updated 2/21/2001
In the late '60s and early '70s, many model rocketry companies introduced small 13mm diameter engines and mini kits, inspired by model rocketry inventor's, Orville Carisle's, earliest 1/2" diameter hand rolled engines of the mid '50s. Centuri had their Mini Line, introduced in the 1973 catalog (link to Ninfinger Model Rocket Archive.). Each kit could be built in two different versions, "The line drawings show the alternate version." The Mini Line was quietly dropped after 1979.

The Nova (right) could be built as an exotic rear ejection streamer recovery model or as a more typical front ejection parachute recovery rocket. It had a stepped reduction between the ST-7 body tube and the ST-5 fin unit.

JimZ rocket plans archive needs plans.

The Fire Flash (left) was based on a British missile. This rocket had three body tubes, four fins, four canards, five nose cones, chrome decals, lots of detail, plus featured "ducted" parachute ejection from one of the side tubes. The long version ejected the 'chute from the front, while the short version ejected from the rear.

Fire Flash plans at JimZ rocket plans archive.

Star Trooper (right) was an optimized performance rocket, featuring minimal length and minimal body tube to pack an engine and rear ejected streamer. It could also be built with as a longer version with a front ejected streamer.

JimZ rocket plans archive needs plans.

The Two Bitz (left) was two rockets in one bag. They were printed on thin card stock, to be cut out and folded for construction. One had a plastic nose cone and was pre-colored. The other had a balsa nose block to carve to your own shape, and was without printed decoration, waiting the owner's customizing.

Two Bitz plans at JimZ rocket plans archive.

The Mini Dactyl (right) was a scaled down of the Enerjet Pterodactyl. This could be built in a one glider performance version, or a two glider sport version. The stylishly rakish little gliders were part canard and part delta, and had very respectable performance despite that. Years later, there are tales of people winning contests with 150% to 200% scale ups of these things.

Mini Dactyl plans at JimZ rocket plans archive.

The Satellite 62SL (left) was a feather weight recovery odd-roc with 3/32" wood dowel "antenna" fins to give it a "Sputnik" sort of look. This could be built in three or four fin configuration. They were advertised as spinning down with "helicopter" recovery, but rarely did. The Satellite 62SL gets its designation from its designer's favorite convertible, a 62 Studebaker Lark.

JimZ rocket plans archive needs plans.

The original Centuri Mini Motors were 2.5" long, 13mm in diameter, and were apparently of Centuri's own manufacture. The line started at 1/4A4, included 1/2A4 and A4 motors, and went all the way up to a full B4. The B4's proved to be CATO prone and were soon dropped. After the B4 was dropped, Centuri mini motors were shortened to a more standard 1.75"/45mm length, and were apparently manufactured for Centuri by Estes. Mini Line kits then came with adaptors to accept the shorter engines.

Although not officially part of the Mini Line, Centuri made one more mini engined kit, the Evel Knievel Sky Cycle, (right) a licensed property.