Title: Orion

Kit number: KV-41

Background Information brief: The Orion was released in the 1971 Centuri Catalog in late 1970. Introduced as a big and highly detailed single engine demonstration rocket, the Orion used parts from the Saturn 1B and Saturn V kits to give it the look of a futuristic NASA interplanetary exploration rocket. The first production models used a balsa nose cone and six balsa pod cones. The pod cones were replaced with plastic just after release and the large nose cone was replaced with a plastic version several months later. It was released as Catalog No. KC-8 and retailed for $4.95.
The Semroc Retro-ReproTM Centuri OrionTM is very close to the original. All the nose cones are balsa like the origi- nal version. The vacuform wraps are replaced with em- bossed glossy card stock and balsa parts to provide for greater detailing. The parachute is reduced to 16” for less drift with the lower weight.

Designer: Larry Brown

Release Date: 03/09/2010

In Production: 2010-2014


Instruction PDF

https://www.oldrocketplans.com/semroc/Semroc_Orion.pdf


Requested attachments:

Fins and wrap scans (200 dpi grayscale PDF)

Decal scan (600 dpi color PDF)

Attached Thumbnails

 

Attached Files

Semroc-Orion.rkt (139.9 KB, 8 views)

Archived Semroc product page:https://web.archive.org/web/2010061...s.asp?SKU=KV-41

Announced for sale 3/9/2010, see attached.

Attached Thumbnails

           

Requested attachments:

Fins and wrap scans (200 dpi grayscale PDF)

Decal scan (600 dpi color PDF)

Picture of kit parts laid out

More background on the Semroc Orion origin:

My son loved the Orion model and I had already cloned an Enerjet Athena. He decided he wanted to build the Orion and we discussed how to go about doing the interstage wraps. We decided on using generic corrugated wraps and carving/sanding all the small ullage motors and covers from balsa, using my Centuri/Estes 1/100 Saturn 1B wraps as a guide. We gathered the parts consisting of corrugated Little Joe II wraps, body tubes, and the Orion/Athena cones from Semroc. He then set out to build it. I made the decals but he pretty much did all the rest by himself. He finished it in early 2009, and it turned out great!

In 2010 right about the time that Semroc announced the Orion kit, I got a package. Inside was an Orion kit, #8, and a hand written note from Sheryl. She said Carl had been planning to do the Orion kit for a long time but didn't know how he would go about doing the interstage wraps. She said Kody's (YORF member Intruder) build was the inspiration to finish and release it as a kit.

Original build post...sorry about the bad Photobucket photo links in the post. Those buttheads started charging to host images.

https://oldrocketforum.com/showthre...highlight=orion

Orion in the mail.
https://oldrocketforum.com/showthre...ght=note+sheryl

__________________
I love sanding.

Not in several years. He went off to college and became an engineer. He now works for Lockheed in Ft Worth.

For what it's worth, my daughter used to fly rockets too. She is now a dirt (civil) engineer. If you have the March/April 2007 issue of Launch Magazine, they are in a feature article.

__________________
I love sanding.

The instruction PDF has been added to the original post.

__________________
Scott D. Hansen
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