Because my documentation methods back then were quite poor, many of the models' flight records are non-existent or incomplete. Most of the earliest models were not documented photographically either. Oddly, colored pencil drawings were rendered of several of those earliest rockets. Scans of these are included here. Any information I have concerning these models have been gleaned from basic flight logs, as well as information from Skywatchers/ROMAR launches that had write-ups in the club news-letter. Additional information was found written on the backs of contest ribbons I had won.
As for what ultimately became of these models - some were lost, some crashed, several were given away in 1977. These latter were the result of culling out some of the junk from the rocket room - broken models, experimental birds, unpainted contest models, and ones I no longer deemed useful enough to keep.
The remainder of the collection was sold to another rocketeer when I exited the hobby in 1985.
Occasionally, I wonder if that individual ever flew any of my old models, or if any of them still exist somewhere.....
#1 MOSQUITO
Estes Kit #TK-1Built: Summer 1973, My first model rocket build!
Flights: 1
The Mosquito was not found immediately after its maiden flight, but was located the next day in the middle of a motorcycle trail next to the launch field. The bird was crushed beyond repair. The remnants were discarded.
#2 STARBLAZER
Estes Kit #K-31
Built: 1973
Flights: 6
Lost 26 June, 1976 - Limon, Colorado Demo
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| The Spaceman model was originally painted white, but later got repainted to resemble the mascot of the Starlord International Association of Rocketry. |
#3 ASTRON SPACEMAN
Estes Kit # K-9
Built: 1973 - 1974
Flights: 15
Sold:1985
#4 APOGEE II
Estes Kit # K-5
Built: 1974
Flights: 5
Booster section damaged and discarded following flight on 26 June, 1976. Upper stage sold: 1985
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My first custom designed model rocket.
The body tube was too short to accommodate the
proper size recovery system.
|
#5 PROTON
Custom design competition streamer duration model.
Built: 1973
Flights: 2 documented, possible additional.
Model was either lost in mid-70s or sold in 1985.
#6 CORONA
Custom design competition streamer/parachute duration model.
Built: 1973 or 1974
Flights: 1 documented, possible additional.
Model either lost or in mid 1970s or sold in 1985.
The maiden flight of the Corona was made on 24 March, 1974 for a C engine streamer duration contest.
The bird was loaned to fellow rocketeer Marc Kramer to use as his entry. I used a back-up bird that I had on hand.
Marc flew the Corona to first place. The man beat me with my own model!
One consolation is that I placed 2nd with my entry. Two of my designs took the top spots in the event.
#7 PROTON II
Custom design streamer/parachute duration model
Built: 1973
Flights: 2 documented, possible additional.
Model was either lost in mid-70s or sold in 1985.
The Proton II was identical to the Proton I with the
exception of a longer airframe.
#8 CANOPUS
Custom design sport cluster model.
Built: 1974
Flights: Number not documented.
Model lost on 15 June, 1974
Plans for the Canopus were sent to
The Model Rocketeer, and were published in the
September, 1983 issue.
#9 FLATCAT / FLATCAT II
MPC Boost/Glider kit.
Built: 1974; Modified into sliding pod rocket/glider
configuration: 1975
Flights: 5
Model crashed on 6 August, 1978. Remnants discarded.
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| FlatCat II ready for launch. This was the rocket/glider configuration. |
#10 BIG BERTHA
Estes Kit # K-23
Built: 1974
Flights: 12 documented; possible additional.
Model sold in 1985.
The Big Bertha was painted in my high school colors
and was flown on the football field during halftime of the
school's Homecoming game.
On a later flight, the model suffered damage to the top three inches of the body tube, after which it was flown in its
shorter version.
The Bertha also served as a booster vehicle for parasite gliders.
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| The only existing photo of the original booster rocket - post CATO. |
#11 LUNAR PATROL
MPC kit
Built: 1974
Flights: 1 documented; possibly 2 or 3 additional.
Booster rocket destroyed by engine CATO
Gliders later flown numerous times on re-designed
booster rocket.
Gliders sold: 1985
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| The Hornet in 1975 |
#12 MARK II
Estes kit #K2-A
Built: 1974
Flights: 1
No existing photos or flight records of this model rocket.
Most likely lost on its maiden flight.
#13 HORNET
Estes kit #0804
Purchased already built: 1973
Flights (1973-1984): 16
Model is still in fleet.
https://castlerocketeer.blogspot.com/2017/03/rocket-fleet-13-hornet.html
#14 RASCAL R/G
Rocket/glider designed by Paul Conner.
Plans in The Model Rocketeer, Oct. 1973 issue.
Built: 1974
Flights: 9
Lost: 20 June, 1977.
Model glided out of sight on a thermal.
#15 PYTHON
Competition model - streamer/parachute duration
Custom design
Built: 1974
Flights: 1 (not documented), possible additional.
No existing photos or records.
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| Fat Albert ready for flight. D motor booster / C motor sustainer. |
Two stage sport model
24mm booster, 18mm sustainer
Custom design
Built: 1974 from many spare parts.
Flights: 6
Lost 24 July, 1977
#17 SPECTER
Single stage experimental / contest model
Custom Design
Carrier vehicle for experimental folding/flex-wing
gliders.
Built: 1974
Flights: 1 documented, several additional undocumented.
Model given away: 1977
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| This is a concept drawing of the MIT-1 glider. |
#18 MIT-1
Experimental Folding Wing Glider designed to fit inside a BT-50 size carrier rocket.
Built: 1974
Flights: 1 - March 24, 1974, no documented details.
Glider did not work very well.
Model give-away: 1977
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| This is the Estes ad art for the Yankee 5. My model was painted accordingly. |
#19 YANKEE 5
Estes Industries Coldpower convertible kit
Built: 1974
Flights: 5 between 1974-1978
No existing photgraphs.
Model was damaged on its final flight and sold with the collection in 1985.
#20 FLATCAT B
Boost glider (MPC / Stine design)
Second FlatCat build of old fleet, modified to utilize a single vertical stabilizer.
Built: 1974
Flights: 6
No existing photographs
Model was part of the 1977 give-away.
#21 MIT-2
Custom Built Ejectable Flex Wing Glider. Re-design of MIT-1.
Built: 1974
Flights: 1 - not documented
No available photographs or drawings. Model was likely lost on its maiden flight.
#22 PYTHON II
Custom built PD / SD competition model.
Built: 1974
Flights: 5
Took 2nd place in Cl. C streamer Duration - ROMAR section meet Mar. 24, 1977.
No available photos or drawings. Model was part of the 1977 give-away.
#23 CHAPARRAL
Scratch built model of the U.S. Army MIM-72 surface-to-air missile.
This was my first foray into scale modeling. This particular model was an unpainted boilerplate version meant to test stability requirements because of the large forward fins.
Built: 1977 This model fleet number is completely out of sequence, being assigned at a later date. Very possible that the project could have been started in 1974, but was shelved until 1977.
No photos or drawings exist of this rocket.
Flights: 1 The test flight was a failure and the unpainted model was lost in a grass field - well camouflaged!
#24 MARK II 1/2
Sport model - modified Estes kit K2-A
Built: 1974
Flights: 1
The nature of modifications are not known which would distinguish this model from the stock version.
No photos exist of this model. It was presumably lost on its first flight.
MODEL LIST CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE -
BlastFromThePast Old Fleet -1975
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