Back In The Day, Part 48 - The 'Old Fleet' Nike-X

 Having just completed a build of a new-release Estes Nike-X, I thought I would pay a visit to the dim and distant past and dig up whatever info I could about my old fleet version of the original #1270 kit built in 1978.

This model, fleet #70, was modified significantly from the stock kit, in that the body tube was cut below the middle fin set so that a first stage booster could be built.  This was equipped with a 24mm motor mount. 

Mighty D Engines, folks.

Also, as shown in the photo, I went with an olive drab paint scheme with plenty of paint-dot bolt heads.

My old flight records indicate that the model was flown 3 times.

The maiden launch took place on July 15, 1979.  This was a single stage flight using a C6-5 motor to check for stability of the upper stage.  Successful flight.  Here are pics of that particular launch.  The second photo was one of the rare shots of a liftoff I managed to get with my cheesy old camera.

The next two flights were in the two-stage configuration, both utilizing a D12-0 / B4-6 motor combination.  These took place on October 7, 1979 and May 10th, 1981, respectively. Both were highly successful, with perfect staging and nearly out-of-sight flights of the upper stage.

There are hints that the model may have been flown a couple more times, but there are no existing records to corroborate this.

The Nike-X was sold along with the rest of my model rockets when I stepped away from the hobby in 1985.

Here is a photo of another model in the old fleet that was custom-bashed from an additional Nike-X kit.  

I called this one the 'Uprated Nike-X', whatever 'uprated' was supposed to mean. Might be because the fins were of a more high-performance design and were airfoiled for increased altitude. 

The model was fleet #74, built in 1980.  Records show a total of 4 successful flights.

The bird was sold alongside the Nike-X in '85. 

Kinda' wish I still had these ol' models....