Thursday, February 4, 2021

Comparing the Vashon Jet Powered Planes

Vashon Model Rockets have always held a special place for  me. In 1969 they were the only rockets we could launch in California. The state's black powder fireworks regulations were strict!
 
On YORF, Rraeford asked about the Vashon (Estes) Shrike and XS-1 "Jet Powered Planes".
Both of these Ebay listings are shrink wrapped and have never been opened.

To me they seem overpriced, the Shrike at $155.00 with free shipping.
The XS-1 is at $250.00 with $56.75 shipping!
I mail a lot of finished model rockets and have never seen  shipping charges that high!


Apparently, 
These two differently named and packaged models were from the same Styrofoam mold. The only difference seems to be the sticker sheet. 
Unless, there were originally two different shapes and Estes switched over to one design with different packaging.

Some décor was already applied at the factory. That cockpit sticker on the XS-1 is crooked!
 
I did a post on these a few years back, but didn't have package pictures for comparison. The nose of the XS-1 looks longer, but the rounded black area is a cut out in the cardboard to hold and center the nose of the glider.
The Estes catalog art somewhat shows they could be the same shape. To see that post and Estes catalog page link: CLICK HERE

4 comments:

  1. Interesting. Never got to see these, so I'd assumed they were similar yet different. On the other hand, the very different angles in which these models were depicted in the catalog, there's enough ambiguity that they could very well have been the same shape.

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    1. Hi Naoto,
      It's hard to tell what's going on with the catalog art, maybe that was their aim?

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  2. I think these were two different models and this is just one of those factory errors. It may be that they simply ran out of the XS-1 foam bodies and completed the run with what they had—thinking no one would notice. It would be interesting if someone out there can provide a photo of their XS-1.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Rraeford,
      Check the post tomorrow. I've done a little research -

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