I am 66.5 years old and built the vast majority of the Estes rockets kits in the late sixties and early seventies, until life got in the way. I've got multiple health issues that prevent me from doing much of anything physical. I used to fly kit Built RC planes extensively, and I am an excellent builder and quite capable of "making it work" when necessary. I was a skilled model rocket builder (level 5 +) and I am considering getting back into the hobby. My first build and flight was with the Estes Astron Sprite, and I would to locate a kit that hasn't been violated, so I can restart from there. I could scratch build from plans, but I'd rather not go that route. Any advice would be sincerely appreciated. Thanks!
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to the forum from another 66.5 year old
Welcome, Joe! I'm in the same boat as you. Today, I just helped my son with his first rocket, the classic Alpha III. It's kind of a family tradition. We decided to start from the beginning and work through it together. It was my first rocket since the early '80s
Steve over at Launch Lab Rocketry has a bunch of vintage rocket kits. I did a quick search, but the Astron Sprite did not come up. He might be able to help you find one.
Also, Rich over at Rich's Rockets blog has a Mega Sprite build. It's a little crazy if you're looking for a 13mm park flier (he starts off with an 8" tube), but it's a fun read. I didn't see any links for plans but he might be able to help or point you in the right direction.
I did find some information on the Astron Sprite on RocketReviews.com. It contains a RockSim file (I opened it in OpenRocket). The band around the fins doesn't load for me but I have attached the PDF of the project output and the RockSim file from Rocket Reviews.
Finally, I was able to find a PDF of the original Estes Astron Sprite documentation HERE. Unfortunately, there's not much in the way of dimensions for the build. However, the SpaceModeling site has a ton of Estes kits. It's like walking through a virtual Smithsonian.
I am sorry I wasn't able to find exactly what you were looking for, but I hope that this helps you on your journey.
Best of luck and welcome to the forum!
Steve over at Launch Lab Rocketry has a bunch of vintage rocket kits. I did a quick search, but the Astron Sprite did not come up. He might be able to help you find one.
Also, Rich over at Rich's Rockets blog has a Mega Sprite build. It's a little crazy if you're looking for a 13mm park flier (he starts off with an 8" tube), but it's a fun read. I didn't see any links for plans but he might be able to help or point you in the right direction.
I did find some information on the Astron Sprite on RocketReviews.com. It contains a RockSim file (I opened it in OpenRocket). The band around the fins doesn't load for me but I have attached the PDF of the project output and the RockSim file from Rocket Reviews.
Finally, I was able to find a PDF of the original Estes Astron Sprite documentation HERE. Unfortunately, there's not much in the way of dimensions for the build. However, the SpaceModeling site has a ton of Estes kits. It's like walking through a virtual Smithsonian.
I am sorry I wasn't able to find exactly what you were looking for, but I hope that this helps you on your journey.
Best of luck and welcome to the forum!
Apparently the kit is pretty rare, but SEMROC makes a reproduction with some modern concessions. Laser-cut fins, 13mm motor mount (the Series III 18mm motors with the shorter casing have not been available for decades), and possibly a few others. You could always cut your own fins if laser cutters are too newfangled for your taste.
https://www.erockets.biz/semroc-flying-model-rocket-kit-sprite-sem-kv-86/
Sounds you would knock it out of the park with scratch building. Want to start with an Estes Designer's Special assortment of parts?
Oh, for flying... Never could train the dog to fetch, but I'm lucky my girlfriend enjoys the launches and is willing to do the walking.
Oh, for flying... Never could train the dog to fetch, but I'm lucky my girlfriend enjoys the launches and is willing to do the walking.
Welcome, Joe! The Sprite was my first rocket, too!
That Semroc kit Shane linked is probably your best bet for a flyable model.
That Semroc kit Shane linked is probably your best bet for a flyable model.
Thank you so much for that information!
Thanks Tim!
I appreciate the info and thanks!
Welcome!
