Gary Rosenfeld of Aerotech (Click to enlarge). |
eRockets owner, Randy Boadway, then took the stage to talk about various offerings from eRockets. In addition to their own brand of sanding sealer and tracking smoke, they also have plenty of piston tubes for contest rocketeers. Randy has also managed to lay his hands on some Estes Wacky Wiggler and Zombie rockets, which you can only get in starter sets from other places. I'm going to order a Wacky Wiggler - I've never flown a rocket designed to come apart like that. But the big news from eRockets lies in the kit arena. Not only is their reproduction of the Estes Scissors-Wing Transport (improved, of course) nearing release, but he also showed off two prototype rockets in the eRockets "Pro" series - a nice upscale of the Blue Bird Zero and an awesomely big version of the Estes Orbital Transport. I bet these are going to sell like hotcakes!
eRockets Randy Boadway (Click to enlarge). |
Vendor #9 is the newest on the block. IMPLS Launch Systems is putting out a line of launch controllers and pads that are targeted towards clubs and small groups, like scout packs. Their IMPLS Fiver controller and IMPLS Sport pad handle 5 rockets and look very professional and robust. A little pricey for an individual, they are definitely an option for groups looking for launch equipment that will hold up for years.
Rick Randol's NewWay Space Models is known as the "square rocket company." Their models feature square tubes, are very creative in design and are quite popular with low power rocketeers. In addition to their own designs, they have square versions of the Goblin, the A-20 Demon, Honest John and other Estes kits from days of old. These kits are available from eRockets and other vendors - I hear they are very fun to build and fly!
The last vendor to present was definitely not the least. Dynasoar Rocketry's Frank Burke makes the absolute best RC rocket gliders, and there are a fair number of them. My favs are the Klingon Battlecruiser, the Fireball XL-5, and the Bomarc. Unfortunately I don't have the skills to fly them (I can only handle ballistic paths through the air), but my colleague Chuck Pierce has several of Frank's kits and they are wonders to behold in the sky. If you like R/C and rocketry, Dynasoar has a way to give you both worlds in a single kit. While you are at his website, don't forget to check out the video collection of his birds in flight.
And that is my summary of this year's NARAM manufacturers forum - It was a very fun time!
P.S. I just received a note that NAR has posted the forum video here. Go watch it for yourselves!
The whole forum was so exciting! You're not the only one who's going broke this year, I can assure you.
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