I had a chance to buy this before it was posted. I wrote someone at Estes enquiring if they were ever a part of Mattel, but I mistakenly said Revell ! Anyway he replied saying they were a sister company once, etc. I replied saying i meant Mattel. I’m sure he’ll reply this week. Cool kit, but I didn’t want it now. I have the bagged one, which is sufficient.

Also, these kits were specially made for a different market then, which was common... like the many Estes and Centuri kits boxed, which normally would have been bagged.
Still, I await to see to What Degree, if any, Estes was a Part of Mattel ?!

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When I was stationed at Mather AFB near Sacramento in the late '70s, a friend in our rocketry club went to Germany to visit relatives, He brought me back the boxed Estes Andromeda kit.
The pictures show an original kit, the boxed kit, and I believe a clone that may have been sold. The kit on the right didn't spark any memory. As you can see from the side panel, it shows the Cape Canaveral kits available. I also have a Q Modeling Andromeda kit. After 50+ years, I have still to build an Andromeda.

Chas

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Charles Russell, MSgt,USAF (ret.)
NAR 9790, Lvl 1
SAM "Balls Three"

Hark ! ,,,, that’s cool....

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In the early 1980s, Estes struck a marketing deal with Mattel to distribute model rockets in (West) Germany. They went through the process to get the engines certified by the German bureau of explosives (BAM). One of the artifacts of the German law (that came from fireworks) is that the motors had to be red.

I just happened to be stationed in West Germany from 1981-1984. So I have some of the red Mattel/Estes 18mm motors that were available in hobby shops.

I think the deal ended in the late 1980s, and sales were disappointing. All of West Germany had a 400' altitude limit on rockets, which stunted interest.

Matt

Thanks, Matt. Great and informative post. More than I hoped for. Just another tid bit about Estes I didn’t know. 400 feet,,, hmmm... I’d keep them in the box,too ! Dan.

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I can see why the hobby went nowhere then in W. Germany.
A 400' ceiling is all but useless. Lemme guess, they had to pull umpteen permits and licenses to practice for FAI events. Just moronic.
I believe you still have to take a test to be able to hunt and own a rifle as well in Germany.

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When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !
Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC !

Lol ! ....I think over there I’d stick with gliders..... 👀

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You're dissing Bill. He has 100's of flights under 400' on his B6-4 field. I've got a bunch here at Cape Cow Patty too.

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I love sanding.

How do you say B6-4 Field in German? Ho-GAN!!!

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Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Centuri Mini Dactyl Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark, Groonie Der V 1/2

...hmmm, guess I have more B engine flights than any other motor,,, and in rockets that are at or under 400 feet. It’s fun, all good,,, I’m happy.....

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