Sold Rocketman 4" Miss Riley (aka Rocket Boy)

[MisterMan]

Yep, this is the original 4” Miss Riley (aka Rocket Boy) from RocketMan, circa 2000. It features the 8.5” spun aluminum nozzle that makes this a truly unique kit. It was a limited edition and I think only about 200 were made. It sold for $250 19 years ago.

This kit is complete and has not been assembled. It includes the spun aluminum nozzle, a Rocketman R7C chute, precut fiberglass fins, and stainless hardware. I have added 2 things that make my kit unique, first the kit came with a 13” plastic nosecone that I thought was just too stubby so I have substituted a 17” nosecone that looks much better. And second I have created a Miss Riley vinyl decal that matches Ky Michaelson’s original hand painted script on the Miss Riley rocket as seen in the final scenes of the movie. After I re-drew Ky’s script, Mark at Stickershock printed it perfectly in red vinyl. No Brush Script on this rocket.

Please note: the spun aluminum nozzle is purely for aesthetics, a traditional 38mm motor mount is tucked inside the hollow nozzle.

My price for this kit is $300, plus actual shipping (probably around $25-$45 depending on your location), and I will ship to the lower 48 states only.

Very few of these kits ever come up for sale, it’s been out of production for 19 years, and I have included a custom decal and an upgraded nosecone.

Send me a message if you want the kit and I will give you a total with shipping based on your location, then you can pay with PayPal (friends and family) and I will ship.

Please check out the pictures below, I’ve included photos of the actual kit, a render of a good color scheme, and the page from the 2000 Rocketman catalog.

-Andy

 

[Buddy Michaelson]

Wow this is so cool to see these kits still around after so long! That price is a steal, $250 in 2000 is $372.00 now.

 

[MisterMan]

Wow this is so cool to see these kits still around after so long! That price is a steal, $250 in 2000 is $372.00 now.

Yeah it is a steal, but I didn't want to wait around to find a buyer at $400, I would rather see someone get it at a good price quickly and get it flying. I think it's great that you are making modern versions of some of these classic kits!

 

[cwbullet]

Buddy: If this sells, there is a market.

Someone buy it, please!

 

[Buddy Michaelson]

Buddy: If this sells, there is a market.

Someone buy it, please!

I agree, a 4” Miss Riley is in the future, although working on finding cheap aluminum, or we can get into metal casting, and than machining it to perfection as there’s so much waste. On the 2.6” nozzles 9 cubic inches was removed, and on the 4” as is, it’ll be 30.6 cubic inches.

 

[FMarvinS]

Buddy,

If you do produce a 4 inch kit, please include a 75 mm motor mount!

Fred

 

[cwbullet]

Yup - 75mm mount.

 

[Buddy Michaelson]

Buddy,

If you do produce a 4 inch kit, please include a 75 mm motor mount!

Fred

That would be totally awesome but the nozzle just wouldn’t look right. The original Miss Riley was a 38mm, but with this one being fiberglass and much heavier, there’s no way it’d move. So I will be putting a 54mm MMT in it. We are also looking at machining our own retention system right into the nozzle, with either a snap ring or screws, so it would act as a thrust plate, but also save on buying a retainer.

 

[mrwalsh85]

I agree, a 4” Miss Riley is in the future, although working on finding cheap aluminum, or we can get into metal casting, and than machining it to perfection as there’s so much waste. On the 2.6” nozzles 9 cubic inches was removed, and on the 4” as is, it’ll be 30.6 cubic inches.

Good luck. Might suggest A356 or 319 alloy. A356 is heat treat material, 319 is self aging, but sometimes folks will heat treat it. I'd suggest making your casting 1/4" thick, and then having your machinist fixture it such that you get the proper thickness. You can try and get a 1/8" wall but you'd have difficulty pouring it. You will also need a core box for this job

 

[Buddy Michaelson]

Good luck. Might suggest A356 or 319 alloy. A356 is heat treat material, 319 is self aging, but sometimes folks will heat treat it. I'd suggest making your casting 1/4" thick, and then having your machinist fixture it such that you get the proper thickness. You can try and get a 1/8" wall but you'd have difficulty pouring it. You will also need a core box for this job

The only problem is that they have to be aluminum, they cannot be stainless steel as it would be much heavier in the “wrong end” and would be much pricier. I know all about machining myself but we’ll see where it goes, may start out with 1” wall aluminum tube as well.

 

[Steve Shannon]

Have the nozzles spun by a company that specializes in it:
https://www.wenzelmetalspinning.com/aluminum-spinning.html

 

[grouch]

The phenolic is much more classier than the Pro Line plastic tubes. Just saying.

 

[Worsaer]

This thread has taken quite a turn. It looks to still be available for only $300.

 

[mrwalsh85]

The only problem is that they have to be aluminum, they cannot be stainless steel as it would be much heavier in the “wrong end” and would be much pricier. I know all about machining myself but we’ll see where it goes, may start out with 1” wall aluminum tube as well.

Sorry for the thread hijack, MisterMan.

FYI: A356 and 319 are cast aluminum alloys.

 

[Buddy Michaelson]

Buddy,

If you do produce a 4 inch kit, please include a 75 mm motor mount!

Fred

What are your thoughts on 54 vs 75mm in the 98mm Miss Riley? I’m leaning towards the 54 as it’s more authentic looking, and most will fly it on a 54.

 

[MisterMan]

Yup - 75mm mount.

Nope, 75mm in a 4" airframe Miss Riley is a non-starter. The nozzle is the whole point of a Miss Riley, and simple geometry shows us why a 75mm motor mount is not a thing.

 

[MisterMan]

Yes, the original 4" Miss Riley is still available for only $300, in all it's classic phenolic beauty, but there are a couple folks with itchy trigger fingers hovering over the "Buy" button. It is payday after all.

My money was on Chuck snapping it up as soon as I posted it, but well, that didn't happen.

Andy

 

[crossfire]

The phenolic is much more classier than the Pro Line plastic tubes. Just saying.

What is Pro Line plastic tubes?

 

[grouch]

The fiberglass tubes made by Pro Line aka Curtis.

 

[RocketRev]

If Its still for sale, I'll take it.

 

[crossfire]

The fiberglass tubes made by Pro Line aka Curtis.

I never heard of fg tubes called plastic tubes

 

[grouch]

I never heard of fg tubes called plastic tubes

Have you heard of cardboard rocket being called paper? It's the same thing.

 

[Buddy Michaelson]

Have you heard of cardboard rocket being called paper? It's the same thing.

That’s because cardboard is paper, but fiberglass is filament wound not extruded.

 

[rharshberger]

Its still a plastic as the epoxy matrix required to make it is a thermosetting polymer aka a plastic.

That’s because cardboard is paper, but fiberglass is filament wound not extruded.