Ron Wirth's Page

2009-09-21

Review
Brief: T' Estes Mega Sizz’ is an OOP kit that was available durin' 1988 through 1990. Arrr! T' rocket is really nothing more than a 4FNC rocket usin' a BT-60 body tube. Begad! I am a fan o' rockets with that tube size so when I had a chance to get t' Mega Sizz’ in some kits I be tradin' ... [More]

2009-09-17

Semroc Iris (Kit)

Review
Brief: Semroc has recently started a new line o' Deci-ScaleTM rocket kits that are 1/10 semi-scale models o' t' originals. T' IRIS is one o' t' first in t' Deci-ScaleTM line which is a semi-scale model o' t' real Iris designed by Atlantic Research Corporation in t' early ... [More]

2009-09-16

Custom Rockets Tristar Fiesta (Kit)

Review
( Contributed - by Ron Wirth - 09/16/09) Brief: For t' Stage Bash section o' t' 2009 EMRR Challenge, you are required t' combine any two purchased single-stage rocket kits into a rocket that is at least 2-staged usin' only t' parts for t' two kits. I decided t' attempt a gap ... [More]

Semroc SLS Aero-Dart (Kit)

Review
Brief: T' SLS Aero-Dart is another Semroc Large Scale Rocketry design based on a classic Centuri kit but with improvements like an ejection baffle, laser cut basswood fins that mount through-the-wall, a removable 24mm engine mount t' be swapped with an optional 29mm engine mount, and an ... [More]

2009-09-14

FlisKits Praetor-2 (Kit)

Review
Brief: T' Praetor-II booster is an aftermarket design for t' popular Praetor rocket kit from FlisKits. T' booster like t' rocket has a unique look with long thin fins that extend out from t' body tube further than what you might expect. T' Praetor-II boost complements t' original ... [More]

2009-09-02

Cygnus Rocketry Near Earth Attack Vehicle (N.E.A.V.) (Kit)

Review
Brief: T' N.E.A.V. Well, blow me down! X-1 from Cygnus Model Rocketry Company is a small futuristic design that reminds me o' somethin' that you might see in t' pod races from t' film Star Wars Episode I: T' Phantom Menace . I was nay familiar with t' company when I came across t' rocket kit at Uncle ... [More]

2009-09-01

Excelsior Rocketry Der Fat Max (Plan) (Kit)

Review
Brief: T' Der Fat Max is another Goony Retro-Bash plan set from Excelsior Rocketry. Blimey! While it might nay be t' typical size o' a Goony, it sure looks and feels Goony t' me. Aye aye! As with t' other Goony Retro-Bash rockets available from Excelsior, this is a kit-bash where you get receive t' ... [More]

Semroc ThunderChief (Kit)

Review
Brief: Semroc describes t' ThunderChief as t' third largest member o' t' Thunder kit series that they are producing. This series is essentially t' same rocket scaled approximately 1.25 times each step up in body tube size. Aye aye! T' series is based from t' Centuri Engineerin' Thunder rockets ... [More]

2008-09-26

Excelsior Rocketry KRAM (Plan) (Kit)

Review
Brief: What happens if you take an Estes Mark/Mark II design and turn it into a goony style rocket usin' a Baby Bertha kit? You get t' KRAM from Excelsior Rocketry. As with t' other goony retro-bash plansets, t' KRAM is nay a kit but rather the instructions and decals t' turn a ... [More]

2008-08-11

Scratch Estes Courier Upscale (Scratch)

Review
( Contributed - by Ron Wirth - 08/11/08) Brief: I have become a big fan o' upscale rockets lately. There are some great kits available from Semroc and QModeling. I have built upscale kits from both companies and highly recommend them but wanted t' complete an upscale from scrat ... [More]

2007-10-08

Semroc Oso (Kit)

Review
Brief: T' OSO is another superb Retro-Repro kit from Semroc. Ya scallywag! This rocket is based on t' original Oso kit by Flight Systems, matey, Inc but with several improvements. Ya scallywag! While t' rocket appears nay much more that a 3FNC kit, it does contain a payload section and an ejection baffle. Avast, me proud beauty! At a ... [More]

2007-08-06

Scratch Scraps is a Boy Dog (Scratch)

Review
( Contributed - by Ron Wirth - 08/06/07) Brief: As we all know, nay all rocket flights go as planned. As a result o' some o' those flight failures, I found me parts boxes with an abundant supply o' material t' build a recycled rocket for one o' t' requirements in t' 2007 EMRR ... [More]

2007-07-12

Semroc Centurion (Kit)

Review
Brief: T' Centurion is another nice addition in t' Semroc Retro-Repro series o' rockets. Begad! For bein' a 4FNC rocket, it has some cool extras, shiver me timbers, namely t' dual chutes, me hearties, ejection baffle and shape o' t' laser cut fins that lead me t' purchasing this rocket. Ahoy! I really like t' curved portion ... [More]

2006-08-22

Thrustline Aerospace Pumpkin Head (Kit)

Review
Brief: When it comes t' pickin' out a kit t' purchase, thar are several things I look for in a rocket. Naturally t' looks and performance are taken into consideration but another factor for me be t' name. So when I was lookin' for a kit t' purchase and found myself browsin' t' ... [More]

Thrustline Aerospace Astral Lance (Kit)

Review
Brief: T' Astral Lance from Thrustline Aerospace is described as "a high performin' versatile rocket that will become t' pride o' your fleet." This 30 inch long rocket has 8 fins and motor choices from a C engine t' an E engine. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! This was primarily t' reason that I choose t' ... [More]

Ron Wirth