Blue Bird Zero

[Tau Zero]

Title: Blue Bird Zero

Kit number: KV-45

Background Information brief:

Designer: Mike Dorffler (Estes)

Release Date: 03/04/2012

In Production: 2012-2014


Requested attachments: (STILL NEEDED)

Balsa fin scan

Decal scan

.

[5x7]

Archived Semroc product page: https://web.archive.org/web/20131212163228/http://www.semroc.com:80/Store/scripts/RocketKits.asp?SKU=KV-45

Announcement of release in Semroc Minute 10, March 22, 2012:

“New Kits...
We have just released four more kits for the spring. The Bandit has been in the works for some time. The internal baffle or ejection ducting system is one of the most elaborate engineering designs from the early days. Most of the "beauty" of this kit is hidden inside, but the baffling system works great!

The Blue Bird ZeroTM is one of Mike Dorffler's classic designs from the 80's. It has been cloned, upscaled and downscaled over the years, proving it has stood the test of time. We have released it as MagnumTM so it flies on a wide range of engines (18mm and 24mm) on all sizes of fields.

The NomadTM is a much requested Centuri kit. We changed the fiber fins to balsa and basswood to make it more rugged. The original had aluminum foil bands that are not included with this kit. As a final step, it made it too easy to mess it up. If you insist on the aluminum foil bands and swear to Sheryl that you can apply them without having to start over, tell her in the notes and she will include the bands while we still have them.

Starship Series...
We have just released the Starship VegaTM as the first Starship entry. Over the coming months we will release the Starship ExcaliburTM and the Starship CorreyTM We are starting a competition within the SAM Team to design the fourth model in the Series, the Starship _____ (the winner will fill in the blank.) Only SAM members can enter their designs, but everyone will be able to vote on the winning design and purchase the final release.

SAM Team
If you are a SAM member and are not registered on YORF, please register so you can get the latest updates! We will be posting another contest shortly as well as details for the Starship Design Contest. If you are not a SAM, you need to see what else you are missing.

Thanks for your support of Semroc. We owe our continued success to you and we sincerely
appreciate all your help.
/ The Semroc Crew/

Sheryl, Lisa, Bruce, Carl, Gizmo, Beans, Abby, Sami and Scooter”

*Bagged kit photos from an auction site

[ghrocketman]

I have always wondered why Semroc supplied this one with a black decal.
In the Estes version "Blue Bird Zero" was always white.

[5x7]

I have always wondered why Semroc supplied this one with a black decal.
In the Estes version "Blue Bird Zero" was always white.

They could not print white. The V1 1/2 downscale was also changed from the V3’s white decals to another color although they also changed the rocket color from red to white.
CMR bought tango papa and has the BBZ decals with the white:
https://www.cmrproducts.com/Estes-Blue-Bird-Zero-Decals-p518626794

[5x7]

I wondered that as well. You can get the white decal, but heck why didn’t they make it a true repop?

https://www.erockets.biz/semroc-decal-blue-bird-zero-lettering-only-in-white-sem-dkv-45w/

This kit was originally produced by Semroc in NC and they had no way to produce white decals. The owner passed away in 2013 and the company was sold to erockets in 2015. Erockets has improved on a number of the original North Carolina Semroc kits they still produce (like the Spaceman). I agree this one would have been good to just add the white decal.

[5x7]

It would be greatly appreciated if you can post if you have or can make:
Semroc fin scan and decal scan