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Old 03-29-2020, 04:07 PM
K'Tesh's Avatar
K'Tesh K'Tesh is offline
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Lightbulb Estes (Astron) Cherokee-D: Through the years 1970-1983

I've been doing some research on this, one of my favorite rockets, for quite a while. And I've compiled the information from the catalogs in which it appeared (1970-1983). Also included is some info from the instructions I've sourced.

The Astron Cherokee-D was introduced in 1970, the year after Estes has been purchased by Damon, but the earliest kits didn't have the new logo. It made its last appearance in 1983.


Introduced
1970 (page 98)
Astron Cherokee-D
"it's recommended only for experienced rocketeers."
(Pre-Damon logo on catalog model (a drawing))
die-cut fins, 18" chute, quick-change engine mount
Cat. No. 694-K-47
Price: $2.75
Length 21.6 in (54.9 cm)
Body Dia. 1.325 in (33.7 mm)
Weight 2.75 oz (78 gr)
Recommended Engines D13-5, D13-7
NOTES: The kit was never 21.6" long. Not including the length of the protruding engine hook, the 5.375" (exposed) nosecone, and the 16.35" body tube means that the rocket was 21.725" long at time of introduction.


1971
Astron Cherokee-D
Degree of Challenge: Two
(no logo visible on catalog model's photo)
18" chute, pre-cut fins, quick change engine mount
Cat. No. 694-K-47
Price: $2.75
Length 21.6 in (54.9 cm)
Body Dia. 1.325 in (33.7 mm)
Weight 2.75 oz (78 gr)
Recommended Engines D13-5, D13-7
NOTES: The catalog length remained the same, but photographic analysis shows that this was when the kit started using the 18" long body tube.... The length (not including protruding engine hook) should have been updated to 23.375". This error remains in all subsequent catalog appearances.

1971 2nd Catalog
Astron Cherokee-D
Degree of Challenge: Two
(no logo visible on catalog model's photo)
18" chute, pre-cut fins, quick change engine mount
Cat. No. 694-K-47
Price: $3.00
Length 21.6 in (54.9 cm)
Body Dia. 1.325 in (33.7 mm)
Weight 2.75 oz (78 gr)
Recommended Engines D13-5, D13-7 use for first flights.

1972
Astron Cherokee-D
Degree of Challenge: Two
(no logo visible on catalog model's photo)
18" chute, pre-cut fins, quick change engine mount
Cat. No. 694-K-47
Price: $3.00
Length 21.6 in (54.9 cm)
Body Dia. 1.325 in (33.7 mm)
Weight 2.75 oz (78 gr)
Recommended Engines: D12-5, D12-7 use for first flights.

1973
Cherokee-D
Skill Level 2
(pre-Damon logo on upper wrap)
18" chute, pre-cut fins, quick change engine mount
Cat. No. K-47
Price: $3.50
Length 21.6 in (54.9 cm)
Body Dia. 1.325 in (33.7 mm)
Weight 2.75 oz (78 gr)
Recommended Engines: D12-5 use for first flights, D12-7
NOTE: All catalog appearances after this appear to have been derived from image introduced in 1973, and while the logo is mostly hidden, it lacks the white portion from of the Damon era's logo (which all subsequent logos have so far been derived from).

1974
Cherokee-D
Skill Level 2
(pre-Damon logo on upper wrap)
18" chute, pre-cut fins, quick change engine mount
Cat. No. K-47
Price: $3.95
Length 21.6 in (54.9 cm)
Body Dia. 1.325 in (33.7 mm)
Weight 2.75 oz (78 gr)
Recommended Engines: D12-5 use for first flights, D12-7


1975
Cherokee-D
Skill Level 2
(pre-Damon logo on upper wrap)
18" chute, pre-cut fins, quick change engine mount
Cat. No. 1247
Price: $3.95
Length 21.6 in (54.9 cm)
Body Dia. 1.325 in (33.7 mm)
Weight 2.75 oz (78 gr)
Recommended Engines: D12-5 (First flight), D12-7

1976
Cherokee-D
Skill Level 2
(pre-Damon logo on upper wrap)
18" chute, pre-cut fins, quick change engine mount
Cat. No. 1247
Price: $4.50
Length 21.6 in (54.9 cm)
Body Dia. 1.325 in (33.7 mm)
Weight 2.75 oz (78 gr)
Recommended Engines: D12-5 (First flight), D12-7

1977
Cherokee-D
Skill Level 2
(pre-Damon logo on upper wrap)
18" chute, pre-cut fins, quick change engine mount
Cat. No. 1247
Price: $4.50
Length 21.6 in (54.9 cm)
Body Dia. 1.325 in (33.7 mm)
Weight 2.75 oz (78 gr)
Recommended Engines: D12-5 (First flight), D12-7

1978
Cherokee-D
Skill Level 2
(pre-Damon logo on upper wrap)
18" chute, pre-cut fins, quick change engine mount
Cat. No. 1247
Price: $5.00
Length 21.6 in (54.9 cm)
Body Dia. 1.325 in (33.7 mm)
Weight 2.75 oz (78 gr)
Recommended Engines: D12-5 (First Flight), D12-7

1979
Cherokee-D
Skill Level 2
(pre-Damon logo on upper wrap)
18" chute, pre-cut fins, quick change engine mount
Cat. No. 1247
Price: $5.25
Length 21.6 in (54.9 cm)
Body Dia. 1.325 in (33.7 mm)
Weight 2.75 oz (78 gr)
Recommended Engines: D12-5 (First Flight), D12-7

1980
Cherokee-D
Skill Level 2
(pre-Damon logo on upper wrap)
18" chute, pre-cut fins, quick change engine mount
Cat. No. 1247
Price: $5.75
Length 21.6 in (54.9 cm)
Body Dia. 1.325 in (33.7 mm)
Weight 2.75 oz (78 gr)
Recommended Engines: D11-9, D12-5 (First Flight), D12-7

