Model Forum / General / Rockets / February 2004

C5 motors have been out of production for a couple of years and they lose certification in
the near future. Fly 'em now.
-Fred Shecter NAR 20117
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"""Remove "zorch" from address (2 places) to reply.

What about:

http://www.semroc.com/Store/scripts/default.asp

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"""Remove "zorch" from address (2 places) to reply.

This should be in the FAQ.

There's one piece of the story that always gets left out. Back when Damon
bought Estes, Centuri, and HiFlyer, they also bought Arrow Handicraft.
Remember those leaterr wallets or comb cases you made as a kid, sewing them
together with plastic lace. That was Arrow.

And my connection? At my wedding, my bride is introducing me to her side of
the family. I meet her Uncle Jack, who hands me his card, with the Estes
Centuri HiFlyer and Arrow logos. Turns out Uncle Jack was the Vern Estes of
Arrow... He's old friends with Vern, Lee, and even Dane.

    Bob Kaplow    NAR # 18L    TRA # "Impeach the TRA BoD"
        >>> To reply, remove the TRABoD! <<<
Kaplow Klips & Baffle:    http://nira-rocketry.org/LeadingEdge/Phantom4000.pdf
   www.encompasserve.org/~kaplow_r/    www.nira-rocketry.org    www.nar.org

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Shockie,

I've wondered about that, too.  When you
compare the designations, Centuri motors
matched Estes designations to a T. The
only exception were that Centuri offered
a B14-6 (and -0, -5 and -7) while Estes
only offered -0, -5 and -7.  Centuri's
T motors were different, too, but that
occurred late in the game.

And Centuri's C5's were called C5-3S and
C5-0S (S for super).  Estes' lacked the
S (and the -0).  (Both were Damon companies
by then, and hence were likely sharing
motor manufacturing resources.)

I want to think that if Centuri was making
their own motors, surely they would have
had their own designations.  OTOH, maybe
they copied Estes' designations to imprve
acceptance and to promote standardization.

Several knowledgable DARS members swear
Centuri's motors were made by Centuri.
And I've compared Centuri and Estes B14
motors; they have decidedly different
nozzles, so I've begun to lean towards
separate manufacturing, at least by the
late 60's/early 70's.

So, maybe Estes did private label for
Centuri in the beginning; we know Estes
got in the business as a motor maker,
then got in the kit business to enhance
lagging motor sales.  So it's logical
they were looking for volume motor
customers/partners early on.

That would also explain how Centuri chose
identical motor designations, then maybe
kept them (for continuity) when they moved
to their own production.  

Somebody ought to get the facts straight
from the horses' mouths...while the horses
are still around.

Doug

Lee Piester is alive and well, owning and managing the Hobby Bench
stores in Phoenix.  Call the Glendale store to reach him.

Rocket Flyer
Southeast Georgia

I see him every now and then at the Chicago hobby show. I recall catching
him in front of the Centuri booth a couple years back (may have been the
last time Estes/Centuri was at the show). I asked him what he thought about
his company name being up there. I don't think he answered verbally, but
there was a smile on his face.

He's still around with several hobby shops in the Phoenix area.

    Bob Kaplow    NAR # 18L    TRA # "Impeach the TRA BoD"
        >>> To reply, remove the TRABoD! <<<
Kaplow Klips & Baffle:    http://nira-rocketry.org/LeadingEdge/Phantom4000.pdf
   www.encompasserve.org/~kaplow_r/    www.nira-rocketry.org    www.nar.org

Save Model Rocketry from the HSA!   http://www.space-rockets.com/congress.html