updated 2/21/2001
The Alpha Centuri Series was first introduced in the early '70's. These were three Science Fiction themed fantasy kits, each representing a spacecraft of a different alien race. Each kit came with its own unique two page, illustrated juvie sci-fi story. The idea of a rocket kit with a Science Fiction story was later revived by Stellar Dimensions, Inc.

The Taurus was the largest of the Alpha Centuri Series and the only one with balsa fins (the fin sheet was shared with the Orion). This kit had two plastic reducers, three strap-on pods, and four plastic nose cones. Various catalogs showed either PNC-51's or PNC-54's on the pods (although I've only seen PNC-51's in real life). The included story had the young protagonist, Jason, find a feel good solution to the friction between the two sentient species of the Planet Taurus.

Taurus plans at JimZ rocket plans archive.

The Vector V had five die-cut fibre board fins. Since these fins were grainless, they could be attached to the rocket by any side, giving many possible custom ways one could build their Vector V. The fin sheet was later reused on the Centuri Viking, which lives on today as the Estes Viking. The included story was a travelogue aboard a mind-boggling huge space station abandoned by a mysterious alien race, and all their gadgets (including the Vector V) which defy conventional science. The "V" in Vector V is pronounced "vee" and is not the Roman numeral for Five.

Vector V plans at JimZ rocket plans archive.

The Vulcan featured a printed card stock wrap over a rounded triangular fiberboard former (the former was shared with the X-24 Bug). This was the predecessor of Quest's "Aero shroud". The fins were also card stock and the nose cone was plastic (PNC-70). This made for a wholly finished rocket without any filling and painting. The rocket could be customized by using one of two different canopies (I like the "custom" canopy the best). This story picked up Jason again, this time being spiritually changed after visiting the mysterious ethereal volcanic planet, Vulcan (this is my favorite story out of the three, despite being open-ended).

Vulcan plans at JimZ rocket plans archive.

Item from the Summer '75 issue of Rocket Times (the Centuri Aerospace Team newsletter, links to Ninfinger Model Rocket Archive) the Alpha Centuri Series (oddly called "The Fantasy Fleet") was on special sale! "Three great spacey designs at a bargain price if you buy all three at once", for only $6.95! I'm still kicking myself for not buying it way back then!