Miss Riley Rocket Kits

The Rocketry Forum

Help Support The Rocketry Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
3A827CD1-A0B0-496C-A4CA-59AC4CDCBE72.jpeg
Here is a picture with everything included:
Parts Included:
1- 2.64” Red 5:1 O-Give Filament Wound Nose Cone
1- Aluminum Tip
1- 2.64” White G12 Airframe 24” Slotted
1- 2.64” White G12 Airframe 12”
1- 2.64” White G12 Coupler 7”
1- 2.64” Switch Band 1”
2- G10 Stepped Av Bay Lids
1- G10 Nosecone Bulkplates
2- G10 Centering Rings
1- 38mm G12 Motor Mount Tube 16”
3- Blue G10 1/16” Fins
1- 2.64” x 5.0” Aluminum Machined Nozzle
1- Vinyl Miss Riley Decal Red
1- ¼” Eyebolt/Nut
2- Delrin Rail Buttons White
1- Detailed Instructions
3- White Plastic Rivets
10- White 4-40 Shear Pins
1- Certificate of Authenticity numbered and signed
 
Buddy, great job on this kit, I am so happy you have put this together. I bought one of the first 4" Miss Riley kits years ago, although it was unfortunately called The Rocket Boy then. See the attached page from the RocketMan catalog. I think the new kit is better in every way except maybe size, but the smaller size means more affordable and more sales for you so it was the way to go. Pre-colored fiberglass parts are a game changer, I don't think I've ever met someone who actually likes painting rockets.

I know you have said this is a run of 100 kits, but since you didn't call it a 'limited edition' I am hoping you will consider another run because it looks like the first 100 are probably all sold and no-one has even seen it in person or seen it fly yet. I'll bet as soon as you or others start showing up and launching these publicly a line will form for the next 100 quickly.

If you do have any of the first hundred left, I'll take one of the full kits with recovery please.

-Andy
 

Attachments

  • TRB.jpg
    TRB.jpg
    162.5 KB · Views: 139
So I am finally at the point where things are coming together. I will first be producing a 65mm Body Tube, 38mm Motor Mount Miss Riley Kits that’s roughly 54” tall. This kit would be all fiberglass and dual deploy capable. I’m looking to make these limited addition in eiether a run of 50 or 75, all signed by Homer Hickam including a Certificate of Authtinclty.

I know you have said this is a run of 100 kits, but since you didn't call it a 'limited edition' I am hoping you will consider another run because it looks like the first 100 are probably all sold and no-one has even seen it in person or seen it fly yet. I'll bet as soon as you or others start showing up and launching these publicly a line will form for the next 100 quickly.

-Andy

Well, he didn't say "limited edition", but I think it was just a typo with the "limited addition".....
 
Currently working on the instructions, I hope to have it all together by the morning. Here’s a picture of the exact measurements on how the assembly will go together, everything is very critical for a perfect fit. Also I had a chance to polish my nozzle and tip today, looks amazing.
 

Attachments

  • A4342EB1-C6A3-426D-80C7-A717EBDBD194.jpeg
    A4342EB1-C6A3-426D-80C7-A717EBDBD194.jpeg
    101.9 KB · Views: 162
  • 83D9C606-9B00-46AC-9178-F389D96D6258.jpeg
    83D9C606-9B00-46AC-9178-F389D96D6258.jpeg
    80.2 KB · Views: 169
  • F1F3F485-AB12-489B-AF27-631FE89B718D.jpeg
    F1F3F485-AB12-489B-AF27-631FE89B718D.jpeg
    41.4 KB · Views: 152
Buddy, great job on this kit, I am so happy you have put this together. I bought one of the first 4" Miss Riley kits years ago, although it was unfortunately called The Rocket Boy then. See the attached page from the RocketMan catalog. I think the new kit is better in every way except maybe size, but the smaller size means more affordable and more sales for you so it was the way to go. Pre-colored fiberglass parts are a game changer, I don't think I've ever met someone who actually likes painting rockets.

I know you have said this is a run of 100 kits, but since you didn't call it a 'limited edition' I am hoping you will consider another run because it looks like the first 100 are probably all sold and no-one has even seen it in person or seen it fly yet. I'll bet as soon as you or others start showing up and launching these publicly a line will form for the next 100 quickly.

If you do have any of the first hundred left, I'll take one of the full kits with recovery please.

-Andy
Hey Buddy,
If you do a second run, Please do them in this color sceme with a Rocket Boy sticker, I would be down for an other one !
 
Buddy, great job on this kit, I am so happy you have put this together. I bought one of the first 4" Miss Riley kits years ago, although it was unfortunately called The Rocket Boy then. See the attached page from the RocketMan catalog. I think the new kit is better in every way except maybe size, but the smaller size means more affordable and more sales for you so it was the way to go. Pre-colored fiberglass parts are a game changer, I don't think I've ever met someone who actually likes painting rockets.

I know you have said this is a run of 100 kits, but since you didn't call it a 'limited edition' I am hoping you will consider another run because it looks like the first 100 are probably all sold and no-one has even seen it in person or seen it fly yet. I'll bet as soon as you or others start showing up and launching these publicly a line will form for the next 100 quickly.

If you do have any of the first hundred left, I'll take one of the full kits with recovery please.

-Andy


Thanks for sharing the old catolog, it’s great to see that after 20 years (the year before I was born). Right now I plan on only doing 100 kits, originally it was going to be 50 but I was very surprised on all the great feedback. Maybe on the 30th anniversary of the movie I’ll consider doing more.
 
I’ve never been so excited to remove tape in my life! Can’t believe it’s all coming together!
 

