Who has their very 1st rocket?

[kc9qzf]

1965 RDC Rawhide

 

[arconhi]

My first Estes rocket was the Astron Falcon boost glider... back around 1970 or so. Never flew it under rocket power but enjoyed gliding around the back yard. No telling what happened to it as it's been LONG gone.

However, I do still have what was probably my third Estes rocket built around 1980-84; a two-stage model with clear payload section (can't remember the name of the rocket... it's been too long ago). I didn't fly it until around 15 years ago for the first time. I didn't stage it properly and the booster section got stuck on the upper stage after booster burn-out, and it cooked the booster section quite thoroughly! I did rebuild it but the paint match is no longer perfect since the original white paint is somewhat yellowed with age. Oh well, it still flies!

Edit to add: Did some research and figured out the rocket name in question was the Hercules, kit #1377.

You are correct. Hercules Kit # 1377. I still have mine from 1987.

 

[Lawndart]

My first model rocket was an Estes Scout (K-1).

I mail ordered it direct from Estes in January 1970. It took four weeks to get to me.
I decided not to follow the instructions completely which resulted in the rocket not being flyable.

I still have the model.

Same here, but got mine April 1967.

 

[William Dieckmann]

Mars snooper recently built a retro from semroc rocket

 

[arconhi]

Wow! Your Viking 7 is coming along nicely. Hopefully you’ll have a shot with it before March, while you still have that big field

Viking 7 is ready for painting. Arcon 2 is rebuilt and in the steps of painting.

 

[SpaceDog]

My first rocket was a Centuri "Official Cub Scout Activity Kit" complete with cardboard fins circa 1974. This was soon followed by an Astron Streak, Super Flea, & Javelin. I found this stuff in a box while cleaning out my childhood house this fall. Not sure what ever happened to the rest. Probably in the landfill.

 

[arconhi]

Nice to still have. I had the Streak around that time.

 

[rbelknap]

I still have my Estes viking that I first built as a BAR about 10 years ago.

And I realized I never added a picture of it to the thread.



and one of it in it’s natural habitat:

 

[tfrielin]

Found this in my trunk under my boyscout stuff.. amazing that it lasted 40 years.. anyone have this kit? I think it had a blue nose cone.

My first---Estes WAC Corporal---ended up in a tree, retrieved, but rain-damaged, was trashed. Circa 1965.

 

[arconhi]

My first---Estes WAC Corporal---ended up in a tree, retrieved, but rain-damaged, was trashed. Circa 1965.

I bought the same one in 1970, a few years after you did. Black and white paint.

 

[arconhi]

My first rocket was a Centuri "Official Cub Scout Activity Kit" complete with cardboard fins circa 1974. This was soon followed by an Astron Streak, Super Flea, & Javelin. I found this stuff in a box while cleaning out my childhood house this fall. Not sure what ever happened to the rest. Probably in the landfill.View attachment 447157

Wow! This is so cool to see. I remember these. Mine was the Astro 1 in 1971. Next was the Iris.

 

[Steve Shannon]

I definitely don’t have my first rockets, but for more than 50 years (since 1967-68) my mom held onto the launcher I made to fly that first rocket. The case was a sucrets tin, the guard around the pushbutton switch was a cap from a can of starting fluid for my dad's grader. Everything else came from the local Our Own Hardware store.

 

[goose_in_co]

Estes Aero-Hi. It was the cheapest rocket at the hobby store that had a parachute in 1975.
The original is on the left, and the Clone is on the right. Well mostly original, as most of the fins were replaced with paint stir sticks after they were mostly burned from using fireworks fuse to start the motors.

 

[Philip Tiberius D.]

This was in my parents attic, I had building models for a while when I built this - I was 11 or so. I’ve had to re-attach a fin or two and replace the shock cord. Has a pretty substantial nose cone.

 

[berlinetta]

I still have my very first rocket. I flown it so many times, the shock cord broke. I'm thinking of trying to fix it. Not sure if I can as it is an Estes Gnome. I will take it out and have a look.

 

[arconhi]

Estes Aero-Hi. It was the cheapest rocket at the hobby store that had a parachute in 1975.
The original is on the left, and the Clone is on the right. Well mostly original, as most of the fins were replaced with paint stir sticks after they were mostly burned from using fireworks fuse to start the motors.

I remember this back in the day. The Mini Brutes. For a $1.35 With a 8 inch parachute.The clone is awesome. Firecracker fuses, wow, never tried those. I remember the coated pyrogens that wrapped around the ignitor wire and got shoved in the nozzle.

 

[arconhi]

This was in my parents attic, I had building models for a while when I built this - I was 11 or so. I’ve had to re-attach a fin or two and replace the shock cord. Has a pretty substantial nose cone.

About how old is this model? And still flyable too.