Ye Olde Rocket Forum

Go Back   Ye Olde Rocket Forum > The Golden Age of Model Rocketry > Kit Collecting
User Name
Password
Auctions Register FAQ Members List Calendar Today's Posts Search Mark Forums Read


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 11-08-2020, 10:31 AM
Earl's Avatar
Earl Earl is offline
Apollo Nut
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,893
Default Centuri Lil Herc Kit-Brief Lineage

In response to the topic in the "Ebay Deals" thread about the Centuri Lil Herc kit, here is a quick posting of some of the earlier kit images and kit face cards and instructions.

At a cost $.75 cents for a good portion of it's sales life, the Centuri Lil Herc was no doubt a popular beginner's kit. I zeroed in on it in my first Centuri catalog (1971) because it was the cheapest kit in the catalog. However, I did not get one at that time. Later, in the summer of 1976 I did get one (as a freebie kit), which was the second version, the "Lil Herc II", modified for full-length 18mm motors and fin tip weights after the shortie motors were discontinued beginning with the 1972 Centuri catalog.

Below are some images and scans. First is a photo of the earliest Lil Herc I have, from 1967. This kit was part of a 'gift' set of kits from Lee Piester to then NAR President Ellsworth Beetch (I think I have that spelled right), which I acquired about 10 years ago from Mr. Beetch's son, along with a handful of other then popular Centuri kits that were given to Mr. Beetch.

Next, is a color face card scan of the Lil Herc from 1969, showing the 'roll pattern' face card design that was so classic for Centuri face cards starting in about 1969 and ran through the early 70s for many Centuri face cards.

Next, is a Little Herc II face card, this from either late 1971 or sometime in 1972, after the kit had been redesigned for the longer 18mm motors. This face card is very similar to the prior design, but it does designate that the kit has been redesigned for 18mm motors. This is the only face card version to my knowledge that used the "II" designation in the title. But, the instructions for the kit did for the duration of the kit life (see last item below).

Next, is a Little Herc II face card, without the "II" on it, from 1973 onward.

Finally, a set of instructions for the Little Herc II. Notice the first page lists the kit name simply as "Hercules II". This set of instructions, as far as I have been able to find, would be the version that was used for the duration of the kit until Centuri ceased operations in 1983.

Earl
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:  Centuri Early Lil Herc--IMG_3333.JPG
Views: 73
Size:  1.58 MB  Click image for larger version

Name:  Centuri Lil Hercules--1969 Face Card.jpg
Views: 65
Size:  882.0 KB  Click image for larger version

Name:  Centuri Lil Hercules II--1972 Face Card.jpg
Views: 67
Size:  820.8 KB  Click image for larger version

Name:  Centuri Lil Hercules II--1973 Onward.jpg
Views: 69
Size:  539.2 KB  
Attached Files
File Type: pdf Centuri Lil Hercules II Inst-4.pdf (573.0 KB, 43 views)
File Type: pdf Centuri Lil Hercules II Inst-3.pdf (429.3 KB, 37 views)
File Type: pdf Centuri Lil Hercules II Inst-2.pdf (509.6 KB, 42 views)
File Type: pdf Centuri Lil Hercules II Inst-1.pdf (650.5 KB, 48 views)
__________________
Earl L. Cagle, Jr.
NAR# 29523
TRA# 962
SAM# 73
Owner/Producer
Point 39 Productions

Rocket-Brained Since 1970
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 11-08-2020, 01:09 PM
ManofSteele ManofSteele is offline
Level 5 Certified
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Sandy, UT
Posts: 206
Default

Very coo, Earl! Thanks for digging that out!

Matt
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 11-08-2020, 03:25 PM
Initiator001 Initiator001 is offline
Too Many Initiators is Never Enough
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 2,394
Default

It's stuff like this that makes me enjoy this website.

Thanks Earl.
__________________
Bob
S.A.M. # 0014
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11-08-2020, 05:38 PM
Earl's Avatar
Earl Earl is offline
Apollo Nut
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,893
Default

The first post was getting a bit 'crowded' with stuff, so I decided to hold off and post these other two instruction sets in a separate post.

Attached below are the 1968 era instructions, which is my best guess on the date; these are different and later than my sealed 1967 kit, but are different than the 1969 era instructions. The graphics style relates very similar to some 1968 Laser-X instructions I have, so I believe them to be from that year.

And...the 1969 instructions (they are dated as such). BOTH these instruction sets are for the Lil Herc short engine version, whereas the instruction set in the first post in this thread is for the full-length 18mm motor version.


Earl
__________________
Earl L. Cagle, Jr.
NAR# 29523
TRA# 962
SAM# 73
Owner/Producer
Point 39 Productions

Rocket-Brained Since 1970
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 11-08-2020, 09:15 PM
SCooke123 SCooke123 is offline
Craftsman
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 146
Default

Thanks for the info!!
__________________
Steve
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:46 AM.


Powered by: vBulletin Version 3.0.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Ye Olde Rocket Shoppe © 1998-2024