Here are some of my "firsts"...
First launch: My brother's Freon-powered Vashon rocket, sometime in the mid-70's.
First rockets of my own: A couple modified Estes kits. I don't recall which kits they were, except for the first one I launched, which was a stretched Mosquito on an A10. I think this was in 1980.
First camera rocket: Estes Astrocam, early 80's.
First flight using a composite motor: About 1982, in a heavily modified FSI kit, with an Astrocam payload. The motor was an F67 (I think) from Crown (formerly SSRS).
First 35mm camera rocket: Scratchbuilt with a cheapo plastic camera and a mechanical timer. Took one shot per flight, looking down past the tail of the rocket. The rocket was powered by an FSI F100 and two Estes D12-0s. Mid-80's.
First Super 8 movie camera rocket: An odd-looking scratchbuilt rocket with two 29mm motor mounts. Flew it once or twice on a pair of F100's, then shredded it on two G125's. About 1987.
First "high power" rocket: A 4" diameter scratchbuilt cluster rocket with Super 8 movie camera payload. Powered by three 29mm H motors and four Estes D12's. June 1988.