list, that is current as of a few minutes ago. It has some obvious gaps in information, though; for instance, the Available First and Available Last dates are either missing in many cases, and in a few others, I made educated (or not so educated) guesses. The overall structure still bears a passing resemblance to the Semroc list that was my starting point, but you will notice that I have rearranged some columns, dropped others, and have added considerably to that original list.

Great list, Mark. Do you mind if I post it on Ye Olde Rocket Shoppe when I start updating that site? I have a bunch of John Brohm's informative lists that I need to update there as well.
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Old 02-23-2008, 12:14 PM
foose4string foose4string is offline
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You should maybe add Scott Branche's(Rokitflite) Fake Wulf to that list. Awesome kit. My review .....

Fake Wulf
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Old 02-23-2008, 09:35 PM
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Mark II Mark II is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ltvscout
Great list, Mark. Do you mind if I post it on Ye Olde Rocket Shoppe when I start updating that site? I have a bunch of John Brohm's informative lists that I need to update there as well.

Yes, go right ahead. I would be honored to have it posted on your site. As you can see, it already needs revision! (Just like I thought it would. )

Mark
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Old 02-23-2008, 09:42 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skippy
You may want to include the Fun Rockets versions of the classic Holverson designs. I have a Fun Rockets Silver Hawk which is Model No: 1202 Someone will be able to fill you in with the model numbers for the Fun Rockets version of the Zoomie and Swinger.

I hesitated to do that at first because I thought it would be redundant with the HDI entries. But now that you mention it, the Fun Rockets were different versions of those designs, and should therefore get their own entries. I will make it so.

Thanks!

Mark
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Old 02-23-2008, 10:05 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by foose4string
You should maybe add Scott Branche's(Rokitflite) Fake Wulf to that list. Awesome kit. My review .....

Fake Wulf

Great! I knew that I had seen other glider reviews at EMRR that I hadn't gone back and found yet, and now I do remember reading your review. Great job, BTW , but my condolences on your double loss. I'm just getting into rocket (-boosted) gliders now, and I'm quite taken with with most of the designs that I've read about so far, including the Fake Wulf. It's really interesting to read about a glider that actually has to be painted in order to balance and fly right. Now that's different! Thanks for the link. (And I will add it to the list, of course!)

Mark
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Old 02-23-2008, 11:54 PM
shockwaveriderz shockwaveriderz is offline
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The Coaster Centauri wasn't available till 1962.

Also NCR has some gliders; Avatar, Space Shutte? And NCR also sold George Gassaway's Gliders for awhile as did George's ASC before them. Check the ASC/NCR catalogs at Ninfingers I beleive.
great list! good work!

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Old 02-24-2008, 12:57 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shockwaveriderz
The Coaster Centauri wasn't available till 1962.

Also NCR has some gliders; Avatar, Space Shutte? And NCR also sold George Gassaway's Gliders for awhile as did George's ASC before them. Check the ASC/NCR catalogs at Ninfingers I beleive.
great list! good work!

terry dean
nar 16158

I just updated the list to include the NCR sport gliders and their "Conquest" series of competition kits. I also revised the "Available First" date for the Coaster Centauri. The list now has 211 entries. Whew!

Mark
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Last edited by Ltvscout : 02-24-2008 at 05:37 PM. Reason: Old list attachment removed. Please follow thread for latest version.
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  #10  
Old 02-24-2008, 12:45 PM
shockwaveriderz shockwaveriderz is offline
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Edmonds Aerospace has a brand name called Competition Craft: there are at least 2 BR/G : the RGX and the CRG: these are sold by Totally Tubular and I think BMS at one time

hth

terry dean
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