Attachments

  • 27232E77-F6DB-4A7C-A4E7-5152E1DE2B39.jpeg
    27232E77-F6DB-4A7C-A4E7-5152E1DE2B39.jpeg
    69.3 KB · Views: 135
  • D49542F0-3C0B-4865-875D-702E63528801.jpeg
    D49542F0-3C0B-4865-875D-702E63528801.jpeg
    91.3 KB · Views: 151
If there's any more kits available, I'd like to be added to the list (just the kit, don't need recovery). Thanks!
 
This is wild, I have a Broadsword kit and was just thinking of building it as a Miss Riley so I grabbed a series of screen shots from when they pan down the rocket and stitched them together (not easy with the perspective changes and panning to the side).

It looks like you are using Brush Script for the decal, I'm trying to find something closer to the original. Anyone know of a font for that?

Miss Riley.jpg
 
This is wild, I have a Broadsword kit and was just thinking of building it as a Miss Riley so I grabbed a series of screen shots from when they pan down the rocket and stitched them together (not easy with the perspective changes and panning to the side).

It looks like you are using Brush Script for the decal, I'm trying to find something closer to the original. Anyone know of a font for that?

View attachment 388178


Brush Script MT is the closest thing to the letters, my father did the original writing on the rockets for the movie and was just based off of cursive, not too any specific font.
 
This is wild, I have a Broadsword kit and was just thinking of building it as a Miss Riley so I grabbed a series of screen shots from when they pan down the rocket and stitched them together (not easy with the perspective changes and panning to the side).

It looks like you are using Brush Script for the decal, I'm trying to find something closer to the original. Anyone know of a font for that?

View attachment 388178

If you want the full rez image, go here:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/bfm5613e12mfxeh/AADMh6uw5UhsgIaPTriPZfBZa?dl=0

I was able to isolate the words from the image and finish the bottom of the 'y' so I I'll use that to create my decal. The image for that is at the dropbox too.
 
Brush Script MT is the closest thing to the letters, my father did the original writing on the rockets for the movie and was just based off of cursive, not too any specific font.

Would be nice to have the font but oh well. I found some that were close but I'll just go with grabbing it from the screen shots and hope that comes out OK.
 
Done with the booster section, I have to say, the blue dye for Rocket Poxy is the way to go! Super proud of this build!
 

Attachments

  • A3EEE87E-578B-43C3-A46D-968240CB791D.jpeg
    A3EEE87E-578B-43C3-A46D-968240CB791D.jpeg
    80.1 KB · Views: 183
  • 5507631C-DF91-46B7-913F-317425F31248.jpeg
    5507631C-DF91-46B7-913F-317425F31248.jpeg
    85.7 KB · Views: 189
  • 144E1B67-AF37-459D-AFF5-F53FF2044AA9.jpeg
    144E1B67-AF37-459D-AFF5-F53FF2044AA9.jpeg
    97.4 KB · Views: 176
Are the initial 100 spoken for Buddy ?

“The list” was created to know how many people were interested and how to contact them when the Miss Riley Kits release in a few days. So there’s around 125 people on my list, but no kits are taken if that makes sense as I’m not taking pre orders.
 
Brush Script MT is the closest thing to the letters, my father did the original writing on the rockets for the movie and was just based off of cursive, not too any specific font.

Well no, Brush Script is not the closest thing to Ky's original lettering, there are dozens of fonts based on the cursive that we were all taught in third grade, and many of them are free. But more importantly, Brush Script is nasty and using it misses the beautiful connection that Ky's hand-written cursive had to the Miss Riley character - she was an elementary teacher and the Miss Riley on the rocket looks like what Homer would have written using the elementary school cursive that she had taught him. I'm going to match Ky's cursive, redrawing it in Illustrator and sending the file to sticker shock. I'll post the file in case anyone else wants to use it.

-Andy
 
Well no, Brush Script is not the closest thing to Ky's original lettering, there are dozens of fonts based on the cursive that we were all taught in third grade, and many of them are free. But more importantly, Brush Script is nasty and using it misses the beautiful connection that Ky's hand-written cursive had to the Miss Riley character - she was an elementary teacher and the Miss Riley on the rocket looks like what Homer would have written using the elementary school cursive that she had taught him. I'm going to match Ky's cursive, redrawing it in Illustrator and sending the file to sticker shock. I'll post the file in case anyone else wants to use it.

-Andy

Let us know when Mark sets up and produces the decal. I too like the original hand drawn cursive. I would probably order one from him. Understanding that this kit is not an EXACT replication of the original (nose cone shape and aluminum tip for instance), having the decal match is a plus.
 
Last edited:
Check out this awesome Dual Deploy Redundant Bay made by SMT designs! He made them specially for this project in red Petg filament, with my 1/4” Forged eyebolts in a 2.6” version. I will be carrying the Dual Deploy single altimeter version which will fit 9v/lithium battery's and just about every altimeter you can think of. They’ll include everything you need to put it together other than the altimeter and battery’s.
 

Attachments

  • E9978F15-5306-46ED-9973-4AB404F1C11A.jpeg
    E9978F15-5306-46ED-9973-4AB404F1C11A.jpeg
    92.8 KB · Views: 206
  • 7BC8E0CF-3B05-4DE0-BE9E-D4EFB645DFFF.jpeg
    7BC8E0CF-3B05-4DE0-BE9E-D4EFB645DFFF.jpeg
    100.4 KB · Views: 214
  • 725C51C6-B15C-4511-8C1B-EF3ABF0F3223.jpeg
    725C51C6-B15C-4511-8C1B-EF3ABF0F3223.jpeg
    91.4 KB · Views: 194
Back
Top