Here’s a link to a page out of the July, 1972 issue of Model Rocket News. Ad for the Mini Brute Fleet pack.

Link: http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/nostalgia/mrn123b.jpg

I knew I had seen a reference to it somewhere but could not place where that was. I think this was it.

Earl

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Earl L. Cagle, Jr.
NAR# 29523
TRA# 962
SAM# 73
Owner/Producer
Point 39 Productions

Rocket-Brained Since 1970

Great stroll down memory lane, thanks! Having lived trough that era, I seem to recall that that "Mini-Brute" line was a response to the economic inflation that we were going through at that time.

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Got a Caribbean soul I can barely control.....

Don't forget the "Firing Line" mini brute Banshee, Vampire, and X-15.

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When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !
Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, TURMOIL, FIASCOS, and HAVOC !

The Estes Firing Line - 1973-1975

Even though they were powered by the new mini-engines, these were never called Mini-Brutes. They're their own thing, like the Gooney Birds. Definitely worthy of recognition.

The Sprite is probably closest to being like "the Fifth Beatle" to the Mini-Brute line - there in the early formative years but not making the line-up when it formed.

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-Wolfram v. Kiparski
NAR 28643 - TRA 15520
MTMA Section #606 President

I'm adding the Fleet Pack to the chronology.

I really am geeking out over this topic, so naturally I created a graph that tells a story in a glance.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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-Wolfram v. Kiparski
NAR 28643 - TRA 15520
MTMA Section #606 President

I appreciate your work on this Wolf and posting it here for posterity.

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Scott D. Hansen
Ye Olde Rocket Shoppe - Your One Stop BAR Shoppe!
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WOOSH NAR Section #558

Posting for posterity is the goal, Scott.

I'm updating the OP as I find new information. Earl reminded me of the MRN, where I have already found more Mini-Brute history. Like:

The first three Mini-Brutes were offered in 1971, months before the other ones were. The rest appeared in 1972.

The Sprite was called a Mini-Brute in the MRN even though it never appeared as a Mini-Brute in any catalog. True Fifth Beatle status that one...

There's a cameo appearance of Austin Powers in the Sept/Oct 1973 MRN

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-Wolfram v. Kiparski
NAR 28643 - TRA 15520
MTMA Section #606 President

100% agree with this assessment, and from personal experience back then (76-77) the mini brutes were the ones labeled that way in the catalog, and on the facecard. I would love to see a Maxi-Brute thread.

Also of note, the Midget was changed from a BT20 booster to BT50 upperstage, with the series III engines to a BT5 Booster and BT20 upperstage with the Mini engines. FYI the Semroc Clone of the Midget is the Original Series III engine version.

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Nicely done, Wolf!

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Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

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