In the early 1980s, Estes struck a marketing deal with Mattel to distribute model rockets in (West) Germany. They went through the process to get the engines certified by the German bureau of explosives (BAM). One of the artifacts of the German law (that came from fireworks) is that the motors had to be red.

I just happened to be stationed in West Germany from 1981-1984. So I have some of the red Mattel/Estes 18mm motors that were available in hobby shops.

I think the deal ended in the late 1980s, and sales were disappointing. All of West Germany had a 400' altitude limit on rockets, which stunted interest.

Matt