What are the "need to know" rockets at this point?

[BMcD]

There are several "what's your favorite?" threads going, but this is a bit different.

What are the most ubiquitous kits with which most "serious" rocketry enthusiasts are familiar?

I guess I'll start by saying I think the list should include at least the following:

Alpha
Big Bertha
Black Brant in some variation
Bull Pup
Der Red Max
Goblin
Honest John
LOC IV (maybe I'm wrong, but I consider this the quintessential high power kit)
Mean Machine
Nike Smoke
Saturn V

What other rocket kits do you consider to be genuine classics?

 

[tim cubbedge]

Little Joe II
Mercury Redstone

 

[kuririn]

Perhaps the most iconic is the V-2.

 

[Nytrunner]

None

Build what strikes your fancy

 

[Jeff Curtis]

Saturn V
Big Daddy
Might through in the Mosquito as well. It's been around forever and their are several upscales.
Mars Snooper

 

[neil_w]

None

Build what strikes your fancy

This. These lists inevitably grow and grow to include every individual's personal favorites. In the end, almost everyone will look at the accumulated list and find some that they either don't know about or don't care about. On the other hand I can imagine it would be interesting (maybe) to have a curated "Rocketry Hall of Fame", although I don't know who would manage such a thing.

And now, having said all that, I'll go right on ahead and add what I believe to be an absolutely essential rocket to the list: the original Interceptor.

 

[rocketman328]

There are several "what's your favorite?" threads going, but this is a bit different.

What are the most ubiquitous kits with which most "serious" rocketry enthusiasts are familiar?

I guess I'll start by saying I think the list should include at least the following:

Alpha
Big Bertha
Black Brant in some variation
Bull Pup
Der Red Max
Goblin
Honest John
LOC IV (maybe I'm wrong, but I consider this the quintessential high power kit)
Mean Machine
Nike Smoke
Saturn V

What other rocket kits do you consider to be genuine classics?

 

[rocketman328]

In the LOC lineup, I consider the LOC Ultimate, the EZI-65 and the King Viper III as being classics.

 

[K'Tesh]

Cineroc/Omega, Cherokee-D, Mosquito, Big Bertha (if you're into that kind of thing), Sizzler (1906), Der Red Max, Citation Patriot, Saturn V, Mercury Redstone, Warp II/Loadstar II, Yellowjacket, Hornet, (Classic: Purple, black and white) Wizard, Magnum Payloader.
Velociraptor, Dark Star, Lil' Green Man, Aspire, Initiator, Mustang, Sandhawk, Tomahawk, Swinger, and the SR-71 from Dynasoar.

 

[David Holderman]

There are several "what's your favorite?" threads going, but this is a bit different.

What are the most ubiquitous kits with which most "serious" rocketry enthusiasts are familiar?

I guess I'll start by saying I think the list should include at least the following:

Alpha
Big Bertha
Black Brant in some variation
Bull Pup
Der Red Max
Goblin
Honest John
LOC IV (maybe I'm wrong, but I consider this the quintessential high power kit)
Mean Machine
Nike Smoke
Saturn V

What other rocket kits do you consider to be genuine classics?

Question and it sounds stupid me asking but is this a We like “big rockets” like the space shuttle(NASA) group or a we like “building rockets” in our garage and shoot them up in the air at the football field on a nice sunny
Saturday afternoon?

 

[samb]

Question and it sounds stupid me asking but is this a We like “big rockets” like the space shuttle(NASA) group or a we like “building rockets” in our garage and shoot them up in the air at the football field on a nice sunny
Saturday afternoon?

This ! The focus here is on building and flying rockets as a hobby using commercially made solid propellant motors. Many (most ?) of us follow safety rules put forth by the two organizations in the USA: Tripoli and the National Association of Rocketry. Speaking for myself, I like the "big" rockets too.

https://www.tripoli.org/

https://www.nar.org/

Many of us flew rockets as kids then came back to the hobby as adults. Does that describe you ? Besides surfing around this place, I think a good way to get introduced to this party is to attend a local club launch. You can find one near you using the links above. Welcome !

 

[Nytrunner]

is this a We like “big rockets” like the space shuttle(NASA) group or a we like “building rockets” in our garage and shoot them up in the air at the football field on a nice sunny Saturday afternoon?

Samb has the answer, although the rockets we build in our garage can be 8" long and go 100 ft on a 1/2A motor, or be 30' long multi-stage high-power rockets that go 100s of thousands of ft high. If you're interested in such things, please stick around, you may find some cool stuff.

That being said, a fair number of us are also interested in real space launch vehicles, and a smaller number of us work in that (or related) industry

 

[Vdutel]

Question and it sounds stupid me asking but is this a We like “big rockets” like the space shuttle(NASA) group or a we like “building rockets” in our garage and shoot them up in the air at the football field on a nice sunny
Saturday afternoon?

David:

I have been involved in Model Rockets off and on for many years with my kids and had fun with them building and launching their rockets. I recently started back up building again as an adult with Teenagers that have gotten away from the rockets. I have launched Rockets in our area Safely as we have some open fields that can handle Model Rockets under 1500 feet..

Here you will find a bunch of info, friendly people in different stages of life with all levels of Rockets experience. It is a Great Place to be on and hang out with a group that Love Rockets!!!.

I see others have mentioned NAR & Tripoli and these are great Associations to join and continue to grow in this Hobby/Sport, Safely and with Like minded people. With even more resources and info to learn from....

I am wanting to move into High Power as I want to learn more, Go higher, get involved with a Club and be Mentored to achieve Level 1 Cert this year, thru Level 3 Cert one day... The Local Club that I will be joining has a Launch site 2 hours away that allows us to Launch Model Rockets & High Power Rockets safely. So this is a huge advantage to joining a Club... Mentoring New People the right way is key!!

It is well worth looking into local Clubs in your area and find one that is right for you as a Model or Higher Power Rocket enthusiast...

Welcome to the forum and Have Fun!!!

Victor

 

[dvdsnyd]

I would add Aerotech's Initiator to this list. Back in the late 90's, early 00's, it was the quintessential rocket a lot of people used to transition from low power into mid power/high power. I remember My dad had one. He actually quit flying it for quite a while because too many other people were flying theirs. Seems that one would fly in almost every rack.

 

[Vdutel]

I would add Aerotech's Initiator to this list. Back in the late 90's, early 00's, it was the quintessential rocket a lot of people used to transition from low power into mid power/high power. I remember My dad had one. He actually quit flying it for quite a while because too many other people were flying theirs. Seems that one would fly in almost every rack.

dvdsnyd

Not to mention the price for the Initiator Starter Kit is pretty decent to.... Mid Power Rocket & Launch equipment

 

[BABAR]

And now, having said all that, I'll go right on ahead and add what I believe to be an absolutely essential rocket to the list: the original Interceptor.

Great minds think alike. Of course, I haven’t actually BUILT it yet, but I got the E Model Interceptor and the Pursley skin (the blue confederate scheme). I just don’t build many kits, too busy building skwewy wockets!

Back to original poster, don’t worry about what someone else has built, pick what is at your skill level and what appeals to you. If you aren’t having fun you are doing it wrong!