Astron Spaceman kit: Antique or Dusted-Off re-issue?

[Kirk G]

I recently saw a photo of what MAY have been a 1960s kit at one time.  Someone referred to it as "Vern", but I don't get the reference.

Is this an antique rocket, or was it known as the Astron Spaceman?

Also, has it been re-issued, or has someone recently acquired one or made it from scratch?
Is that even possible?

It looked like a cool design.  A pyramid with a man standing up out f it, a pair of pipes or rods coming out as side fins, making two arms.
Any help on IDing it or discussing if it is practical or worth investigating would be nice.

[Bill Eichelberger]

I recently saw a photo of what MAY have been a 1960s kit at one time.  Someone referred to it as "Vern", but I don't get the reference.

Is this an antique rocket, or was it known as the Astron Spaceman?

Also, has it been re-issued, or has someone recently acquired one or made it from scratch?
Is that even possible?

It looked like a cool design.  A pyramid with a man standing up out f it, a pair of pipes or rods coming out as side fins, making two arms.
Any help on IDing it or discussing if it is practical or worth investigating would be nice.

The Astron Spaceman was an old Estes kit and may have been redone by Semroc.  I built one a few years back with BMS parts.  It doesn't hold up well with modern ejection charges.

[Rich Holmes]

I recently saw a photo of what MAY have been a 1960s kit at one time.  Someone referred to it as "Vern", but I don't get the reference.

Is this an antique rocket, or was it known as the Astron Spaceman?

Also, has it been re-issued, or has someone recently acquired one or made it from scratch?
Is that even possible?

It looked like a cool design.  A pyramid with a man standing up out f it, a pair of pipes or rods coming out as side fins, making two arms.
Any help on IDing it or discussing if it is practical or worth investigating would be nice.

Astron Spaceman appeared in the Estes catalogs 1964–1971.

Semroc and Thrustline did reissues.

There's a gallery thread Over There: http://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread....an-Gallery

and you can see it in the 1964 catalog here: http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/catalog...est14.html

[CHalinaty]

Fliskits has a Micromaxx version. I helped my daughter build one. It is tricky because the parts are very small. Great flyer though!

[phlash]

It was called 'Vern' because it was meant to look like Vern Estes.

[rstaff3]

There have been a few big upscales. One can be seen near the bottom of this page.

[Trident]

Here's one of my favorite Astron Spaceman versions posted by dtomko on YORF a few years back -- a Homer Simpson:

http://forums.rocketshoppe.com/showthread.php?t=5745

[Greg Young]

Lee, the HS version is great, thanks for the link!

[rstaff3]

Here's one of my favorite Astron Spaceman versions posted by dtomko on YORF a few years back -- a Homer Simpson:

http://forums.rocketshoppe.com/showthread.php?t=5745

Yeah, that one is the best so far!

[wclune]

Makes me want a doughnut...