Mine, too. The Protostar body tube was noticeably out of round. The Nike-X slightly less so. I went home and confirmed I had an extra Photon Probe willing to sacrifice it's tube so I'll pick up the Nike-X in a couple of days.

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Just completed: Estes Cherokee-E, Estes Multi-Roc.

Current project: Painting the roll pattern on my new Ventris build, gifted me by the estimable Dr. Houchin.

Squint? Kinda sorta?



That said, although its lineage is clear, it's interesting in which areas they decided to diverge from the original, like the orientation of the "US Army" lettering, placement of roll patterns on only half the fins, and the extra ring of bars underneath the middle set of fins. Had they wanted to, they could have made it a lot closer. I wonder if there were licensing issues in those days?

When I built this in the 70's I don't think I had any clue what prototype it may or may not have been modeled after, lacking the magic of Google Image search.

It takes its 1st and 2nd stage design queues from the Spartan missile, which was a development of the Zeus.

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I love sanding.

I went to HL yesterday. Nike-X and Protostar both there. I passed. My wife was shocked that I didn't get anything. I have more kits than Ill ever build, and so many I'd build before either of these.

That said, I'll likely buy them before too long ... :-)

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Lee Reep
NAR 55948

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

That was exactly how the visit in which I took the picture in post #10 went....

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Bernard Cawley
NAR 89040 L1 - Life Member
SAM 0061
AMA 42160
KG7AIE

Ah, so it does, thanks.

Yeah, but you must buy a Nike-X and convert it to gap staging. My son scratch built one that way.

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I love sanding.

I'm the same way. For me to buy another kit, it has to be vintage. Or one I really like. Or one I like a little but never had when I was young. Or the re-release of a classic. Or...

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Just completed: Estes Cherokee-E, Estes Multi-Roc.

Current project: Painting the roll pattern on my new Ventris build, gifted me by the estimable Dr. Houchin.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nike-X

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-Fred Shecter NAR 20117 (L2)
Southern California Rocket Association, NAR Section 430

It's still not a not a scale kit, which is why I figure you posted the link. I still say the kit was inspired by the Spartan.

The Nike-X was not a missile, but a program that gave us the short range Sprint and the long range Spartan. The Spartan was developed from the Nike Zeus. When the Spartan finally flew, it had been rolled into the Sentinel program. The Sentinel program evolved into the Safeguard silo protection program.

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I love sanding.