Coaster Corporation Catalogs

[PhoenixGuy]

Attached should be scanned copies of the Coaster Corporation catalogs from 1962 and (I believe) 1963. I believe this because I remember using the latter catalog to order rocket engines from Coaster in the summer of 1963.

I plan to send scanned copies of the 1962 RDC and Krueger catalogs later this week.

[LeeR]

I'd never heard of Coaster. Really interesting to see what they offered.

[Joe Wooten]

I think I read somewhere Centuri bought out Coaster in 1964.

[Ltvscout]

Thanks for posting those, PhoenixGuy!

[JohnNGA]

I think I read somewhere Centuri bought out Coaster in 1964.

I believe that is correct, I know the Coaster motors evolved into the Centuri MiniMax motors. Interesting to see a RDC (Irv Wait) static motor test stand in the 63 catalog.

[ghrocketman]

Coaster was indeed the precursor to the Centuri Mini-Max line of end and port-burning E and F large 29mm SU BP motors.
Centuri bought out Coaster.
At that point the Coaster "super jets" were re-labeled as Centuri Mini-Max motors and the Centuri "Large Model Rocketry" line of large kits consisting of the Aero Dart, Hustler, Lil' Hustler, Explorer, Scorpion, and Jaguar came onto the market somewhere around '64 or '65.
In 1971 the Centuri Enerjet 29mm composite motors were brought to market to also be used in their "Large Model Rocket" line of kits.
The only year that both the Mini-Max and Enerjet lines of motors were catalogued in the Centuri catalog was 1971. That year was also the last year the Mini-Max motors appeared in any catalog, although I understand back-stock of Mini-Max motors were available upon request for a couple more years.
The Enerjet consumer catalog was separated from the full Centuri catalog in 1972. That was the same year that the "Enerjet kits" also came out using standard model rocket (not thick walled) tubes. 1972 was the only year for an Enerjet catalog of kits/engines, but they were available through at least 1976 and possibly 1977. The Enerjet line of 'consumer' kits included a redesigned Aero Dart (known as the '72 Enerjet Aero Dart), the Nike Ram, the Enerjet Egg Crate (which was NOT the same as the Centuri Egg Crate) egg-lofter, the 'working smoke' Nike Smoke kit (I just sold one of these kits), the Pterodactyl hitch-hiker boost glider, and the uber-cool ULTIMATE Enerjet kit Athena.
Enerjet also offered a 'professional' line of kits/Engines consisting of the 1340, 2250, and 2650 kits using thick-walled tubing along with a 'professional' G76 engine that was above the then 80n-sec impulse limit for model rocketry. The 1350 was a single engine payloader that could be had in regular and large payload configurations that used the F67/G76 motors. The 2250 and 2650 were 3-engine cluster payloaders that had 2.25" and 2.65" payload capsules respectively that also used the F67 and G76 engines.
My understanding is that Enerjet also produced prototype H through J level composite single-use motors that were never released to the general public.

[Initiator001]

Centuri bought Coaster and moved that companies equipment to Phoenix, Arizona.
During the moving of the Coaster equipment Lee Piester fractured his leg.

When Centuri re-issued the Coaster motors they were labeled as 'Atlas' or 'Hercules' motors.
The Mini-Max name came later.

[JohnNGA]

Estes cranked out motors on their automated "Mabel", I wonder how Coaster did it. I would guess less automation and something on line with FSI, more hands on loading. Anyone know?

[stefanj]

Anecdote:


Ed from AAA told me that when Irv Wait visited Centuri he spotted a flaw in the automated press that was used to make Mini-Max BP motors. There were three cylinders, but only one cut-off sensor, so it was possible that only one of the three motors had had its fuel grain properly compressed. Centuri equipped each cylinder with a sensor (depth? amount of pressure?) so all of the motors received the right amount of compression.

No further details about how automated the process was otherwise.

[astronwolf]

Thank-you for scanning and posting these.

I really appreciate being able to get more insight into the early days. In the 1963 catalog Coaster announced that the 20-lb motors were NAR-certified as F motors. But the 30- and 40-lb motors were not (yet) certified. Those are black-powder G motors!

Did you order 30- and 40-lb. motors, and fly rockets with them? Give us a story!

The "Mercury" rocket reminds me of an Estes Vagabond. Too bad they didn't include some dimensional data for their kits.

[PhoenixGuy]

Yes, I did fly several of the Coaster-style rockets, starting in the late summer of 1963, mostly using the 30 lb. and 40 lb. thrust engines. At age 14 then, I thought the flights were quite impressive, but expensive ($ 1.30 to 1.60 for each motor !).

The first one I flew was a scratch-build of Coaster's "Mercury" model, using plans that I had previously ordered from Coaster. Other models I built were of similar size and of my own design. In all, I probably had around 10 launches of the various larger models, one of which as I remember was destroyed on the launch pad (nozzle failure, I believe). My flying of the larger model rockets essentially ended when I went off to college.

I am, however, currently working on a scratch-built F35 jet model powered with an electric ducted fan and to be radio controlled - my version of "living the dream" while retired.

