Hello,

I was at the AMA Expo all weekend and saw larry Renger every day. He's there every year. He loaned us the catalog photo model of a Sky Dart and an Astro Blaster. After someone said that they did not think the Sky Dart plans were online, he mentioned he had an old sealed in the bag Sky Dart. He brought it by and gave it to me (loaned) on Friday and I've got it at home now.

Today I see that it is online: http://www.oldrocketplans.com/estes/estK-57/estK-57.htm

So, is there any need to rip it open and scan or measure anything? If not, It goes back to him for autographing and an auction. I would estimate a few hundred $$$ at a minimum.

I also got my sealed launchables SpaceShipOne autographed by Burt Rutan since he was signing right across from our booth and the line disappeared after half hour. I did not bother Hoot Gibson for any autographs. He was loitering in front of our booth for an hour or so watching the Rutan presentation and Q&A.

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-Fred Shecter NAR 20117 (L2)
Southern California Rocket Association, NAR Section 430

Man, are you fortunate or what, to not only *meet* HIM but also to get your grubby mitts on a vintage unopened version?

1/ Do not open said kit, nor even handle without two (2) layers of nitrile gloves.

2/ Place said item into gold-plated diorama box, preferably heat, humidity, and UV protected

3/ Stare at overly precious item for long stretches of time and give thanks

4/ Do not ever touch, build, nor fly 3FNC rockets ever again!!

Well, thats what *I'd* do..........

The bag and contents show signs of age. Bag header is still attached, but not minty fresh. Balsa inside is very aged looking (I saw a few bits floating around inside).

But, it is an original and sealed in the bag.

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-Fred Shecter NAR 20117 (L2)
Southern California Rocket Association, NAR Section 430

Fred,
Everything is available online and has been for quite a while.
I cloned mine several years ago from the link you provided.
Maybe the link was down for a while; I dunno.
See no reason to open the loaner.
JMHO
GH

__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !
Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC !

I echo GH - I remastered the instructions a couple years ago and Scott put them up here, so the instructions here are probably even cleaner than you could get with a good scanned set (I did the layout in Illustrator and made the PDF directly from those files. And I redrew the decals, the cardboard engine covers and the wing layout sheet. I see no reason to open a sealed Sky Dart except to build it! Send it back to Larry with our thanks for a wonderful, beautiful design!

Greg

No, don't open it, no reason to. Send it to me, and I'll take good care of it.

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Got a Caribbean soul I can barely control.....

Do not open it. Many years ago I had a vintage unopened one, I opened it scanned the parts, sent them to Jimz, and someone asked to borrow the kit to clone. I never got the kit back. Never loan anything you can not afford to lose!

At least from the scans on Jim's site, I can see what it looked like when I lost it

Fred,

When you return the kit to Larry please take a picture of him holding it and post the picture here. I'd love to see a picture of the guy who designed that great kit.

Steve

Not sure what's in the package to scan................wasn't the balsa always die-cut in that kit? So no fin pattern to scan. Maybe the decal sheet? Anyway, I have an opened one, so I would throw my vote against opening Mr. Renger's.

Joe

http://neubauerrockets.com/store/page3.html has the SkyDagger and Mega-Dagger that might be of interest...