md9680
New Member
Estes Astron Streak - Not really a top 5 best, but it was my first rocket, circa 1962/63. Received it in the mail from a mystery donor. Had to make some kind of launcher. The long side of a wire coat hanger. Hammered in and removed a nail from a 10" length of scrap 1x8, somehow managed to get the coat hanger "launch rod" in the hole. Couldn't afford electrical equipment to set off the nichrome coil ignitor so, after school (4th grade), I took the "launcher", 1/4 A.8-2 engine and pretty ugly rocket to an isolated small park, slid the rocket down the "rod" onto the board and proceeded to use kitchen matches to start the motor. Only managed to burn up the rocket! Built another much nicer one when I was several years older and promptly lost it!
Estes WAC Corporal - This was my second rocket and the first that I really took some care with to build. Learned how to mask for painting and made a pretty good looking 10-year-old boy model rocket. I had finally saved up enough for an Estes "Electro-Launch 2" but still couldn't get the electrical right. But I still had some Jetex Wick which allowed me to witness my very first model rocket launch, again a 1/4 A.8-2. Was thrilled and hooked forever! Have built two more WAC Corporals over the years, both eventually lost. I count this as one of the 5 best.
Estes Ranger - Great introduction to clustering.
Estes Arcas - Good flyer, always elicited some "Oooh"s or "Wow!"s from spectators.
Estes V-2 - Still have this one. The one that flies on a single "D". It's a little worn now from so many flights. People nearby really like this one, too.
Estes Mars Lander - After several unimpressive flights with "C" engines, I modified it to accept "D" engines for some really great launches! My wife made a custom nylon parachute for it. Changed the shock cord mount and mounting position to make it descend at a more vertical attitude to give it a better chance at "sticking" the landing. My wife accidentally threw it and other bits of "old rocket stuff" out with the trash.
There have been many more, mostly of my own design, but never using anything bigger than a cluster of "D" engines. Speaking of "D" engines, does anyone remember the Estes D13's? I had made a beautiful Cherokee-D and the engine cato'd, ripping up the model just a few feet off the launcher. I might still have one of the fins and the nose cone. Still have a couple of unfired D13's in my old range box.