Believe it or not, I am thinking of putting my old, unused Coaster motors up for auction at some point, this is if I can find them somewhere in my garage (several moves since 1963) !

[JohnNGA]

:D Yes, I did fly several of the Coaster-style rockets, starting in the late summer of 1963, mostly using the 30 lb. and 40 lb. thrust engines. At age 14 then, I thought the flights were quite impressive, but expensive ($ 1.30 to 1.60 for each motor !).

The first one I flew was a scratch-build of Coaster's "Mercury" model, using plans that I had previously ordered from Coaster. Other models I built were of similar size and of my own design. In all, I probably had around 10 launches of the various larger models, one of which as I remember was destroyed on the launch pad (nozzle failure, I believe). My flying of the larger model rockets essentially ended when I went off to college.

I am, however, currently working on a scratch-built F35 jet model powered with an electric ducted fan and to be radio controlled - my version of "living the dream" while retired.

Believe it or not, I am thinking of putting my old, unused Coaster motors up for auction at some point, this is if I can find them somewhere in my garage (several moves since 1963) !

At auction now, I bet they bring a bit more than $1.30/$1.60.... :D

[ghrocketman]

Forgot the first labeling of the re-branded Coaster motors by Centuri was Atlas/Hercules.
The 20, 30 and 40lb Coaster motors were thrust-LEVEL, and NOT lb-sec total impulse.
In the late 90's/early 2000's there was a company that made G and H SU BP motors and even BP 'sparky' motors !
The exact company name slips my mind but I think it was something like Rocketflite. I'm fairly sure they were 38mm cardboard-cased too.

[John Dyer]

Forgot the first labeling of the re-branded Coaster motors by Centuri was Atlas/Hercules.
The 20, 30 and 40lb Coaster motors were thrust-LEVEL, and NOT lb-sec total impulse.
In the late 90's/early 2000's there was a company that made G and H SU BP motors and even BP 'sparky' motors !
The exact company name slips my mind but I think it was something like Rocketflite. I'm fairly sure they were 38mm cardboard-cased too.


Small Sounding Rocket Systems (SSRS) - later renamed Crown Rocket Technologies created composite E, F, and G motors.
I've forgotten the gentleman's name, but I met the owner at NARAM 19 and ordered one of each.

I was surprised when I got them in the mail - they were packaged with the E and F on one side and the G on the other, wrapped in brown paper.

I still can't figure out how they got through the mail - they looked like two sticks of dynamite wrapped in brown paper.

By the way - I did fly a Mini-Max F55 in a "Little Hustler" back in about 1974 or 1975. It was an impressive flight - those motors really made a lot of noise and smoke :)

John

[Joe Wooten]

I bought several of the E45's Crown made in 1982 and the Lasor 95 kit. Those were my first composite engines. Darn good ones too. I never had a failure.

[John Dyer]

I bought several of the E45's Crown made in 1982 and the Lasor 95 kit. Those were my first composite engines. Darn good ones too. I never had a failure.

I used to fly my Centuri Saturn 1B on those E's - they were great!

Until I had a failure - the motor tried to ignite - pushed the Saturn 1B off the rod and then shut down. The rocket landed on the asphalt - it was never the same after that...


John

[Joe Wooten]

I used to fly my Centuri Saturn 1B on those E's - they were great!

Until I had a failure - the motor tried to ignite - pushed the Saturn 1B off the rod and then shut down. The rocket landed on the asphalt - it was never the same after that...


John

I bet it wasn't the same. I burned probably 10 E-45's, and then as I was preparing to order some of their F motors, I got a letter from the owner stating he was going out of business. But, Aerotech came along about that time too and I ordered a lot of stuff from them.

[stefanj]

In the late 90's/early 2000's there was a company that made G and H SU BP motors and even BP 'sparky' motors !
The exact company name slips my mind but I think it was something like Rocketflite. I'm fairly sure they were 38mm cardboard-cased too.

You got it, Rocketflite.

I flew many of those.

* * *
FWIW, Centuri sold Coaster motors in their '64 catalog, and their '62 catalog had a very early version of the Aero-Dart which could only have been meant for Coaster motors.


* Three trapezoidal fins and a nose cone; I built a clone. Flew it a couple weekends back on a F15-6. Flew great!

[shockwaveriderz]

Anecdote:


Ed from AAA told me that when Irv Wait visited Centuri he spotted a flaw in the automated press that was used to make Mini-Max BP motors. There were three cylinders, but only one cut-off sensor, so it was possible that only one of the three motors had had its fuel grain properly compressed. Centuri equipped each cylinder with a sensor (depth? amount of pressure?) so all of the motors received the right amount of compression.

No further details about how automated the process was otherwise.

Excellent side note!. The Original Coasters and then the Atlas-Hercules and then Mini-Maxes were made with a gang ram. This as stefani reported, resulted in differing press pressures being put on the various motors being charged/pressed. A gang ram uses 1 hydraulic cylinder to press multiple motors at one time using a kind of plate that has multiple rams. This setup, 100+ years old in design and use, was replaced with multiple hydraulic cylinders and a pressure sensor on each ram. This allowed for minute adjustments to each hydraulic ram individually, resulting in near identical motors .

