Ye Olde Rocket Forum

Go Back   Ye Olde Rocket Forum > The Golden Age of Model Rocketry > Plans & Publications
User Name
Password
Auctions Register FAQ Members List Calendar Today's Posts Search Mark Forums Read


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 04-25-2017, 08:58 PM
CarlosMc CarlosMc is offline
Junior Rocketeer
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 8
Question What happened to AmRocs? Anybody know?

Way back in the 60's, I got my hands on an AmRocs catalog. Soon after I ordered the Omega 123, a three stage rocket, unlike other three stage rockets of that era, because the fins of all the stages lined up. I didn't know the secret to line up and glue the fins perfectly in line but I came close enough.

Years later I became a BAR and my rebirth had me scratch build models inspired by television shows of my youth, Space Ranger, and one that I missed, Fireball XL-5. After building and launching my version of the Orbit Jet, and the afore mentioned Firball, I chose a less challenging model, the Omega 123. I still have trouble lining up the fins and gluing them one behind the other. I have built 3 versions of Omega, none of which were exactly like the original of my youth. And none have yet perfectly aligned fins.

The original Omega123 was a BT-20 about 18" tall. My 2014 version was about the same hgt. but fatter using a BT-50, because my older fatter fingers can't seem to manage parachutes in BT-20 tubes. The original had a hardwood nose cone, mine was balsa, that I turned myself. I immediately followed that with a near exact copy of that one but with a plastic nose one I borrowed from a Quest Viper. I lost it on its maiden flight.

It was about that time I discovered E motors. I made another replica of my 2014 model but made to accommodate E motors. The only change was lengthening the booster tube and expanding the fin width and length. In the process of building this E version, I cannibalized the third stage fins, as it had been lost for several days, and it had rained, and removing the engine proved much to stressful on the body tube.

The reason I tell you all this is because I really like that particular model and want to know what became of AmRocs? I had an accelerometer from them that I think I launched once as a kid with inconclusive results. I just finished a replica of that too, waiting to fly it. My iPhone is far superior an instrument, but: a), it won't fit in the Omega b), though it is more informative, I can't bring myself to risking it while my launch and successful recovery ratio is at about 50-50.

So, whatever became of AmRocs?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 04-26-2017, 12:20 AM
samb samb is offline
spirit of 72
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Plano, TX
Posts: 289
Default

Wow that's some model rocket history trivia. I have no earthly idea what became of AMROCS but that accelerometer doc has been preserved here:


http://www.oldrocketplans.com/publications.htm

http://plans.rocketshoppe.com/pubs/...celerometer.pdf




And ninfinger has a 1967 AMROCS catalog here:

http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/ca...7amrocscat.html

Hope that helps.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 04-26-2017, 04:22 AM
jdbectec jdbectec is offline
the middle-aged rocketeer
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Urbana, Illinois.....the birthplace of HAL
Posts: 468
Default

Amrocs was bought out by Space Age Industries, around1968-1969. They continued the kit line until they folded in 1971-1972. Their catalog is also on ninfinger.
__________________
Jeffrey Deem
NAR16741
CIA section 527
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 04-26-2017, 05:17 AM
Jerry Irvine's Avatar
Jerry Irvine Jerry Irvine is offline
Freeform rocketry advocate.
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Claremont, CA "The intellectual capitol of the world."-WSJ
Posts: 3,780
Default

Claremont Rocket Society was a SAI dealer! We never saw Amrocs.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 04-26-2017, 10:20 AM
jdbectec jdbectec is offline
the middle-aged rocketeer
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Urbana, Illinois.....the birthplace of HAL
Posts: 468
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jerry Irvine
Claremont Rocket Society was a SAI dealer! We never saw Amrocs.



Jerry, if you check out the Amrocs catalog on the Ninfinger site you may recognise some of the kits.
__________________
Jeffrey Deem
NAR16741
CIA section 527
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 04-26-2017, 10:37 AM
Jerry Irvine's Avatar
Jerry Irvine Jerry Irvine is offline
Freeform rocketry advocate.
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Claremont, CA "The intellectual capitol of the world."-WSJ
Posts: 3,780
Default

Some of those designs made it thru to SAI and MPC. Never saw that catalog till now.

We used the "Moon Go" at all public rocket demos because it was a promotional product with better availability, deeper discounts and freebies for demos. Estes also was heavy on promo models for demos and when Shecter moved to CA he and I went around and did Estes demos at all available retailers in socal. That was in the 64 Olds "rocket" of course.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 04-27-2017, 09:36 PM
CarlosMc CarlosMc is offline
Junior Rocketeer
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 8
Default

to an uninitiated like me, what does SAI and MPC stand for?

I've done searches on the web but I haven't concluded exactly what they mean. What did they do and how is it relevant?

BTW, I really like some of the U.S. Rocket models. The Sentra intrigues me.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 04-27-2017, 09:47 PM
tbzep's Avatar
tbzep tbzep is offline
Dazed and Confused
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: TN
Posts: 11,610
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by CarlosMc
to an uninitiated like me, what does SAI and MPC stand for?

I've done searches on the web but I haven't concluded exactly what they mean. What did they do and how is it relevant?

BTW, I really like some of the U.S. Rocket models. The Sentra intrigues me.


SAI - Space Age Industries

http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/ca...age/saicat.html

MPC - Model Products Corporation, famous for plastic models more than rockets

http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/ca.../MPCInsert.html
__________________
I love sanding.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 04-28-2017, 03:52 PM
Woody's Workshop Woody's Workshop is offline
Craftsman
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Reed City, Michigan
Posts: 258
Default

I looked at the catalog from "67"
The Omega, at first glance looked like a 3 stagger.
Then I see it's a single stage
That one would be nifty to clone the build as a 3 stager.
It would be nice to get a scan of the instructions, if such a thing still exists some where.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 04-28-2017, 09:43 PM
mojo1986's Avatar
mojo1986 mojo1986 is offline
Old Canuck Modeller
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Kingston, CANADA
Posts: 2,160
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Woody's Workshop
I looked at the catalog from "67"
The Omega, at first glance looked like a 3 stagger.
Then I see it's a single stage
That one would be nifty to clone the build as a 3 stager.
It would be nice to get a scan of the instructions, if such a thing still exists some where.



No, the Omega by SAI was a three-stage rocket.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:15 AM.


Powered by: vBulletin Version 3.0.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Ye Olde Rocket Shoppe © 1998-2024