Originally Posted by lurker01

Damon made other scientific products as well. so it kinda fits



I heard (joke) that Estes was getting into Pet Toys for dogs and cats!
They could also do a 'Rocket Frisbee'

Bob

Originally Posted by Royatl

Even terminally hip people should know two Hee Haw references: BR-549, and the little song whose chorus goes:

I searched the world over
And I thought I found true love.
You met another and
Phbttttt...
You wuz gone.

Originally Posted by Carl@Semroc

The more time I spend reading bills, laws, NRM's, interpretations, letters, FAQ's, and other justifications for the existence of government, the more confusing this argument becomes:
-big snip-

Originally Posted by Carl@Semroc

The more time I spend reading bills, laws, NRM's, interpretations, letters, FAQ's, and other justifications for the existence of government, the more confusing this argument becomes:

From HR4040 Preamble:

To establish consumer product safety standards and other safety requirements for children’s products and to reauthorize and modernize the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

From the CPSC site concerning HR4040:

Q. What is a children's product?
A. A children’s product is one designed or intended primarily for children 12 years of age or younger. If a product is intended for adults or for general use by consumers of all ages, then it is not intended primarily for children.

If you still think a model rocket is primarily a children's product; from ASTM963 97.200.50 1.4:

1.4 Articles not covered by this specification are as follows: ... Model kits in which the finished item is not primarily of play value... Powered models of aircraft, rockets, boats, and land vehicles...

If there is still a question about whether it is a children's product; on January 15, 2009, the CPSC issued the following statement (and NRM):

Manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers should also be aware that CPSC will not impose penalties against anyone for making, importing, distributing, or selling a children’s product to the extent that it is made of certain natural materials, such as wood, cotton, wool, or certain metals and alloys which the Commission has recognized rarely, if ever, contain lead.

If you have made it this far... The new "classics" line is not designed primarity for children, they are powered models, and they are made of "natural materials" instead of plastics that have the lead and pthalate problems, particularly when imported from China.

It is very likely that WalMart (and other big stores) have imposed their own set of standards that are more restrictive than the CPSC. In other words, WalMart may be telling vendors that they do not want to be caught selling "adult" products in the toy section that is loaded with "children's products." In my local WalMart, model rockets are surrounded with real toys that are clearly designed for and intended for the 12 and under market. If the model rockets were moved to the gun shop area, there would not be as much confusion as to whether a model rocket is a toy or general market product, which would be exempt. WalMart is probably taking the easy route and forcing ALL their suppliers to test ALL their products and give them "Get out of jail free cards." It does not cost WalMart anything and it is a super insurance policy. If I was at WalMart, that is what I would do.

I had originally thought that Estes-Cox had designed the "Classics" to get around the problems with lead, pthalates, and other imported toxins. Maybe so, but it is entirely likely that WalMart had other ideas.

Originally Posted by Rocket Doctor

One last thought, just because a product is intended for a specific age group what's to say that anyone either older or younger will be using that product?

Originally Posted by barone

Are we getting to the point that we have idiots creating legislation to protect idiots from themselves? Oh what a vicious circle......

I guess eventually marbles can't be any smaller than a softball so they can't be swallowed.

Originally Posted by mperdue

Nice post Carl. Unfortunately some people will continue to insist that the new laws apply to model rockets in spite of the facts.

Mario

Originally Posted by JRThro

It's important to "get" pop cultural references, and Hee Haw was definitely pop culture when it was on TV in the '70's. Plus, Barbi Benton and some other nice ladies were regulars.

Originally Posted by billspad

At the risk of appearing somewhat dense, I have to ask what that means. I Googled it and came up with a country band and gave up after a couple of bars of the song.