The launch pad gone?

[AcidPaintball]

A number of sites are out of stock and I think erockets showed oop.
Is TLP out of business? I know I tried to contact them a few times with no replay. I'd be seriously bummed if true.

 

[Woody's Workshop]

I would be seriously bummed too!
I have many of their kits on my wish list when my ssdi ever starts.
They are great builder kits. The 2 I have are quite challenging.

I just checked Sirius Rocketry and they have them on sale, with only a hand full sold out.
Not uncommon I would think for this time of year.

Leading Edge Rocketry & Heavily Hobbies also has them, thou not on sale.

"THIS" guy has em on ebay. I bought from him before, good seller.

 

[LW Bercini]

Here is their site: https://www.the-launch-pad.com/

 

[AcidPaintball]

Thanks lw, but I've tried using their email address that's on the site and filling out the form with zero replies. Also I was told by Hobbylinc that they haven't been able to contact TLP for months to order.

 

[bobkrech]

Did you try calling?
Owner is Charles Barndt, 25984 SW Rucks Dairy Rd.​ Okeechobee, FL 34974
You can easily find the phone number on the internet.

 

[Zeus-cat]

I was told by a reliable source that the owner has had some health issues and has halted production. Apparently, he is looking to sell the business.

 

[AcidPaintball]

I wished I had the cash to buy it

 

[Woody's Workshop]

I thought maybe the hurricane last month had something to do with it.
If it is his health, I hope he makes a quick and full recovery.
If he is looking to sell, perhaps eRockets will pick up his line.
I sure would hate to see them go away.
They are the only one's that do all military type kits.

 

[samb]

Try this number (eight six three) six nine seven - nine four zero four

 

[Woody's Workshop]

I was told by a reliable source that the owner has had some health issues and has halted production. Apparently, he is looking to sell the business.

This was confirmed to me via Email today, also by a reliable source.
I hope someone is able to make a deal and keep the kits coming out to us.
Wish for a quick and full recovery for the Owner.

 

[TopRamen]

This was confirmed to me via Email today, also by a reliable source.
I hope someone is able to make a deal and keep the kits coming out to us.
Wish for a quick and full recovery for the Owner.

That would be nice, but it would have to remain profitable for someone to take it, and now that you can have all the info you need to scratch build anything, or even improve VASTLY on flight and design characteristics, who really wants a Launch Pad Kit?
It's sad, but it is the way things are.
If I want a nice house I have to build it myself, but to build a nice one you need nice machines, and those require buildings too, since they would not fit into the house or be able to be supported by the floor.
The Pantograph I'm getting next month will take all of the guess work out of "Beveling Fins" or replication tasking, and even has a built in way to set the scale. Why do all you Rocket Nerds not quest for machines that can make all of your parts?

 

[harsas]

That would be nice, but it would have to remain profitable for someone to take it, and now that you can have all the info you need to scratch build anything, or even improve VASTLY on flight and design characteristics, who really wants a Launch Pad Kit?
It's sad, but it is the way things are.
If I want a nice house I have to build it myself, but to build a nice one you need nice machines, and those require buildings too, since they would not fit into the house or be able to be supported by the floor.
The Pantograph I'm getting next month will take all of the guess work out of "Beveling Fins" or replication tasking, and even has a built in way to set the scale. Why do all you Rocket Nerds not quest for machines that can make all of your parts?

Why would I want a machine to make all the parts? I might as well buy RTF. That is the beauty of TLP kits. They are real builder's kits. You cut your own fins and build mostly from diagram rather than step by step. Some of my favorite rockets were built from his kits. I will sorely miss them. If I was able, I would snap that line up in a minute...

 

[Woody's Workshop]

Launch Pad has a very unique line of kits. As stated, real builder kits. They are the only company (that I know of) that produces ONLY Scale Military Missiles Rockets.
The only down side to the kits is they don't come with decals. But that is easily remedied.

Why would I want a machine to make all the parts? I might as well buy RTF. That is the beauty of TLP kits. They are real builder's kits. You cut your own fins and build mostly from diagram rather than step by step. Some of my favorite rockets were built from his kits. I will sorely miss them. If I was able, I would snap that line up in a minute...

