Hey Doc,
I've got four 1973 K-56 Alpha III's, come monday, it should be seven. I want to keep one or two, but how much are the others worth?


As long as I'm asking, how can I tell the value of a kit? Is there a chart or something somewhere?


Braden

Edit: I mispelled the word "the" in the title...wow.

__________________
Active rockets:
Extreme Darkstar(HPR)
BSD 4" Little John(HPR)
Ultimate Darkstar (HPR)
5.5 polecat NIKE smoke (HPR)
Retired:
Estes Mosquito (Mini Brute)
under construction:
L1 5.5" Standard ARM
RIP Erik Gates. Your talents will never be forgotten.

Gerry Fortin tracks model rocket kit sales on eBay. His database will be about the best estimate. However, prices tend to rise and fall with the tides.

http://www.seateddimevarieties.com/BAR/home.htm

It doesn't look like many get sold on ebay. He is showing only one sold with a red face card at $45.

__________________
I love sanding.

A red face card?




Braden

__________________
Active rockets:
Extreme Darkstar(HPR)
BSD 4" Little John(HPR)
Ultimate Darkstar (HPR)
5.5 polecat NIKE smoke (HPR)
Retired:
Estes Mosquito (Mini Brute)
under construction:
L1 5.5" Standard ARM
RIP Erik Gates. Your talents will never be forgotten.

Post a pic of your packaging. A "red" face card might just mean that the background has more red than blue, or whatever other color they've used over the years.

__________________
I love sanding.

The card is yellow and white.




Braden

__________________
Active rockets:
Extreme Darkstar(HPR)
BSD 4" Little John(HPR)
Ultimate Darkstar (HPR)
5.5 polecat NIKE smoke (HPR)
Retired:
Estes Mosquito (Mini Brute)
under construction:
L1 5.5" Standard ARM
RIP Erik Gates. Your talents will never be forgotten.

You will have to wait for the more knowledgeable collectors to be sure, but I believe the red face card came before the yellow one. I remember the yellow card, but not the red one. There are several here like Mojo1986, Cohetero-Negro, Leo, etc. that have extensive collections. Check out the "Kit Collecting" forum for some background.

__________________
I love sanding.

I didn't know they had a red card alpha III.


So these alphas could be anywhere from 1972-1991, based on the paint job. Is there a date stamp or something similar to look for?


Braden

__________________
Active rockets:
Extreme Darkstar(HPR)
BSD 4" Little John(HPR)
Ultimate Darkstar (HPR)
5.5 polecat NIKE smoke (HPR)
Retired:
Estes Mosquito (Mini Brute)
under construction:
L1 5.5" Standard ARM
RIP Erik Gates. Your talents will never be forgotten.

Not that I know of. They generally look at the face card, hang tag color, bag type, and contents to figure the age. I'm not up on the chronological order. There are some really knowledgeable guys that hang out here, so your question will eventually be answered by somebody smarter than me.

__________________
I love sanding.

Man, I've got some learning to do.

I really don't need another expensive aspect of this hobby, but having the whole K-kit line would be great

The easiest place to start would be the $15,000 saturn V on amazon


Braden

__________________
Active rockets:
Extreme Darkstar(HPR)
BSD 4" Little John(HPR)
Ultimate Darkstar (HPR)
5.5 polecat NIKE smoke (HPR)
Retired:
Estes Mosquito (Mini Brute)
under construction:
L1 5.5" Standard ARM
RIP Erik Gates. Your talents will never be forgotten.

Okay,
I believe these kits are the ones he listed as having black hang tag, yellow face card.

Mean price $60
High price $96
Low Price $39

Produced between 1981 and 1985 based on his hang tag guide.

Thanks again for the link! Super helpful!


Braden

__________________
Active rockets:
Extreme Darkstar(HPR)
BSD 4" Little John(HPR)
Ultimate Darkstar (HPR)
5.5 polecat NIKE smoke (HPR)
Retired:
Estes Mosquito (Mini Brute)
under construction:
L1 5.5" Standard ARM
RIP Erik Gates. Your talents will never be forgotten.