Wanted: Centuri Visible Astro and Firebird
 

Looking for two elusive Centuri kits.

The first is the Visible Astro from the 1971 catalog, its only appearance. Clear body tube, meant primarily for classroom instruction. Non-flying model. Kind of the Centuri equivalent of the Estes Phantom.

Catalog link: http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/ca...d/71dcen44.html


Also, the Centuri Firebird, from the final Centuri catalog in 1983. Rather straightforward kit, and one of the very last kits to be introduced under the Centuri label. Made primarily from Estes sized parts by this point in the Centuri time line.

Catalog link: http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/ca...i83/83cen4.html

Am open to kits either sealed or open; might even entertain partial kits. PM me for anything you might have on these kits. Would entertain trades too, if there is something you are looking for in particular.

Thanks in advance.

Earl

Here you go, Earl, on the Centuri Visible Astro: https://www.ebay.com/itm/3341392399...353.m1438.l2649

Hope you are the successful bidder.

This is not my listing, nor do I know the lister.

Kind regards,
Jeff Jenkins
aka: Faithwalker
NAR #46879 SR

Yeah, been keeping an eye on it. Sorry that the fins have already been cut, but all the parts seem to be there. This one does not come around very often at all, so even one like this will be of interest.

The same seller has an original issue Centuri Space Shuttle (early 70s version) with balsa cones before they were replaced with plastic not too long after the kit first came out. Unfortunately, this kit has been opened and started too and one of the balsa cones is missing. I have sealed versions of all varieties of that kit, so it is not of as great an interest.

Oh....and several months ago I was able to get a Firebird from a west coast seller. :)

Earl

Open or sealed? :eek: Either way, pics? :cool:

It was sealed. Only Centuri Firebird kit I have ever seen. VERY hard to find.

Earl

Congratulations, Earl, on the Centuri Visible Astro eBay win! It was a pretty big hit to the pocketbook, but, hey, at least you got what you wanted to fill the missing gap in your collection!

Kind regards,
Jeff Jenkins
aka: Faithwalker
NAR #46879 SR

Yeah, that was a monster hit for sure! I kind of flinched to go that high (well, my actual final bid was considerable higher than the final price! :o ), but after well more than a decade of searching for this kit, I was not going to let this opportunity slip away. I may not live long enough to see another one come up! :eek:

I have seen photos of only one other Visible Astro kit, from the collection of another collector. Interesting thing is that, even with as short of production run this kit had (one year), his kit face card is a bit different from this one! So, there are variations, even with this kit!

I suspect this one to be the original face card design, as I can see this one comes with what would have been the early ‘anchor ring’ shock cord attachment method. From the photos of the other collector’s kit, his bag contains the later self-adhesive paper/foil shock cord mount.

Regrettable in this kit that the fins have been cut out, but I have another ‘regular’ Astro 1 kit from this era that contains an uncut fin sheet of this fin style (and yes, the Astro 1 had two slightly different fin platforms over the years).

Earl

OUCH !
$502.00 for an OPENED kit ?!?!

Well, if you read the message just above yours you will see why *I* (not you) would pay that for this Kit. What is that, about half a month’s payment for a new ‘Vette? I wouldn’t buy one of those cars for ANY money, but again that is not my bag.

As mentioned above, this is the first and only time I have been able to even find this kit for sale in ANY condition. Yes, I would have much rather have gotten this in mint, sealed condtion, but one like that, so for, has not presented itself.

And I was only half joking when I said I might not live long enough to even find another for sale somewhere. Best to complete the collection while I can. In the end, my collections will be sold and the funds will go to the church, St Jude’s Children’s Hospital, and the Shriner’s Hospital for Children.

This was the ONLY kit from the 1971 Centuri catalog I did not have. And that includes all the MiniMax kits in that catalog. I have been able to get MULTIPLES of most of the MiniMax kits and that was EASY compared to getting this kit!.

So for me, some of the best rocketry money I have ever spent! :D :D :D :)

Earl

:cool: Impressive. I'd like to see a pic of the whole collection.