WELCOME TO BLUE STAR
RANGS-THE HOME OF BOOMERANG TECHNOLOGY
Celebrating 25 YEARS
of making competition boomerangs!
For over 25 years it's been my goal: to make the world a better boomerang place
SHOP CLOSING NOTICE - no more orders!..
Blue Star shop is now closed . Ted Bailey is still and will be will carrying what is left of my current production line plus my boom collection.
THANKS to each one of you for supporting my business over the years!!
 |
Limited Smith/ Behrens G12 Set
For this very special occasion I am releasing a set of 3 of the best boomerangs I have ever made : 26 years after meeting "the man" Herb A. Smith - my friend, mentor and biggest inspiration- in person for the very first time, and never forgetting that day- I have decided to offer a set of 2 of his best and one of mine: the Sussexd Hook in G 12, the Mini Marathon in G12 and the Windeater in G 12. Each set will be in matching colours, signed and numbered - and, if you're early, you get the opportunity to choose your special colours for these too!
These are exactly the 3 rangs I would give to a dear friend on a special occasion- they are probably the best performers and yet the most enjoyable rangs I have made.
Each one of these is hand signed and numbered, and the edition is limited to 5 sets only! MORE > |
What you find on this site:
- the best boomerangs for throwers of any level
- Instructions for all kinds of boomerangs and sports events
- Instructions for tuning your boomerangs for better performance
|
 |
Hardware - the catalogue
Beginner boomerangs: light and accurate boomerangs, easy to throw and catch, for learning the sport at any age - More
advanced boomerangs:composite boomerangs, for more range, wind stability and FUN - More
competition boomerangs:composite boomerangs,high tech materials and air foils for top level performance - More
|
 |
 |
Software
- throwing instructions:basic throwing and safety instrucrtions, to get you started- More
- tuning instructions :
tipps and techniques to increase performance of your rangs and adjust them to your throwing style- More
- instructions for competitions boomerangs and events: Fast Catch, MTA,long distance or wind throwing- here is where you find it all you need for the sport of boomeranging- More |
| I have three groups of throwers in
mind when I make and design boomerangs:
1. the competitor - get you better scores
2. the ambitious new guy who has tasted blood - double the fun
3. the beginner - get you started right |
 |
For each of these groups I offer a wide variety
of boomerang models made from plywood, hardwoods,
technical composites- in hopes to make you a happy
thrower- whichever level you are on. If you browse
through my catalogue
you feel you may need some advice, don't hesitate
to mail me - that's what I'm here for.
Which boomerang should I buy? A
guide to using the catalogue
When you're through browsing the catalogue,
you'll probably ask yourself: which is the right
boomerang for you? And which type of Windeaters etc.
And there is more to this than just numbers.
Each boomerang model is different, either in its
airfoil, material thickness or wing ratio. For example,
taking one of the many Windeater variations:
the properties of the boomerang do not only depend on
the shape, but also the shaping (airfoil/
profile) and material . The Windeater 2 in
3mm paxolin may have a similar aerofoil, weight,
and an almost identical shape (outline) as the Windeater
2 from G12, BUT the latter is 30% thinner
- which makes it spin faster (i.e. it cuts through
wind better while offering less airfoil thickness
to get caught on) - and travel appr.
20-30% further WITHOUT extra weights on it(see the tuning
section for more information on this).
| As a general guide - and to help you find your way through this boomerang maze I have put
together a table indicating the main qualities
for each boomerang ( 1 -5 star scores per
category), such as:
|
 |
- throwing skill - what does it
take to master this model?
- pleasure index - how much fun does it
give me?
- competition potential - how much potential
in tournament?
- wind tolerance - how much wind can it
handle?
- accuracy - how accurate is the return?
- forgivness to throwing mistakes -
how much do I get away with while learning?
| throwing skill |
pleasure index |
competition |
wind tolerance |
accuracy |
forgiving factor |
| *** |
**** |
** |
** |
**** |
*** |
Paxolin vs. G12- technical information
You may get a little overwhelmed by the varieties
of model variations you find here, probably not knowing what "Paxolin"
and "G12" are in the first place.
Paxolin- or phenolioc resin- is the material
Herb Smith first introduced to boomeranging as far back as 1986. Specific weight
and density seemed superior to plywood at the time, toughness being an
extra benefit. Pax' is material of choice for winds and for longer range
boomeranngs. It is not too expensive, easy to flex-tune. The sole downside being
that it tends to get brittle in low temperatures and consequently break more easily- so when you throw or
tune a pax boomerang in Winter- be very careful!
G 12 epoxy laminate is an epoxy composite based on fiber
glass. It is appr. 30% heavier than Paxolin, a lot more expensive, very hard
on tools - and much harder on the lungs. The upside being that is is
virtually unbreakable, hard to beat in wind- and never to pass in longer
distance. Being thinner at the same size a G12 rang will cut through wind better,
spin much better (so your throw gets a lot easier), go further (due to
less lift)- BUT: it will need more wind for a complete return. There is
not a G 12 model in my catalogue that works in calm conditions.
Bottom line for all boomerangs
in this section:
advantages:
G 12 variations have 25-50% more range than Paxolin versions of the same
model, they are easier to get to spin, they fight the wind better and
they are unbreakable.
disadvantages: G 12 models need more
wind for a full return, the throwing window (tolerance) is smaller
than for Paxolin, and they are more expensive.
I hope this helps find your way to the boomerang
that will best suit your needs!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have just put together a BOOMERANG
BUYING GUIDE FOR YOU in order to
help you find your way throw the maze of all
these pages...
Another common question: "I have never thrown
long distance before, and I want a Challenger
3, because I heard it's great." Well,
this may be true- but the throwing technique required for
this boomerang doesn't have much in common with the
way you throw a "normal"
boomerang. This boomerang needs to be tilted much
further out, to make it come back at all - not
to mention the extra wrist and arm power required
to put sufficient spin on it (see also Power
throwing)So, in this case, I'd recommend
a Straight Shooter, for example,
it's much more forgiving and easier to handle.
A new and complete throwing
instruction sheet for the beginner thrower can be found here- generously
provided my World class thrower and boom artist Michael
Girvin from California.
So, any questions concerning my range of boomerangs - - what
to get - how to throw - tuning - - don't hesitate
to email
me. I'll be glad to help you out best as I can.
Ultimate Throwing
(Tune, twist, add weight)
History and boomerang Gods- Herb Smith special!
 |
I have made scans of the special Boomerang News issue #12, which was written
and published by Ted Bailey-
the most valuable source for boom info in this World- in 1995, after my great
inspiration, friend and teacher Herb
A. Smith from Sussex,
England passed on. People keep asking for information about the man who changed
boomerangs forever - and this is a big piece of it, historical and personal
too. More
> |
Zen and Boomerangs
 |
What do boomerangs have in common with Zen
philosophy? How can you get more fun out
of your hobby? What's the major connection
between your breakfast eggs and the bacon? Have
a browse and find the answers to these
and other important questions ... |
Boomerang Links
Links to other boomerang
related sites: get essential info on anything and everything
boomeranging. |