[shockwaveriderz]

Thank-you for scanning and posting these.

I really appreciate being able to get more insight into the early days. In the 1963 catalog Coaster announced that the 20-lb motors were NAR-certified as F motors. But the 30- and 40-lb motors were not (yet) certified. Those are black-powder G motors!

Did you order 30- and 40-lb. motors, and fly rockets with them? Give us a story!

The "Mercury" rocket reminds me of an Estes Vagabond. Too bad they didn't include some dimensional data for their kits.

wolf:

actually the Coaster F15 and F25 in lb/s were F67 and F111 into days N/s scheme. I think, but cannot prove the F15 /F25 Coasters were safety certified in 1963-4 just as Coaster was being sold to Centuri.

[ghrocketman]

Manufacturers could side-step the entire NAR safety certification process just by selling the motors as fireworks. Would solve a lot of BS nonsense.

A few posts back, Crown motors were mentioned as the first composites.
They probably got through the mail by everyone KEEPING THEIR TRAPS SHUT instead of playing "shipment cop".

[Ez2cDave]

Manufacturers could side-step the entire NAR safety certification process just by selling the motors as fireworks. Would solve a lot of BS nonsense.

PLUS, they could be lit with a FUSE !

Dave F.

[ghrocketman]

Fuse works very well for igniting most BP single use motors that are not in clusters.
With clusters, electric ignition is required due to the need of igniting all motors simultaneously.
Green Visco fuse works for almost all motors except mini (13mm) motors due to the small nozzles. Those can use the small grey/green firecracker pack fuse.
As far as I know fuse ignition is only against the safety code if one ignites it by a non-electric means. One could ignite the fuse with a standard rocket igniter.
It being against the NAR safety "code" is mamby-pamby nonsense.

[shockwaveriderz]

Manufacturers could side-step the entire NAR safety certification process just by selling the motors as fireworks. Would solve a lot of BS nonsense.

A few posts back, Crown motors were mentioned as the first composites.
They probably got through the mail by everyone KEEPING THEIR TRAPS SHUT instead of playing "shipment cop".
You realize that fireworks are more strictly enforced via NFPA and local ordinances than even rocketry is?

In the Internet Age anybody, anomously can drop a dime on you.

Look GH I agree with you up to a point that we are over-regulated.

Our nanny government thinks that 1 life matters. I don't. I think we ought to allow people to blow themselves up, hopefully not taking anybody else with them.

Unfortunately although we are free to do most what we want(at least for nww), people should not be allowed to do stuff that harms other people. Your rights end where my nose begins.

Jack Parsons who invented composite propellant dropped a vial of mercury fulminate in his house and did just that.

[ghrocketman]

Regulation of consumer fireworks in non-urban areas of Michigan is VERY light.
In Commiefornia it is probably awful.

[shockwaveriderz]

Regulation of consumer fireworks in non-urban areas of Michigan is VERY light.
In Commiefornia it is probably awful.

unfortunately for America, Commiefornia is sweeping America. It's just a matter of time now.

Here in KY fireworks are generally banned except for July 4th , Xmas and New Years Day. Cities both urban and rural, and we are mostly a rural state, can determine the actual hours on those 3 days by ordnance, and basically it's till about 10/11 PM.

[Ez2cDave]

Fuse works very well for igniting most BP single use motors that are not in clusters.

With clusters, electric ignition is required due to the need of igniting all motors simultaneously.


Try a short length of Visco, leading to "Black Match", enclosed in paper tubes, making it "Quick Match" with a pyro-dipped head . . . Very fast, inside the tube !


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jhsrin2sSLA

Dave F.

[shockwaveriderz]

Try a short length of Visco, leading to "Black Match", enclosed in paper tubes, making it "Quick Match" with a pyro-dipped head . . . Very fast, inside the tube !


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jhsrin2sSLA

Dave F.

you could always electrically ignite a piece of fuse...... or move to Germany where they allow fuse to ignite model rockets but you need an explosives license if the motor has more than 20g of propellant. Be careful what you wish for......you are now entering the Twilight Zone.......

[tbzep]

With clusters, electric ignition is required due to the need of igniting all motors simultaneously.
Nah...thermalite. If we are going to open up the regulations, we're bringing back thermalite!

[shockwaveriderz]

Nah...thermalite. If we are going to open up the regulations, we're bringing back thermalite!
the Euros have been using a black match fuse tape for clusters:

https://eurospacetechnology.eu/index.php?id_product=1719&id_product_attribute=0&rewrite=klima-fusetape-tapematch&controller=product

[tbzep]

the Euros have been using a black match fuse tape for clusters:

https://eurospacetechnology.eu/index.php?id_product=1719&id_product_attribute=0&rewrite=klima-fusetape-tapematch&controller=product
I've played with that before. Good fun. Thermalite is way more handy and comes in a variety of burn rates.