I think it may also depend on the size of the tube. Two of my MRC kits, the XR-20 and Wildfire, are BT-50 equivalent and noticeably flimsy whereas the tube in the BT-20 Firefighter feels a bit more solid.

__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc - Starfighter Scorpion Centuri - Mini Dactyl Estes - F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II, Xarconian Cruiser Semroc - Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark

I agree.

It was MRC's take of Centuri's Orion.

Bob

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illegitimi non carborundum

NAR# 54643 L-1

SAM# 043

AMA# 157091

VRCS# 154

A&P# 42x xx xxxx.

The genesis of the MRC Iron Man rocket kit has an interesting history.

Back in 1988 Scott Branche (Rokitflite) and myself were working for a new rocket company named Enertek based in Phoenix, Arizona.

Our supervisor/boss was Bill Stine who had the title of Marketing Director. Gary Rosenfield was Vice-President and Lee Piester was President of the company.

Enertek had been established to bring larger-sized rockets and motors to the mass-market. The company had a very sucessful showing at the HIAA show that year and had taken in millions (That's right) of dollars in orders for the product line.

Even so, several distributors/hobby retailers would not order the product line. To them, model rocketry was 'traditional/small' rockets such as Estes sold. These were customers that Enertek wanted.

So, with that in mind, Scott and I were summoned to Bill's office to talk about the need to create a line of 'smaller' model rocket kits which could be flown on 24mm (E15, E30) and 18mm (To be determined) motors.

Scott was/is a very creative and imaginative person who can design excellent models. Scott came up with designs for 20-24 new 'smaller' Enrtek rocket kits and hand-drew artwork for each one.

One of these was a model named Ironman. It was designed to recall the Centuri Orion kit. All three of us really liked that model and name.

Sadly, Enertek never produced it's original line of products let alone a second series. The company closed up shop and the assets were bought up by one of the Enertek investors who then invested in AeroTech and provided the Enertek assets.

Bill had been hired by MRC to refresh their model rocket line. He recalled the Enertek Ironman model and contacted the Enertek/AeroTech owners to ask if he could release the Ironman kit for MRC. It was agreed and the rest is history.

A few years later MRC left the model rocket buisiness. Bill Stine went on to establish Quest Aerospace. I went back to work for AeroTech to bring out a mid-power model rocket product line the included a few products originally planned for Enertek. Scott went back to the East Coast.

Many folks have commented to me over the years about what a shame it was that the Enertek product line was never released. That's not entirely true. Enertek never released any products (Other than catalogs) itself. However, four of it's kit designs did get to market via other companies. Altered versions of the Enertek Initiator and Strong ARM kits were released by AeroTech and are still available. MRC produced the Ironman model for a few years. Quest released the Striker AGM which was a down-scale of the Enertek Astra 2000.

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Bob
S.A.M. # 0014

Thanks for the detailed history, Bob!

__________________
NAR #27085 - Oregon Rocketry - SAM

I'd buy a Quest Ironman.

__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc - Starfighter Scorpion Centuri - Mini Dactyl Estes - F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II, Xarconian Cruiser Semroc - Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark

Cool. I knew about the Enertek/Aerotech Initiator and Strong Arm but don't recall hearing about the Ironman and certainly not the Striker AGM. Thanks for the info, Bob!

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Scott D. Hansen
Ye Olde Rocket Shoppe - Your One Stop BAR Shoppe!
Ye Olde Rocket Plans - OOP Rocket Plans From 38 Companies!
Ye Olde Rocket Forum
WOOSH NAR Section #558

Forgot that I'd taken this.



Ejection charge damage to the MRC XR-20. The area under the bubbled paint isn't there anymore. You can see the area where it's out of round from me touching it when it landed.

__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc - Starfighter Scorpion Centuri - Mini Dactyl Estes - F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II, Xarconian Cruiser Semroc - Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark

This is a TLP Anubis that I threw together by printing the "catalog" pic and taking measurements from it. Full length BT-60, scrap balsa and a spare PNC-60AH was all from my stash. I doubt it's terribly accurate, but I like the way it turned out, and it's a made up missile. (I'm also not terribly picky.) Motor mount should go in today providing that I can find a piece of scrap BT-50 for the motor tube. I've used up a lot of scraps lately, so finding a piece is not a given. The "catalog" pic on the website shows it in a camo scheme, so I'm going to try doing one with rattle cans. I think I'll test on a piece of paper first. I've tried it before and wasn't thrilled with the results. Like bad graffiti, but we'll see.

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc - Starfighter Scorpion Centuri - Mini Dactyl Estes - F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II, Xarconian Cruiser Semroc - Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark

Pretty cool Bill. Reminds me just a wee little bit of a Talon with the two fin sets. I must say I really like the long sweep on those forward fins. I never built any of the TLP kits myself. I like this design.

__________________
Steve Naquin
TRA# 677 L2
NAR# 85518 L2
SAM# 0052

🚀 In Construction: Der Blue Maxx/Minie-Magg 5.5” & Vander-Burn MDRM Clone w/Stickershock23 Custom Decals
🚀 In Paint & Detail: USR Banshee
🚀 In Build Queue: Estes Doorknob w/Vander-Burn Rocketry Upgrade Kit [Sport Decor], Semroc Centurion-F, Semroc Egg Crate
🚀 In Repair: SLS Lil’ Hustler, SLS Aero-Dart 1969 Trim
🚀 Stay Tuned For Fall 2021 Launch Dates

I forget what the TLP website says it's based on. "Very loosely based on the Lacrosse missile of the late 50's and early 60's." Can't say I've ever seen a Lacrosse. I like the idea of it being an original and not a true scale because it frees me up from a paint and decal standpoint. I didn't realize that most of the TLP kits I've already built were also originals. I really sweated the paint jobs on those.

__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc - Starfighter Scorpion Centuri - Mini Dactyl Estes - F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II, Xarconian Cruiser Semroc - Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark