Model Rocket Building Blog 
Model Rocket Building Posts
Old Range Box Part 2 (2010-07-30)
Check out the old stickers on the inside lid! Those go back to NARAM 17 and 18. The upper shelf holds (clockwise from the upper left) 1. Engine mount adapters and heavy twine. 2. Igniters from Estes ... [Read More]
More Centuri Pronunciations (2010-08-05)A while back I did a post about the correct way to say Centuri. I've never known the correct pronunciation of Lee Piester's last name. Until now - I was watching the YouTube ... [Read More]
Sky Hook Build Part 1 (2010-08-05)I read a post on YORF from Carl at Semroc. He talked about how Bill Simon was at NARAM and signing the Semroc Sky Hook kit giveaways to the participants. Carl wrote he had an extra kit and would ... [Read More]
Sky Hook Entry Story for TRF (2010-08-06)Carl from Semroc said there was one more Bill Simon autographed Sky Hook kit left from NARAM . He asked for Sky Hook stories. Here's mine: Back in the spring of '72, Estes mailed Model Rocket News ... [Read More]
The End of SEMROC? (2010-08-11)I'm sure by now most have read this thread: http://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?p=123088#post123088 It's a sad day for rocketry. After all the good will shown at the recent NARAM, Estes/Cox ... [Read More]
Enerjet 1340 Paint Schemes Part 7 (2010-08-17)Bob (Initiator001 from YORF ) said it would be okay to show his three versions of the Enerjet 1340. Thanks Bob! From left to right: This prototype version was seen on the cover of the Enerjet flyer ... [Read More]
Contest - Full Circle (2010-08-20)I got a small package in the mail today from Semroc . I wasn't expecting an order, that came last week. I was surprised to receive a special edition Sky Hook kit signed by Bill Simon. ... [Read More]
Corkscrew 2 Build Backstory (2011-03-05)Here's a fun, easy to build design by Bruce Levison . The CORK SCREW won him first place in the FlisKits Design of the Month Contest in October, 2003. Here's how Bruce described his entry: October ... [Read More]
Happy Birthday G. Harry Stine! (2011-03-26)Here's a great YouTube video on the G. Harry Stine legacy - HERE I met Mr. Stine at my first NARAM in Orlando, Florida back in 1975. He took the time to meet and talk with all the ... [Read More]
The New BMS MIGHTY D Launch Controller (2011-08-06)Here's the newest from Balsa Machining Service: The MIGHTY D 12v Launch Controller It's a innovative design - 12 volts of power in a 7" long X 5" tall box. It'll fire any igniter from a Micromaxx to ... [Read More]
A NAR Section Newlsetter Done Right! (2011-11-12)If you are ever looking for inspiration on how a section newsletter should be produced, check this out: http://www.masa-rocketry.org/planetonline.htm This is the website to go to with a good cup of ... [Read More]
BMS IMP Kit - $.99 ! (2012-07-29)Bill Saindon of Balsa Machining Service announced a new kit last night at the NARAM manufacter forum. It's the IMP , a BT-5 based model made for 13mm "T" engines. Featherweight ... [Read More]
Letter from Nik Bergenske (2013-01-04)Hi Chris, I was feeling a little sentimental today after helping my son put together some space models - and it prompted me to google my dad's former business - Model Rocket Industries. I enjoyed ... [Read More]
Meatball Rocketry Website (2013-06-01)The Meatball Team won the scale competition at NARAM 50. Stop by their website and find out why! You'll find Plenty of scale information and build tips. http://meatballrocketry.com The articles on ... [Read More]
New SEMROC Kits! (2013-07-20)Five new Semroc kits have been released just in time for NARAM 55! Three are Centuri based models - The SATELLITE KILLER, REDEYE and EGG CRATE. Two more "Groonies" - YUNG'UN's NUKE and the SNAKE ... [Read More]