If you happened to have been a NAR member "back in the day", you can reclaim your original number by contacting them. Ask me how I know.
Welcome to TRF Joe! Holler if you get lost!
welcome.
No I never was sadly. Thanks for that info!Welcome!
If you happened to have been a NAR member "back in the day", you can reclaim your original number by contacting them. Ask me how I know.
Welcome to the Forum and a big hello from Southern Nevada. Where are you in Florida? I was in Melbourne in '79. I am also 66. Be 67 on April 22nd.
Welcome, Joe!
If you're a scratchbuilder, JimZ's site is an absolute gold mine of plans from the past. Here is the old Sprite from his site. He's also got stuff from other rocketry companies, old catalogs, Model Rocket News and Design of the Month, you name it.
To make those rockets you'll need parts. ("Parts is parts...", shout out to Wendy's ). Balsa Machining Service has balsa and plastic nose cones, body tubes, etc., etc. And if you're interested in today's Estes kits, AC Supply has them heavily discounted.
Best,
Terry
If you're a scratchbuilder, JimZ's site is an absolute gold mine of plans from the past. Here is the old Sprite from his site. He's also got stuff from other rocketry companies, old catalogs, Model Rocket News and Design of the Month, you name it.
To make those rockets you'll need parts. ("Parts is parts...", shout out to Wendy's
). Balsa Machining Service has balsa and plastic nose cones, body tubes, etc., etc. And if you're interested in today's Estes kits, AC Supply has them heavily discounted.Best,
Terry
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When I got back into rocketry, my first purchase was an Estes Designers special, which you should be able to build 6-8 rockets from for a little less than $100. A lot of cool parts in there.
I'm just outside of Tampa. Been here for almost 9 years now. I'm a New Yorker and I miss the seasons but not the cold a d snow! You're not quite 3 months older than me and here we are, back into a hobby when we were kids!
I'm just outside of Tampa. Been here for almost 9 years now. I'm a New Yorker and I miss the seasons but not the cold a d snow! You're not quite 3 months older than me and here we are, back into a hobby when we were kids!
Thanks Terry!Welcome, Joe!
If you're a scratchbuilder, JimZ's site is an absolute gold mine of plans from the past. Here is the old Sprite from his site. He's also got stuff from other rocketry companies, old catalogs, Model Rocket News and Design of the Month, you name it.
To make those rockets you'll need parts. ("Parts is parts...", shout out to Wendy's
Best,
Terry
You’re gonna have fun, too.
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Welcome Joe! You're a youngun. Hey, having fun keeps you that way.
Hey, having fun keeps you that way.
How ?Welcome!
If you happened to have been a NAR member "back in the day", you can reclaim your original number by contacting them. Ask me how I know.
I vaguely recalled filling out my NAR application in #2 lead pencil around age 10. Don’t recall how I got the application, or the address for that matter, but I put the cash (literally) and the application in the envelope and mailed it off to NAR. Life got busy with high school, then college, then a child, then career… and I forgot all about model rocketry and about my NAR membership.
Fast forward past my “brief” 50+ year hiatus from rocketry, and I became interested in HPR after becoming a grandfather, and joined NAR (again, without realizing it). Some time later, I had a vague recollection of having joined NAR awhile back in my youth. I sent an email to NAR, and sure enough they dredged up my old NAR number and reassigned it to me. I was blown away by that, and proud to sport my new, er, old NAR membership number.
Pre-COVID, our club had one of its monthly meetings at a local Italian restaurant, and we had John Hochheimer as a guest. Ironically, I found myself sitting next to him and we struck up a conversation where I shared this story with him, and thanked him and his team for making this happen. I was impressed that an organization with such importance to me took the time to chase this down to help out a (former) kid who grew up building and flying Estes kits in the late’ish 1960’s.
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Similar story here. Thanks for the info.
dpower
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Welcome! (from another 6x year old). One of the early builds I did as a BAR was a clone of the Sprite, with Semroc laser-cut parts - still have some shorty engines I've flown it on!
