The Revell F-94 Starfire, An Unconventional Conversion

Well, providing that we actually HAVE DARSTAR XI, Plastic Model Conversion will once again play a big role in the contest. PMC has been featured in every DARSTAR...well, ever...and this year will be no exception, by gum (and I've got the money to buy gum!) So, I figured this week we could focus on a PMC that I built about 25 years ago that I never expected to work.

I hadn't been having a lot of luck with PMC models. An F-16, Stealth Fighter, and Imperial Cruiser that I had poured love and effort into had all broken my heart (and themselves). Still, I fought on!

I found a retro rerelease of the Revell F-94 Starfire at Michaels MJ Design for about four bucks. I plunked down my money. I swear I could hear taps playing in anticipation...

There isn't much "rocket-like" about the F-94. The wings are long and very far forward. The tail is small and swept. The only thing it had going for it was that a section of BT-20 tube fit perfectly in it.

I put about a ton of lead in the nose. That was about my only strategy. That and a C6-3 in the tail. On launch day, I knew it was going to die. I kind of felt sad for it...

Except it didn't die. When I pushed the button, she lept into the sky straight and true! She flew! She really flew!!! A 12 inch mylar chute brought her home safely!

What did I learn from this adventure? Well, maybe just to not write off a model just because it doesn't look like it should work. Or maybe just that even a blind squirrel gets a nut every now and then! So get out there and start cutting up those plastic models!

Until next time, fly 'em fast and high!

The Top Eliminator

Well, this freaky Texas spring got the better of DARSTAR XI once again. The field was a swamp, and Polaris missile launching was NOT one of the events. Therefore, we had to postpone again.

So, what does one do when handed extra time? Why rocket mash-ups, of course! A rocket mashup is simply taking a bit of this and a bit of that and seeing what happens. A while back, I came up with this:

This is the Estes Top Eliminator! The idea was simple; take an Estes Eliminator and really increase the performance...kind of like a top fuel dragster. In this case, I simply took an old Nike Smoke fin can and made it the fin section for the upper stage, while turning the Eliminator fin can into the bottom stage. Then I got really nuts and put 24mm mounts in both.

I painted the whole thing black to help with spotting it against the sky. I added the yellow fin just to dress it up a bit. And that was it. Done.

I have yet to fly her, because I'm pretty sure I'll lose her on the first flight, but I'll be sure to get some nice pictures.

So until next time, fly 'em fast and high!!!

DARSTAR... A Couple More Glances Back

Well, high grass and rain over the weekend postponed DARSTAR XI until next weekend (we hope...there is still a lot of rain in the forecast). So, I dug out one of the old photo albums and found these bits of history.

Although no pictures seem to exist of DARSTAR I, here are a couple from DARSTAR II! First, we have Ted Mahler prepping his Pogo (which flew great, by the way!)

Next, we have Sam Baxter's Lunar Lander that took first place at DARSTAR I. I think it did the same thing at DARSTAR II!

Finally, we have a real piece of history! A pre-internet method of advertising an event called a "post card." This one is for DARSTAR III!

So there you have it! I actually have some pictures from other DARSTARs and I just might have to use them if the weather doesn't get better! Don't cross me! I'll do it!!!

Until next time, fly 'em fast and high!

DARSTAR...A Look Back

DARSTAR XI is upon us! I thought it might be fun to look back at the very first DARSTAR, many years ago.....

DARSTAR (Dallas Areas Rocket Society Texas Area Regional) was born in April of 1989. It was flown on a field in Rowlett, Tx that is now houses and a Tom Thumb grocery store. There were 12 fliers who competed in six events. The events were:

1/2 A Parachute Duration
B Streamer Duration
C Superroc Duration
C Boost Glide
F Dual Egg Loft Altitude
Plastic Model Conversion

The contestants were (In order of their overall place at the event:)

1. Sam Baxter
2. Ace Disaster Company (Stu Powley, Chris Garrett, and Wayland Scott)
3. Kelli Gaither
4. Tim Barklage
5. Scott Hunsicker
6. Terry White
7. Gina Gaither
8. Martin Catt
9. Jack Poehlman
10. Tony Gaither
11. Ron Goforth
12. Kay Goforth

John Dyer was also there, but just helped run things. It's probably just as well that he didn't try to get anything in the air! The force was NOT with him! His car was attacked by one PMC and a cato, and he was kamikazed by Scott Hunsicker's F-16. In fact, even today, if you look at the Colossus launch controller, you can see a dent that could have been in John's head!

By the way, the very first DARSTAR Prang award was handed out to Scott Hunsicker for the assault.

Other interesting notes:

None of the F DEL Alt flights closed.

FSI black powder motors and "new" composite motors were both used in the event.

The fog was so thick on day one that John Dyer and I sat at opposite ends of the field for 30 minutes before we saw each other.

We had flyers come in from Louisiana.

Some of the flights came within a few feet of swimming in Lake Ray Hubbard.

I was moving into my new house that weekend, so I ran the contest in the day and moved at night. I went for 48 hours with no real sleep.

DARS lost our flying field less than a month hefore the event. Since notices had to be mailed snail mail, this was a huge problem!

First places in the events were:

1/2 A PD- Gina Gaither
B Streamer- Terry White
C Supperroc- Sam Baxter
C Boost Glide- Ace Disaster
F Dual EL- Ace Disaster ( flight points only for returning eggs intact)
Plastic Model Conversion- Sam Baxter (Lunar Module)

So there you have it! Hopefully at DARSTAR XI we can all...
Fly 'em fast and high!

Mickey in Tomorrowland!!! (Part 2!!!)

Well, in rummaging through all of my junk....er...."treasure," I happened across another example of The Mouse hanging out in Tomorrowland. This time, he is actually in the rocket (although it really doesn't look much like a rocket). I, therefore, give to you....Space Mountain Mickey!!! (If you could read that last bit with lots of echo in your mind, it would really help me build the drama here. Thanks.)

This item was included in a McDonalds Happy Meal exactly 20 years ago. How do I know? Well, on one side of the "space ship" it says "Disneyland 40th." Disneyland is celebrating it's 60th this year. You can crunch the numbers.

Actually there were seven of these viewers in all, and I have all seven (Why wouldn't I?) As you can see, this one features a view of Space Mountain. It was hard getting a picture of that slide. If you really can't see it that well, just take my word for it.

As I said before, I really don't think it looks much like a rocket. I also don't think it looks much like the Space Mountain ride vehicles, but I guess they tried. Its still a pretty nifty piece that I kind of forgot I had.

No, I do NOT think it would be easy to convert to fly.

Until next time, fly 'em fast and high!