Rocketry Items on EBAY (2014-04-25)The finished 1969 catalog Estes ALPHA is up for bidding on EBAY HERE this is the same Alpha built on this blog. No plastic, all balsa with custom decals to match ... [Read More]
Mosquitos, Anyone? (2014-05-29)The Estes BT-5 Mosquito could be considered a downscale of the Estes STREAK The Streak was BT-10 based. The BT-10 was a clear Mylar tube, close to a BT-20 size. The face card says "Ideal for ... [Read More]
Jeff Taylor's Steampunked ACME Spitfire (2014-07-27)Jeff Taylor (FatBoy on TRF) "Steampunked" his FlisKit ACME Spitfire. The finished results are amazing! CLICK HERE There are hundreds of rivets and plenty of cardstock trim. I especially like the ... [Read More]
John Boren's Navaho Cruise Missile (2014-07-31)There's a good reason why John Boren works in R&D at Estes. If you haven't followed the Navaho build thread on YORF you should check it out - CLICK HERE John's scale entry at NARAM 56 ... [Read More]
EBAY Rocket Listings (2014-08-19)The Estes Reflector is up for bidding on EBAY - CLICK HERE The same model built was here on the blog. Also for sale is the 1976 ESTES NARAM Contestants Package. Check out the ... [Read More]
New EBAY Items (2014-09-04)I've put up some rocketry items for bidding on EBAY. First is the Estes Black Brant III made from the nose and tail cone from the Crossfire kit. CLICK HERE Fins are cut from basswood and scale ... [Read More]
Custom P.O.N.G. at Seattle Museum of Flight (2014-11-26)Bill Stine referred my name to Custom Rockets about building a Custom PONG kit for the Seattle Museum Of Flight rocketry display. I had one upstairs, finished and never flown! CLICK HERE The is ... [Read More]
Coming Soon from Estes (2015-06-27)Estes has some new kits unveiled in their Coming Soon page - CLICK HERE A larger Maxi-Brute sized HONEST JOHN was shown at a past NARAM. This one is smaller, BT-60 based. To me, a more ... [Read More]
Old Estes Building (2015-07-09)On TRF, Steven asked: I always wondered what happened to the building you saw in many of the catalogs. For those TRF posts, CLICK HERE From the 1971 Estes catalog: "The Estes plant now ... [Read More]
Estes (Centuri) Little Joe II !!! (2015-10-02)Just added to the Estes Coming Soon page - This is based on the older Centuri Little Joe II, the BIG one. It'll use the D12-3 engine instead of a cluster. CLICK HERE to see the Estes webpage. ... [Read More]
My BIG Deal and Steal - An Old Story (2015-10-12)I went to the 1975 NARAM, held in Orlando, Florida. Near the end of the meet a fellow flyer was distributing a mimeographed list of rocket kits for sale. If memory serves, his name was Warren Cisco. ... [Read More]
Star Wars . . . (2016-02-11)I finally went to see the newest Star Wars movie. I know, about time, right? At my age I don't feel a need to camp out for the Midnight premiere. I wasn't blown away. It was nice to see some of the ... [Read More]
Throwback Thursday Pic 2 (2016-02-25)Here's a picture of the first time I saw Vern Estes in person. This goes back to 1975 at NARAM 17 in Orlando, Florida. Mr. Estes walked into the room and you could hear the whispering: "Hey look, ... [Read More]
Throwback Thursday Pic 3 (2016-03-03)Here's another picture from NARAM 17, 1975 in Orlando, Florida. That's the Centuri booth. Behind the table is Bob DelPrincipe, one of the Centuri designers. The sign says: "Pre-Production Super ... [Read More]
Throwback Thursday Pic 5 (2016-03-17)Here's another shot from NARAM 17 in 1975. That's Vern Estes test firing an engine in a thrust measuring device. He designed it, the company was under Gleda's name. Putting it under his wife's name ... [Read More]
Throwback Thursday Pic 7 (2016-06-30)Another picture from NARAM 17. NARAMs are a great place to meet to meet vendors. On the right is Col. Howard Kuhn of Competition Model Rockets. When CMR was up and running, you'd see many of his ... [Read More]
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