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  #1  
Old 08-21-2020, 02:10 PM
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tbzep tbzep is offline
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You know that classic movie that you pull out and watch every few years? I did that with a thread from 2009. I'm sure some of you have also. If you haven't read it in a while, do it. It's called "Ask Mike". Mike Dorffler went to work at Estes in 1968 when he was still 21 and worked there pretty much his whole adult life. There's some great rocketry info, some fun "antics" of his buddy and coworker Wayne Kellner, and other goodies. Many of us were a part of the thread, asking questions, commenting...virtual fellowship at its finest, but I've forgotten a lot and enjoyed reading it again. Just skip most of Jerry's posts so you won't get annoyed.

https://oldrocketforum.com/showthread.php?t=5103


.
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Old 08-21-2020, 03:46 PM
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Thanks for the reminder; been a while...

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  #3  
Old 08-21-2020, 06:49 PM
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Thanks for the “Ask Mike” thread reminder, Tim.

I drove down to NARAM-52 in 2010 with a friend to visit all the vendors on a Sunday. I had not registered to attend and participate, but at the last minute decided to drive down to Pueblo, about 175 miles away.

Estes was re-releasing the #2157 Saturn V, and I bought one in their booth. It had a low serial number, like kit #12. Then they asked if I’d like Mike Dorffler to sign it! I had no idea he would be there. He was very ill, but we spent maybe 10 minutes chatting about all kinds of rockets. He signed my kit. I had my picture taken with him.

Unfortunately, the plastic wrap was signed, so it would be ruined as a collectible if ever opened. It still sits in my basement, I’m just at a loss as to what to do with it.

Sadly, Mike passed away maybe a month afterward. I really feel fortunate to have met him.
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Old 08-21-2020, 07:14 PM
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Just skip most of Jerry's posts so you won't get annoyed.
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  #5  
Old 08-21-2020, 07:58 PM
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Just went through the entire 8 page thread again.
Lots of good info from someone who passed far too young.
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Old 08-22-2020, 09:06 AM
snaquin snaquin is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tbzep
Many of us were a part of the thread, asking questions, commenting...virtual fellowship at its finest, but I've forgotten a lot and enjoyed reading it again.
Wow, thanks tbzep for the reminder about this thread!

I reread it in its entirety again this morning. Another fine example of all the valuable information that Scott has collected and archived that just can’t be found anywhere else other than right here on YORF.

In that “Ask Mike” thread there were so many good questions that Mike answered for us and of course that hysterical Wayne Kellner DC-3 story! If Mike hadn’t mentioned Wayne Kellner was a Monty Python fan that was surely a dead give away!

He answered my question in post #74 about the original two stage Mini-Max F97 powered Cineroc carrier built with Centuri parts and also info for his NARAM-11 prototype. I need to revisit the pictures of those two rockets again in my magazines. It would definitely be cool to try to reproduce a similar looking model. Simply a fascinating thread with an inside look at the terrific talent that these designers at Estes had to develop these new products.
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Last edited by snaquin : 08-22-2020 at 02:39 PM.
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  #7  
Old 08-22-2020, 07:49 PM
dannymrmissile dannymrmissile is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LeeR
Thanks for the “Ask Mike” thread reminder, Tim.

I drove down to NARAM-52 in 2010 with a friend to visit all the vendors on a Sunday. I had not registered to attend and participate, but at the last minute decided to drive down to Pueblo, about 175 miles away.

Estes was re-releasing the #2157 Saturn V, and I bought one in their booth. It had a low serial number, like kit #12. Then they asked if I’d like Mike Dorffler to sign it! I had no idea he would be there. He was very ill, but we spent maybe 10 minutes chatting about all kinds of rockets. He signed my kit. I had my picture taken with him.

Unfortunately, the plastic wrap was signed, so it would be ruined as a collectible if ever opened. It still sits in my basement, I’m just at a loss as to what to do with it.

Sadly, Mike passed away maybe a month afterward. I really feel fortunate to have met him.

Just saw this. I’d Definitely hold on to that Saturn !
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Old 08-22-2020, 11:19 PM
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September 7, 2020 will mark the 10-year anniversary of Mike Dorffler's death.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial...-keith-dorffler

Dave F.
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  #9  
Old 08-24-2020, 09:23 AM
Blastfromthepast Blastfromthepast is offline
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Does anyone here know what became of Wayne Kellner?
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