Astron Beta

Kit# K-45

Yellow Hang Tag - Pre Damon Era

Blue Two Panel Facecard with $1.50 Pricing - Pre Damon Era

  

Images from eBay

Designer: Bill Simon

Production Years: 1970

Retail Pricing Range: $1.50 (Catalog and Facecard)

Rarity: Very Rare

Description: Astron Beta first production year kits are found with yellow pre Damon hang tag and early two panel design facecard with black borders. The upper panel features a blue to white transition background with Beta two stage and single stage images overlay, pre Damon Estes logo and $1.50 in large black oval. The Beta employed parachute recovery; early Estes red and yellow checkboard design.

Hang Tag (Header Card) Guide

Astron Birdie Pictorial Guide

The Astron Beta kit was offered as K-45 in the 1970 and 1971 catalogs. This kit version utilized Series III short engines. Starting in the 1972 catalog, the kit was converted to Mini Brute series with mini "T" engines and labeled as TK-45. The conversion to T engines reduced launch weight over the short 18mm engines. The TK-45 kit was priced at $1.50 in the 1970 catalog and on the facecard. However in 1971, the Estes catalog listed the Beta at $1.50 pricing but the new Damon facecard was printed with a $1.35 price in the black oval. Was an error made during the design and printing of the 1971 K-45 kit facecard due to an anticipated pricing reduction in 1972 for the Mini Brute conversion?

Kit Contents: The Beta kit contains main and booster body tubes, engine tube, balsa nose cone, balsa fin stock, pattern sheet, 8" parachute, decal sheet and instructions.

Availability: The 1970 Beta K-45 kit version with yellow hang tag and the blue double panel facecard is considered to be very rare. The author has only seen one example appear on eBay during January 2013 with an inexpensive selling price of $144; fair value should be over $200.

Additional information can be found at the following links;

JimZ Kit Plan Link: Estes K45

Specifications: Height: 13.75", Weight: 0.75 oz, Diameter: 0.736"

Recommended Short 18 mm Engines: Booster Stage; 1/2A6-0, A6-0 Upper Stage; 1/2A6-2S, 1/2A6-4S, A5-4S

 

Estes Catalog Artwork

 

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