LAS VEGAS, Nevada USA — Scott Ulrey of Just Rockets, Inc. and Matt Steele of North Coast Rocketry regret to announce that they have not been able to reach an agreement to return the North Coast Rocketry line to production, a deal that was announced in January.

"Certain details did not work out," said Matt Steele. "I wish Scott and Just Rockets all the best in the future.

The deal would have brought portions of North Coast Rocketry product line back to market as early as the end of 2008. 

North Coast Rocketry, also known as NCR, was a model rocket company founded in the mid-80's Ohio by Chris Pearson and Matt Steele, adding Dan Kafun added as a partner in 1989. NCR marketed their own line of high power rockets and introduced some innovative ideas and designs that were considered cutting edge for their time.

Supplimenting their product line, NCR sold Aerotech and Vulcan motors in the mid-to-late 80s, along with a limited selection of NCR-branded single-use motors in mid 80's called "North Coasters." The North Coaster motors were manufactured by Aerotech under a special agreement with NCR, who had sole distribution rights. The North Coasters motor line was made up of a 24mm E28, a 24mm F41 and a 29mm G60 motor, and were phased out in late 1987 due to supply issues.

North Coast Rocketry was purchased by Estes Industries in the mid 90's, where it served as their mid-to-high power model rocketry division. Estes was responsible for changing NCR's motor technology to the industry-standard ammonium-perchlorate-based composite propellant (APCP). These motors were made specifically for NCR rockets and were slightly smaller in diameter than other company's motors, and featured a molded aft thrust ring. Estes discontinued the NCR line of products in 2000.

Will the consumer ever see North Coast products for sale again? "The future of the NCR line is undecided at this point in time," Steele said.

03-13-2008 04:39 PM  #1
madsen New Member   Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 4	Re: North Coast Rocketry/Just Rockets deal falls through I have a solution to the problem: Lock all participants in a room in the Vatican until they come up with a solution. Every day, they get less and less food. They will come up with deal in very short order. They could even burn the ballots and send smoke up the chimney when they get a deal. Hey, this has worked for eons for the Catholic church--and they always end up with a Pope. If it works for them--it should work for us. This is too important to leave up to the participants.

03-13-2008 04:57 PM  #2
UncleVanya   Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 1415	Re: North Coast Rocketry/Just Rockets deal falls through This story always confused me. If Estes bought NCR what did they have to sell/barter/trade with Scott?

03-13-2008 05:37 PM  #3
rstaff3 Oddroc-eteer   Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 127	Re: North Coast Rocketry/Just Rockets deal falls through Elsewhere it was stated that the NCR line was leased to Estes, but when Estes terminated the deal the rights reverted back to Matt. This doesn't apply to kits designed by Estes under the North Coast name. I of course have no first hand (or second or maybe even third) knowledge.

03-13-2008 06:04 PM  #4
UncleVanya   Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 1415	Re: North Coast Rocketry/Just Rockets deal falls through Quote: Elsewhere it was stated that the NCR line was leased to Estes, but when Estes terminated the deal the rights reverted back to Matt. This doesn't apply to kits designed by Estes under the North Coast name. I of course have no first hand (or second or maybe even third) knowledge. It seems logical enough. Maybe someone with more direct knowledge will comment.

03-13-2008 06:24 PM  #5
Just Jerry Freeform rockets advocate   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 555	Re: North Coast Rocketry/Just Rockets deal falls through Quote: This story always confused me. If Estes bought NCR what did they have to sell/barter/trade with Scott? He directly told me he used a portion of the cash money he received for a vacation in Russia and surrounding region. All these transactions happened AFTER his divorce too. My understanding is Estes has possession of the motor tooling. I would love a correction on that one. Rocketman

03-13-2008 10:15 PM  #6
rstaff3 Oddroc-eteer   Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 127	Re: North Coast Rocketry/Just Rockets deal falls through Quote: It seems logical enough. Maybe someone with more direct knowledge will comment. Despite my waffling, there is likely just one source better than mine.

03-14-2008 12:26 AM  #7
Bayourat Level 3   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 25	Re: North Coast Rocketry/Just Rockets deal falls through Why can't we all just get along?

03-14-2008 08:14 AM  #8
UncleVanya   Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 1415	Re: North Coast Rocketry/Just Rockets deal falls through Quote: Despite my waffling, there is likely just one source better than mine. Doh! Then I will take it as gospel. Thanks for the update.

03-14-2008 02:02 PM  #9
R2K Certified Level Three   Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 114	Re: North Coast Rocketry/Just Rockets deal falls through I loved the phantom 4000... But the 28.5mm motor mount was an utter insult, and you could just get a loc IV with longer fins.

03-14-2008 09:34 PM  #10
Johnnie Certified Level II   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 136	Re: North Coast Rocketry/Just Rockets deal falls through Well this just 'friggin' sux!! I was so looking forward to flying a newer more modernized Northcoast Kit... Johnnie

03-14-2008 10:19 PM  #11
Lawndartman Certified Level One   Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 11	Re: North Coast Rocketry/Just Rockets deal falls through I think they forgot the third man in the deal...Mr.Green

03-14-2008 11:50 PM  #12
lawndart HUMBLED LEVEL 2   Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 58	Re: North Coast Rocketry/Just Rockets deal falls through Its A Crying Shame That Those Kits Won't Be Out Again!!

03-15-2008 11:40 AM  #13
WolfStar Nite Launcher   Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 10	Re: North Coast Rocketry/Just Rockets deal falls through Quote: Despite my waffling, there is likely just one source better than mine. or two , hahahaha The details sometimes need a altimeter to get a proper reading on walls to be jumped. hey we tried!

03-19-2008 01:59 PM  #14
Just Jerry Freeform rockets advocate   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 555	Re: North Coast Rocketry/Just Rockets deal falls through A kit company could just make clones with industry standard motor mounts. NCR got its start by cloning Ace kits so they should have no problem with clones of their kits coming out, especially with technical upgrades. I also find it notable that major undertakings using non-standard motor mounts have failed grandly. Enertek planned to use 30mm motor mounts with oddball clips as their non-standard. North Coast Rocketry planned to use 28.5mm to try to exclude other brands. These companies litter the landscape of scrapped rocket companies with serious players at the helm. Will they ever learn? Just Jerry

03-19-2008 02:43 PM  #15
rstaff3 Oddroc-eteer   Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 127	Re: North Coast Rocketry/Just Rockets deal falls through I'd point out they only went to the odd mount after being eaten by Estes/Damon...a toy company. My original Big Brute liked standard motors out of the box. I liked the odd Darkstar motors too

03-20-2008 01:23 PM  #16
R2K Certified Level Three   Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 114	Re: North Coast Rocketry/Just Rockets deal falls through I just used f101s and g55s.