After dinner, the gentleman, whose name is Bob, disappeared down the stairs leading to the basement and emerged a few moments later carrying some model rockets, some un-built kits, and a box.
Setting the items down on the table in front of me, he declared, "These are all yours if you want them."
Bob explained that he had bought all of this stuff back in the mid 1990s with the intention of getting into model rocketry and involving his two young daughters .
As it turned out, the kids didn't develop much of an interest - a handful of rockets ended up being built, but none were ever flown. Bob ended up dropping the project himself, soon after.
The rockets and materials have been stored in his basement ever since, never seeing the light of day. Bob explained that he would probably never use them, so he offered to give them to me, knowing that I am deeply immersed in the hobby, and would make good use of the items.
I thanked him profusely, and accepted the gift, promising I would send him launch photos of any flights of these birds.
Yesterday, I unpacked the boxes and took inventory of all my new rockets and accessories.
First, the built rockets:
Identification of the large model was unknown to me. Bob couldn't even remember the manufacturer or kit name. After a little research on the interweb, I learned that this model is the Quest Big Rage, an easy builder's kit utilizing a plastic Nike-Smoke nose cone and fin can, and pre-colored body tubes.
The other two rockets were much easier to identify: an Estes Viking, and a Quark.
The un-built kits in this stash consists of these:
A Quest Icarus, and an Estes Big Daddy. The latter is perfect for me, since it is a D engine rocket highly suited to the small fields from which I generally launch. As for the Icarus (and the Big Rage above), I might just have to grab up some of the new quest D's...
Next is the 'mystery box' full of stuff...
The first thing I found when I opened the box was this...
So, the box is identified as the Super Shot starter set from Estes that included two rockets - the Super Shot and Twister, both E2X birds. The models were missing from this set.
Inside, I found a complete Porta-Pad II launcher, an Electron Beam controller, and a two piece launch rod, all of which had never been used.
Other items in the box include instruction sheets for the Super Shot rocket, and the launch controller,
a Rocketeer's Guide booklet, a package of A8-3 engines, a small packet of recovery wadding,
a bag containing a couple of launch lugs, and the plastic tube coupler left over from the Super Shot rocket kit.
The biggest surprise of all that I found in the box were these:
A whole slew of engines!
All of these unopened packs date back to the mid 1990s. Note that several of them carry the 'COBRA' labeling. These engines were all produced around the time that Estes began using the new 'starters' and plugs.
Bob informed me that the engines have been stored all of these years in his cool, dry basement where there have been no temperature or humidity changes.
That's good enough for me! I fully intend to use them.
Now, it's time to really get busy in the BlastFromThePast shop....
Cheers!