1930's Rocket Model Spaceship: Who makes kits?

I was thinking that I saw something on a company that makes model rockets that look like 1930's spaceships. Kind of like the rocket on "The Rocketry Forum" logo.

Does anyone know of a company that makes these rockets?

Because I am toying with the idea of turning a free flight model of a spaceship into a rocket glider. Hold on to your butts.....

I have built many rocket gliders. And I fly RC aircraft.

And here is a "Windbag" free flight model: https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=8632

iirc doesn't Klima offer a kit that is similar to the "retro" style rockets? We also had someone build a V2/A4 into the manned version (A10?).

https://www.apogeerockets.com/Rocket_Kits/Skill_Level_5_Kits/Exa

Not so much V2. More like Flash Gordon.

Kinda reminds me of the Dragonship or the recent Moonbug2 (scratch project). Thats definitely a cool design and really should be very doable. The question is how much noseweight. SCP offered the TRFKAB as a short run kit.

Could be Pemberton Technologies.
https://www.pembertontechnologies.com/kits/

Eventually, I want to turn the Windbag into a rocket glider. Here is the Windbag:

kuririn said:

Could be Pemberton Technologies.
https://www.pembertontechnologies.com/kits/

Click to expand...

Good call, for some reason I forget about Pemberton's retro style kits.

Crawf56 said:

Not so much V2. More like Flash Gordon.

View attachment 369812

Click to expand...

John Coker worked on a really neat Flash Gordon rocket several years ago. https://www.jcrocket.com/flashgordon.shtml

Pemberton's "Bucky Jones" is on my build list:

Steve Shannon said:

John Coker worked on a really neat Flash Gordon rocket several years ago. https://www.jcrocket.com/flashgordon.shtml

Click to expand...

Awesome info.

Rocketarium has this: https://www.rocketarium.com/Rockets/Mega-Rebel?cPath=111&

And a smaller version.

Crawf56 said:

Not so much V2. More like Flash Gordon.

View attachment 369812

Click to expand...

Canted motors (2 or 4) in the side pods to move weight forward, fold nose wings back during boost. It would only be about 12" long with 18 mm motors

I'm guessing that the Windbag is mostly paper with a small gas propeller engine in front. If so, to make it into a model rocket glider in the same fashion would be very difficult considering that the rocket exhaust would be near paper.

Also, there is MoreRockets, that has some very interesting models.

https://morerockets.com/index.php?route=common/home

BEC said:

Rocketarium has this: https://www.rocketarium.com/Rockets/Mega-Rebel?cPath=111&

And a smaller version.

Click to expand...

Fantastic! The Mega Rebel has a structure similar to that of the Windbag's internal structure. Without the center tube.

Thanks for all the comments and feedback. Here is the Plan of Action:

1) Mega Rebel from Rocketarium. I think I need to build and fly this rocket, to get a feel for structure and performance.

2) Windbag. I need to build an RC model, and get a feel for construction and flight performance. (I fly rc aircraft.)

Once I have accomplished these tasks, then I can make a better decision on how, and IF, I should proceed.

By the way, love the Flash Gordon rocket (jcrockets). Got to give that a try sometime.

Anything I do, I will post.

If you just want a feel for structure and performance, you could build the Retro Rebel rather than the Mega Rebel. Same design, but smaller and more economical. Construction is easy, like a jigsaw puzzle, as it is just fitting together interlocking plywood pieces. But because it's plywood, rather heavy for it's size. For your own design, you could sub balsa or basswood. The tough part is not the assembly, but the design. The interlocking slots must be precisely cut. Cheers.

When Brad Vatsaas and team were flying, their rockets were quite something as well...….
https://web.archive.org/web/20150910054712/https://www.vatsaas.org/rtv/

Very cool!

Pemberton Tech. Look for the Space ARK 38" tall (38mm Motors) or the Space Ark Jr. 16.35" tall (24mm motors, Incl AP C and D). They also sell the TRF Logo Rocket But that is 18mm Motor size. I would go with the Space Ark 38" for a 30's Rocket But I like BIG Rockets.

Magma Mountain Rocketry! Here are a few samples of my retro designs. Some are yet to be tested. 18mm through 29mm motors. Just putting these out there to spark some creative thought.

Here's the Abadoos on its most recent mission.

kevindcornwell said:

Magma Mountain Rocketry! Here are a few samples of my retro designs. Some are yet to be tested. 18mm through 29mm motors. Just putting these out there to spark some creative thought.

Click to expand...

LOVE THEM!!!!!!!

I'm a huge fan of these old sci fi designs. So glad to find this thread, these retro "rocket ships" have an undeniably innate coolness factor that can't help attracting attention even sitting still.

Don’t forget the Little Lunar E press from Public Missiles. The have great kits.

Good stuff!

I should check these forums more often.
A long time ago silverrockets.com made 50s style rockets. Now OOP I keep the website up for nostalgia and email purposes. I loved this style having grown up with them on TV well before reality set in. I still feel someone should be making them.

Tellurian, I love the Rocky Jones spaceship that you posted. Is that yours? Do you have plans?

Alas no plans. They were actually molded of 2 part foam with a carbon vail skin. I still have the molds but my current situation is that I cannot go back into business because of loss of my pension. They did become expensive as material costs jacked up in the last couple of decades. Then SHTF in my life and Silver Rockets Co. has been OOP since. I believe these should be made, if only there was a way, if not by me then by someone.


Richard

Some really great input, guys. Thanks.

What I find quite interesting is that, in all the old [pre-1970's] movies, the rockets landed on their tails. Then I grew up in the Star Wars/Star Trek era, where shuttles & small spaceships landed like airplanes.

And then SpaceX came along. And we are actually landing rockets on their tails. Cool.