 

[viney266]

I know I am digging up an old thread, but rather than create a new one.

I bought and built about 7-8 of his rockets. Love them. Any word on this great resource? Would love a few more, I always enjoyed the challenge and have had many good fliers.

 

[SecondRow]

Very doubtful that it will come back. Your best bet is to search eBay or an old hobby shop. I have found a couple of TLP kits in some hobby shops that have been around awhile and have kits stacked everywhere.

 

[viney266]

I miss those hobby shops. Sadly, there are none left around me. I did my best to spend money in them as well (being a small business owner). My wife and I used to drive 1.5 hours to the last one and loved to buy from them

 

[samb]

Somebody is paying to keep the web site up. It's been up for sale for at least 5 years and maybe longer, IDK. Make 'em an offer !

The Launch Pad

 

[HHaase]

Still for sale, just talked to him about it a couple months ago. I opted not to make an offer

 

[Fishhead]

I've just started construction, but some of the kits are simple enough to figure out from the website pics. This is a BT-60 Kormoran, which would be a downscale compared to the BT-80 original TLP sold. I've also done the Tan Sam and Anubis. The Anubis flew away on the first flight. The Tan Sam tried to destroy the new car of one of my launch buds.

 

[kuririn]

Another resource is TLP plan paks from Uncle Mike's.
Plans only, no parts.
Someone on EBay was selling a few plan paks a while ago as well.
Here's a nekkid Exocet MM40 built from a plan pak:



Hoping someone with deep pockets will resurrect TLP.
I need a Seawolf and a Sparrow.

 

[Funkworks]

So are the parts mostly standard and easily available? I would fear being instructed to find unobtanium.

 

[Scott_650]

So are the parts mostly standard and easily available? I would fear being instructed to find unobtanium.

Standard stuff - kraft tubes, card stock centering rings, balsa fins, plastic or balsa nose cones - the “twist” to TLP designs is the use of paper shrouds and “witches’ hats” to make the scale-appearance nose cones. TLP kits have a bunch of entries on the EMRR Rocket Reviews site if you want to check out what the kits were like https://www.rocketreviews.com/the-launch-pad-6826.html

 

[HHaase]

Fins are never supplied as pre-cut, it's balsa sheet and paper templates to cut your own. Nearly all the parts are standard fare tubes, centering rings, etc. Uncle Mikes still has some of the 'plan packs' avaialable.

https://www.unclemikesrocketshack.com/TLP/Plan_Packs/Plan_Packs.html

 

[boomtube-mk2]

Between model railroading and model rocketry, the number of small companies that have gone out of business due to the owner's declining health is legion.

 

[harsas]

Fins are never supplied as pre-cut, it's balsa sheet and paper templates to cut your own. Nearly all the parts are standard fare tubes, centering rings, etc.

This is the beauty of TLP kits. They are old fashioned builder kits that require you use your skills for the build. While I do appreciate the perfection of laser cut fins, there is something special about creating a rocket from a pile of materials.

 

[viney266]

I enjoyed the "witches hats" they were always a challenge to get just right.

 

[kuririn]

I enjoyed the "witches hats" they were always a challenge to get just right.

Ooh, pointy.

 

[Ez2cDave]

So are the parts mostly standard and easily available? I would fear being instructed to find unobtanium.

Basically, EXCEPT for the Nose Cones.

Dave F.

 

[rharshberger]

Basically, EXCEPT for the Nose Cones.

Dave F.

PNC-80BB with witches hats or PNC-80K are hard to come by...Balsa Machining has both plastic and balsa versions iirc, sans witches hats of course. Did LP use any special nose cones? I thought all their kits used standard nosecones and modded them from there.

 

[Ez2cDave]

PNC-80BB with witches hats or PNC-80K are hard to come by...Balsa Machining has both plastic and balsa versions iirc, sans witches hats of course. Did LP use any special nose cones? I thought all their kits used standard nosecones and modded them from there.

Good question . . . I have only built a couple of their kits, years ago.

Dave F.