Estes - (Astron) Ranger (K-6 or #1206) Gallery

fishtech · Oct 31, 2010

This is now called a BS(bit shorter) Big Bertha after having to remove 2 1/2" after a lawn dart flight.
This has to be my favorite rocket to launch.

paulm · Nov 1, 2010

Here is my Bertha on a D12 and an E9. Lost the upper when it took off at 45 degrees. Next build will have a 1/4" lug and a 5ft rod!!! (instead of 3/16" and 4ft)

FatBoy · Nov 1, 2010

Here is mine...

.

stardust · Nov 1, 2010

Pics of my scratch Bigger Bertha built for the Cesroni 6 grain 24mm white long burn. Glassed/epoxy 3/16th" balsa fins. BT Super glued saturated from the inside. The whole thing painted with Aeropoxy lay up resin from Giant Leap.

The other bird is a way cool kit from Advance Rocketry Group called Sky Probe. The probe is for testing some altimeters, and to get rid of the many smaller 29mm reloads I have. This model takes me back to Centuri Hustler days, but with a bit more punch. I think for the money this will be one of my favorite models. Foam resin nosecone and transition. Birch ply fins.

dixontj93060 · Nov 1, 2010

Like 'em!

stardust · Nov 1, 2010

dan winter said:
Pics of my scratch Bigger Bertha built for the Cesroni 6 grain 24mm white long burn. Glassed/epoxy 3/16th" balsa fins. BT Super glued saturated from the inside. The whole thing painted with Aeropoxy lay up resin from Giant Leap.

The other bird is a way cool kit from Advance Rocketry Group called Sky Probe. The probe is for testing some altimeters, and to get rid of the many smaller 29mm reloads I have. This model takes me back to Centuri Hustler days, but with a bit more punch. I think for the money this will be one of my favorite models. Foam resin nosecone and transition. Birch ply fins.

One more pic

o1d_dude · Nov 1, 2010

Even tho this one is not specifically named "Big Bertha" I think it fits in with the spirit of the gallery. Big Bubba, indeed!

sylvie369 · Nov 1, 2010

o1d_dude said:
Even tho this one is not specifically named "Big Bertha" I think it fits in with the spirit of the gallery. Big Bubba, indeed!

If you look closely, after a few minutes you'll see a rocket in that photo.

======================
Alternate caption: "Can you say 'Membership Drive'?".

bradycros · Nov 1, 2010

o1d_dude said:
Even tho this one is not specifically named "Big Bertha" I think it fits in with the spirit of the gallery. Big Bubba, indeed!

I only get bugs stuck to my rockets when I paint 'em.

JAL3 · Nov 1, 2010

bradycros said:
I only get bugs stuck to my rockets when I paint 'em.

:roll::roll::roll::roll::roll:

rstaff3 · Nov 2, 2010

Here is Vern loading Big Bertha #1 at NARAM 50.

.

Micromeister · Nov 3, 2010

Back in the day the Big Bertha wasn't on my radar for some reason. Closest thing was a Scratch built Ranger 3 18mm motor cluster from the early 70's.
Later a Super Big Bertha entered the new fleet and was extended to hold 43 bail-out tiny parachutists for a club fun contest.

Even later a scratch built Big Bertha's set up to take 18 to 24 mm motor with a twist-lock motor mount and a light weight Fun Contest blue model rounded out the Standard size models.
Great size and fun flying rockets.

...

Ranger-1-sm_3 - A8-3 Lift-off 1st Flight b&w_11-24-72.jpg

Boosterdude · Nov 11, 2010

Here are three from my Bertha collection:

Ranger

.

Boosterdude · Nov 11, 2010

o1d_dude said:
Even tho this one is not specifically named "Big Bertha" I think it fits in with the spirit of the gallery. Big Bubba, indeed!

What rocket, I see no rocket in that picture....:eyepop:

chadrog · Nov 11, 2010

The theme of our club launch last Feb. was "Big Bertha Drag Race". Everyone bring out your BB's and line them up! Knowing I needed to build something not only kooky but also competitive, I came up with this:
The "Pig Bertha". Flies awesome on 24mm composites.

FatBoy · Nov 11, 2010

chadrog said:
Pig Bertha"

That is cool!

jdud · Nov 13, 2010

Here are a couple of our Bertha's. The one that the little rock star is holding is our first (and favorite) Bertha. It and a similarly painted baby Bertha are the first two rockets we always put into the air at a launch. The other is a heavy duty Super Bertha taking to the sky on an H-somthin'-or-other. That same flight suffered a bulk head failure (due to too much black powder in ejection charge) and resulted in my avatar picture. However, she is back in commission and better than ever.

hcmbanjo · Nov 13, 2010

Well, it may not be a Bertha - close though!

It's built from Quest parts and has a two engine cluster.
The paint is based on the 1969 Estes catalog picture.
It has flown well with B6-4s and C6-5s.

JAL3 · Nov 13, 2010

hcmbanjo said:
Well, it may not be a Bertha - close though!

It's built from Quest parts and has a two engine cluster.
The paint is based on the 1969 Estes catalog picture.
It has flown well with B6-4s and C6-5s.

Close enough!

I always liked that scheme and I have the decals for it around here someplace. I just need to get around to building a BB. I've never built one.:blush:

Boosterdude · Dec 24, 2010

I added a Bertha to my collection, Puffy Letters. Flew it today, perfect flight! Decals provided by Excelsior.

chadrog · Dec 31, 2010

Boosterdude said:
I added a Bertha to my collection, Puffy Letters. Flew it today, perfect flight! Decals provided by Excelsior.

Great looking craft, awesome shot under power!

GRIFFIN · Dec 31, 2010

sylvie369 said:
If you look closely, after a few minutes you'll see a rocket in that photo.

======================
Alternate caption: "Can you say 'Membership Drive'?".

A rocket....where.....ooooh there it is

chadrog · Jan 10, 2011

The "Pig Bertha" flew yesterday on an E9, I think he might have gotten a bit dizzzy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--HGveYV6XA

Rex R · Jan 14, 2011

this is mine, I'm calling it 'Dee Nation'. I decided to use a 24mm mmt instead of the stock 18mm.

qquake2k · Jan 14, 2011

I feel left out. I haven't had a Big Bertha since the 70's! The closest I have right now is my scratch built "My Feminine Side", which is based on the Big Betty, but with a 24mm motor mount.

Boosterdude · Jan 14, 2011

Rex R said:
this is mine, I'm calling it 'Dee Nation'. I decided to use a 24mm mmt instead of the stock 18mm.

They fly great on the 24mm motors, C11-5 and D12-5.

Sharp looking rocket.

Rex R · Jan 15, 2011

Thank you. it did let me 'recharge' while working on my L1 bird

. my plan is to start with a d12 and work my way up to an F24...
rex

cjl · Jan 15, 2011

Rex R said:
Thank you. it did let me 'recharge' while working on my L1 bird . my plan is to start with a d12 and work my way up to an F24...
rex

Try an E6.

It's my single favorite motor in a Bertha. It's like the Energizer bunny - it just keeps going, and going, and going, and going...

nosecone · Feb 1, 2011

I changed the appearance of my Big Bertha a little bit. I have so many I decided to make this one a little bit pointier.

**edit** Added pictures of my 2 classic painted B.B.'s and 1 current paint scheme. (and 1 naked B.B. stuck on a pole)

qquake2k · Feb 1, 2011

nosecone said:
I changed the appearance of my Big Bertha a little bit. I have so many I decided to make this one a little bit pointier.

I like it! A three finned Big Bertha?

Estes - (Astron) Ranger (K-6 or #1206) Gallery

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