Great story!
Had a cousin living in “the country” (now known as the suburbs of Philly) who turned me on to Estes Industries rockets in the early 60’s.
Those engines would launch! His very first rocket was completely homemade with match heads as the engine propellant. Worked as planned!
Yes, Estes rockets, indeed ! Our “warhead” was made of match heads, and gunpowder from some .22 shells we pinched from Grandpa’s stock. Prolly go to prison for that, nowadays.