Poll: Oldest model in your collection
 

What is the oldest model in your collection?

Approximately when was it built?

Is it still flyable?


Since I'm asking the question, I'll give the first answer

My oldest model is an Astron Delta. The Delta was a 2-staged model sold as the launch vehicle for the Camroc. Mine was outfitted with a transition section up to a BT-60 size clear payload section and the "Big Bertha nose cone"

I built it during the summer of 1969. I suppose it is still flyable, but I'd really have to replace the ancient rubber shock cord first.

An MPC Moon Go, dating from around 1975.

Yes, still flyable. I would like to refinish it. I still have some MPC decals for it.

oldest model
 

Mine is the Estes Starhawk built in the spring of 1987. It has had numerous repairs
(lots of balsa fin) and still flies. My favorite in my entire fleet.

A three stage Astron Avenger that my father built about 1969 is the oldest rocket that I have. The oldest rocket that I built is a Big Bertha that I built in 1977. Both are still flyable, although the Avenger has a new payload section because of a crash in 1981 on a B14-0/C6-0/C6-7 flight. Unfortunately, the upper stage motor tube broke loose from the centering rings, and the C6-7 did not ignite. It would have been interesting it the sustainer had ignited. I am not very fond of the 1960s-1970s Estes thin and flat centering rings. The thicker ones available today are a bit better.

Centuri Columbia Shuttle, 1978, still flys.

Randy
www.vernarockets.com

A Big Bertha and a Pathfinder from 1989-1991, purchased and built when I worked at a LHS. The Bertha has been flown several times; the Pathfinder has had the original booster replaced, but still has the upper section. It has not been flown.

Mine aren't very old compared to the others here. It's probably a tie between an Estes Corkscrew and an Estes Bandit, from the mid 90's I believe? Both use an oddball tube size like BT-1080 or something like that. Both are in pretty rough shape, neither have their original fins and the Corkscrew no longer corkscrews but they are still flyable.

My oldest kit is a Citation Der Red Max with the old heavy injection molded nose cone. I'm not sure of its age because it was given to me by my cousins after they crashed it. It's early 70's, but that's as close as I can get. I repaired it and flew it for a few years. It's retired now, but I could replace the shock cord and chute and it would be ready to fly.

These were reclaimed from the attic when I became a BAR in 1999. The Alpha and Midget are from ~1969, the Bertha from ~1970. All three were refurb'd, flown and retired.

The Alpha came with my first rocketry order, a starter set, and the Midget was included in that as Estes' "free kit". Doug .



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One that I built? An Estes Mini Mars Lander that has hung in there since 1987. The oldest is an A-20 Demon that was recently given to me - has to date from 1979 or earlier.