COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado USA — Continuing their globe-trotting search for foreign rocket kits, Apogee Components has been working with the Noris Raketen company from Germany to import some of their unique scale model rockets: the Ariane, Vostok, and Soyuz.

Noris Raketen (http://www.noris-raketen.de/), of Berg-Richtheim, Germany, is a maker of model rocketry kits typical of those in the hobby, but the German influence is indicated with some interesting scale models, including versions of the the A4 (V2), Wasserfall and V1 Buzz Bomb.  Perhaps the future may see some of these models added to the Apogee line-up as well.

According to the Apogee web site, the Noris kits aren't as straight-forward as the recently introduced Sky-brand rockets from China were.  The Noris kits are not for beginners, and require extra finishing skills from the modeler.  Specifically speaking, the Noris kits don't have the same quality airframe tubes that US modelers are familiar with.  Instead of the normal quality glassine-covered tubes, the Noris kits have a matte finish similar to copier paper.  However, Apogee reports that after everything is assembled, the kits produce an end product as strong as US-made kits, just requiring extra prep time before painting.

These kits are miniature models of real launch vehicles used by the Europeans and Russians, however, the scale is not accurate. Anyone entering them in a contest would lose points for the models being out-of-scale. From a distance though they are easily recognized by others as being like the real rockets.

One of the key shortcomings of the kits was the instructions, primarily being written in German and lacking in detail.  Apogee leaves the original German instruction in each kit, but suppliments them with English instructions written in-house.  In addition, Apogee also replaces the motor mounts with US versions, as the German market uses 25mm motors where the US market uses 24mm motors — the extra 1mm of space could mean the loss of ejection gases needed to deploy the recovery parachute.

The Apogee web site points out the high quality of the vacuum formed parts in the kits: nose cones, small details, simulated nozzles, transition sections, fairings and the clamshell strap-on booster tanks, stating, "We vacuum form parts here at Apogee, so I know how difficult it is to make good vacuum formed parts. These are some of the best I've seen outside of what we do here in-house."

Ariane specifications:

• Skill Level: 4
• Length: 60 cm (23.62")
• Diameter: 40 mm (1.57")
• Empty Weight: 87.5 grams (3.08 oz)
• Recovery Type: 40 cm (15.75") Parachute
• Engine Mount Diameter: 18mm
• Recommended Engines: B6-2, C6-3, D10-5
• Regular Price: $57.49
• Pre-order Price: $48.86 (save 15%)

1:60th Scale Russian Vostok specifications:

• Skill Level: 5
• Length: 63.5 cm (25.0")
• Core Tube Diameter: 40 mm (1.57")
• Weight: 255.1 grams (9.0 oz)
• Recovery Type: 50 cm (19.7") Parachute
• Engine Mount Diameter: 24mm
• Recommended Engines: D12-3, E15-4, E30-4, E11-3J, E18-4W, E28-4T, F12-5J, F24-4W, F39-6T
• Regular Price: $74.35
• Pre-order Price: $63.19 (save 15%)

1:60th Scale Russian Soyuz specifications:

• Skill Level: 5
• Length: 77.4 cm (30.5")
• Core Tube Diameter: 40 mm (1.57")
• Weight: 278 grams (9.81 oz)
• Recovery Type: 50 cm (19.7") Parachute
• Engine Mount Diameter: 24mm
• Recommended Engines: D12-3, E15-4, E30-4, E11-3J, E18-4W, E28-4T, F12-5J, F24-4W, F39-6T
• Regular Price: $82.82
• Pre-order Price: $70.40 (save 15%)

Unsure of the demand for these kits, Apogee is conducting market research, allowing customers to pre-order them now. Because this is a pre-order, they're offering them at a special reduced rate: 15% off the regular price until August 26th.  Delivery should occur in mid-September.

Website: http://www.apogeerockets.com/