MadRocketer
Determined to do it differently
I have no survivors from back then. One was the Estes Thunderhawk. At least I think it was. It does not seem to exist anymore anywhere but I know it flew great! Does anyone else remember this rocket?
Yeah, I think it was a former Centuri kit that Estes kept going after the companies merged in the early 80's. Semroc did a repop of it a few years back. It's one of the only Thunder kits I've not flown at some point.I have no survivors from back then. One was the Estes Thunderhawk. At least I think it was. It does not seem to exist anymore anywhere but I know it flew great! Does anyone else remember this rocket?
Yeah, I think it was a former Centuri kit that Estes kept going after the companies merged in the early 80's. Semroc did a repop of it a few years back. It's one of the only Thunder kits I've not flown at some point.
Yeah, I noticed that. I think it was just an Estes thing. The decals were very similar, IIRC. This would be an easy clone with Semroc parts.I scrolled through the centuri-thunder-roc-5340-gallery and noticed that all the thunder series rockets pictured have three fins. Mine had five. Is this something Estes did?
Yeah, I noticed that. I think it was just an Estes thing. The decals were very similar, IIRC. This would be an easy clone with Semroc parts.
Thunderhawk (spacemodeling.org)I might have to clone it, It was the best flier in my little fleet back then.
I saw an upscale Thunderhawk launch at MDRA a few weeks ago, it was a good flyer. (5-finned)
View attachment 444613
BTW the Estes Thunderhawk and the Centuri Thunder Hawk, while they shared similar names, were not the same rocket.
Thunderhawk (spacemodeling.org)
Centuri Thunder Hawk #5338 (rocketshoppe.com)
Estes model was BT-50 with a BT-20 motor mount.
Centuri model was minimum diameter BT-20(ST-7).
And the Estes model, as previously mentioned had five fins.
Estes decals were military style, Centuri decals were the name with a hawk logo and a couple of body stripes.
Centuri Thunder series:
Thunder Hawk (.76")
Thunder Bird (1.0")
Thunder Roc (1.64")
Semroc Thunder series:
Thunder Bee (.543")
Thunder Chief (.908")
Thunder Strike (1.34")
Thunder Storm (2.04")
As you can see by the names and body diameters, the Semroc series was a separate line from the Centuri series, not retro repros.
Yes.Same nose?????
Welcome to the forum--I hope you and your son have fun with the kits. Your best move is to go the National Association of Rocketry's website, www.nar.org and search for a local NAR section in your area. There should be contact info to get in touch with the folks that run the section--you can then learn when they fly, and attend a launch to get acquainted with the hobby.My son received a rocket kit for Christmas, I have no idea regarding regulations for this type of rocket or where we can launch. Any help would be greatly appreciated. San bernardino county, San bernardino and Apple Valley.
Welcome to the forum--I hope you and your son have fun with the kits. Your best move is to go the National Association of Rocketry's website, www.nar.org and search for a local NAR section in your area. There should be contact info to get in touch with the folks that run the section--you can then learn when they fly, and attend a launch to get acquainted with the hobby.
Edit: Did a little research for you. Near Apple Valley, looks like Rocketry Organization of California is who you want to reach out to. Website is www.rocstock.org
Best of luck!
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