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  #21  
Old 04-28-2020, 12:33 AM
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Royatl Royatl is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LeeR
Wow, that list of PDR kits is impressive! I vaguely remember the Pimp Daddy reference, but I don't think that I was really very active in the hobby when they were in business, I guess.


roughly 2007 or 08 I got a Gemini Titan II from them. Never built it, but I liked the fact that they had a self adhesive wrap for the markings and roll patterns. I bought one of Carl's nose cones to replace the one they had which came from BMS. Carl's was much closer to an Estes cone (which I had, but wasn't going to use) The jt-50 couplers they used for the turbo pumps on the simulated engines, were way too long, and the centering rings were much thicker, so you had to do some fudging to make it look ok. But over all it was a nice kit. The guy I sold it to a few years ago did build it. Don't remember whether he's flown it yet.
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  #22  
Old 04-28-2020, 04:30 AM
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Another +1 to what Scott said above.
What I miss the most is the McLawhorn family Semroc.
A gold standard that will never be replicated.
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  #23  
Old 04-29-2020, 12:57 AM
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luke strawwalker luke strawwalker is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ghrocketman
Maybe it wasn't the ESS Raven, but it was something complex requiring unique plastic parts that surprised me.
I remember it was going to be over $50 which was way over any of their previous kits.
May have been the Titan IIIE.
Now that I think about it, I seem to recall them going under before it was produced.
I was there from beginning to end and thankfully I was NOT one of those that got stiffed in the end. That outfit and Launch Magazine are the two biggest reasons I NEVER pre-pay or "finance" operations of kits not able to ship instantly upon order.
There is a current company that has beautiful 3D printed kits that is notorious for wanting up-front money before producing kits. Probably will never own/build any of their kits unless they are 3rd party sold on ebay. I don't "finance" hobby kit production. If you can't afford to do business in the TRADITIONAL way, you can't afford to be in business.


Yep, agree completely.... those jerks at LAUNCH magazine stiffed me out of about $60 bucks. I wanted to support them because they were making such a high quality and good magazine, but then as soon as they hit the skids they cut and ran and just screwed everybody who put their faith in them and tried to help them, which really shows what low class scumbag common thieves they really were.

Lesson learned, never again! OL J R
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  #24  
Old 04-29-2020, 07:35 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by luke strawwalker
[Snip].... those jerks at LAUNCH magazine stiffed me out of about $60 bucks. I wanted to support them because they were making such a high quality and good magazine, but then as soon as they hit the skids they cut and ran and just screwed everybody who put their faith in them and tried to help them, which really shows what low class scumbag common thieves they really were.

Lesson learned, never again! OL J R


You weren't the only one I kept the first copy, it's in pristine shape. but chucked the rest. What jerks.
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  #25  
Old 04-29-2020, 08:52 AM
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The big reason why I never subscribed to Launch Magazine was they always had problems/EXCUSES with late issues, combined issues, skipped issues, etc.
Gave me a very BAD feeling from the get-go, so I would only buy at hobby stores, bookstores when a new issue came out. I find inconsistent business practices extremely irritating.
The only consistent thing from them was a never ending series of excuses and inconsistencies.
I liked the MAGAZINE but despised their business practices.

PDR however was different; they produced quality consistent kits until their untimely demise when one got ill and they abruptly closed up shop and some got stiffed. When it looked like they were having delivery problems, I only purchased definitely available guaranteed items on ebay.
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ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC !
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  #26  
Old 04-29-2020, 12:25 PM
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By the end launch seemed to have a lot of filler, seemingly endless articles about ‘imminent’ civilian paid passenger spaceflight. Here we are 12-15 years after those articles and zero flights.
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  #27  
Old 04-29-2020, 07:37 PM
A Fish Named Wallyum A Fish Named Wallyum is offline
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I also posted this over at TUF (Totally Useless Forum). Same length of time as this one has been up, but that one has ZERO replies, likely because it isn't a forum game. This place has a reputation for only caring about old stuff, but the PDR kits were a fairly recent thing. You'd think one person over there would have a comment. Crickets......
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  #28  
Old 04-29-2020, 09:49 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rocketflyer
You weren't the only one I kept the first copy, it's in pristine shape. but chucked the rest. What jerks.

Hey, don't chuck 'em! There was some great stuff in the few mags we got, including interviews of some of our pioneers, and a photo essay of model rocketry with my kids.
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  #29  
Old 04-29-2020, 09:53 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by A Fish Named Wallyum
I also posted this over at TUF (Totally Useless Forum). Same length of time as this one has been up, but that one has ZERO replies, likely because it isn't a forum game. This place has a reputation for only caring about old stuff, but the PDR kits were a fairly recent thing. You'd think one person over there would have a comment. Crickets......

Most folks over there that would know something about PDR also lurk or post here. The bulk over there that do rocketry instead of games are either into HPR or weren't in the hobby when PDR existed, so I'm not surprised.
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  #30  
Old 04-30-2020, 02:54 AM
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I have the Alien Explorer and Gemini Titan (built and flown a number of times each), and also have their Starship Excalibur still in-the-bag unbuilt.
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