1981
Cherokee-D
Skill Level 2
(pre-Damon logo on upper wrap)
18" chute, pre-cut fins, quick change engine mount
Cat. No. 1247
Price: $6.25
Length 21.6 in (54.9 cm)
Body Dia. 1.325 in (33.7 mm)
Weight 2.75 oz (78 gr)
Recommended Engines: D11-9, D12-5 (1st Flt.), D12-7

1982
Cherokee-D
Skill Level 2
(pre-Damon logo on upper wrap)
18" chute, pre-cut fins, quick change engine mount
Kit Feature Symbol indicates Balsa nosecone*
Cat. No. 1247
Price: $6.50
Length 21.6 in (54.9 cm)
Body Dia. 1.325 in (33.7 mm)
Weight 2.75 oz (78 gr)
Recommended Engines: D11-9, D12-5 (1st Flt.), D12-7

1983 Last Appearance in the catalog
Cherokee-D
Skill Level 2
(pre-Damon logo on upper wrap)
18" chute, pre-cut fins, quick change engine mount
Kit Feature Symbol indicates Balsa nosecone*
Cat. No. 1247
Price: $7.00
Length 21.6 in
Body Dia. 1.325 in
Weight 2.75 oz
Recommended Engines: D11-9, D12-5 (1st Flt.), D12-7
NOTE: Metric dimensions were not included

*likely an error- The BNC-55AC's last appearance was in 1974's catalog. The PNC-55AC makes its appearance in the 1975 catalog.

Despite getting a longer body tube some time in the early 70's, the Catalog never updated the length or weight of the rocket. FWIW: My sim's show that the kit was never 21.6" long. Without the engine hook length added, it was 21.725" long from the beginning. With the hook added, the length would have been about 21.963" (depending on how close the builder got the hook in the stock place). Since I don't have an original BNC-55AC or BT-55V to measure, I went with the published lengths of 5 3/8" long (exposed) for the nosecone, and 16.35" for the body tube. My sim and my calculator's numbers agree with each other on the length (less engine hook).

The earliest set of instructions that have been found have the shorter BT-55V (16.35" long) body tube, and most interestingly... two-piece, die-cut fins. Though released in 1970, the logos on the decals and (checkerboard) parachute do not have the new Damon era design. A dowel (1/16" x 1")* was included to act as a standoff for the launch lugs, and the instructions mention that 'RAIL LAUNCHES ARE RECOMMENDED FOR "D" POWER MODELS!'

JimZ's instructions are still from the early Damon era, and show the shorter 16.35" body tube, but now with single-piece, die-cut fins. The dowel standoff was gone, as was mention of the rail launch in the instructions. Also, the instructions show the decals had the old Estes logo. but the parachute and the instructions themselves have the Damon era logo.

His site also has a set of instructions that do not reference the later D11-9. The site's fin templates lack any indication of scale, and the decals are not original scans.

My physical sample, also doesn't refer to the D11-9, but the instructions , decals, and parachute all have the Damon era logo. My fins were measured with a micrometer, and are .0935" thick. Scans of the fins and decals can be found here. It came with a PNC-55AC (Part No. 71070) nosecone, and the 18" long BT-55 body tube.

It is unknown to me if the instructions were ever updated to reflect the D11-9 recommended motor.

If you have a set of original instructions, please look them over, look for the recommended engines, what body tubes are supplied (BT-55V (16.35" long) or BT-55 (18" long)), and which nosecone is used. If you find a set that isn't represented in the samples linked to, please consider scanning them for me. Thanks!

*According to Earl L. Cagel Jr. based on his very lucky score on eBay (keep reading below)
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Last edited by K'Tesh : 06-01-2020 at 06:55 PM.
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  #2  
Old 03-29-2020, 07:37 PM
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Earl Earl is offline
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That’s a fairly comprehensive run down of the ol’ Cherokee-D. I just built my first one (from a vintage kit) in the last few years, but then again, I did much more Centuri stuff back in the day. I never knew it once came with two piece fins...interesting.

This is one kit that I am really surprised has not been re-released, amongst the number of kits that have been re-released the last 7-8 years.


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  #3  
Old 03-29-2020, 08:22 PM
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ghrocketman ghrocketman is offline
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It may have been not re-released due to Semroc having it in production.
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  #4  
Old 03-29-2020, 08:43 PM
mikeyd mikeyd is offline
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They did kind of re-release it as the Cherokee E, but it may be at Hobby Lobby only, as I did not find it on the Estes Website.
https://www.hobbylobby.com/Crafts-H...-Kit/p/80959023
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Old 03-29-2020, 08:58 PM
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Earl Earl is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeyd
They did kind of re-release it as the Cherokee E, but it may be at Hobby Lobby only, as I did not find it on the Estes Website.
https://www.hobbylobby.com/Crafts-H...-Kit/p/80959023


Doh! Gosh, yes I had forgotten all about that one being released! Yes, must be one of the Hobby Lobby exclusives. Though we have a Hobby Lobby here, I never go to it. Don’t even know if they carry rockets at that particular store, though I suspect they do.

So, what is that one...a BT-60 I guess? I gotta say though: something about that package art is not very enticing...something about it looks a bit anemic to me and doesn’t really inspire a desire to get one. Something about it just doesn’t scream “E” to me, not that is a big motor necessarily. I’ve flown through L motors, but package art for that kit should be more aggressive looking.

Earl
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  #6  
Old 03-29-2020, 09:20 PM
Rocketcrab Rocketcrab is offline
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Isn't the Estes Magician essentially a Cherokee D with a 55/50 transition and a clear BT-50 payload section?
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