A gas-propelled toy comprises a vehicle body having opposed front and rear ends, a cartridge of pressurized gas carried by the vehicle body, the cartridge presents an elongated, tubular neck outlet and a frangible plug terminal adjacent to the end of the neck outlet for preventing release of gas from the cartridge, the cartridge is oriented adjacent to the rear end of the vehicle body with the neck outlet facing rearwardly, and an annular, thrust-enhancing exhaust nozzle having a sidewall disposed about the neck outlet, and an apertured end plate adjacent to and in substantial registry with the plug terminal. The aperture presents an arcuate wall, and is configured for permitting passage therethrough of a firing pin in order to pierce the plug terminal and enhancing the thrust due to the subsequent exhaust of said gas within the cartridge, in order to forwardly propel vehicle body.

A reusable, semi-flexible molded model rocket engine igniter holder is used to hold an electrically activated igniter in intimate contact with the exposed surface of the model rocket engine propellant until the rocket engine propellant is ignited by passing electrical current through the igniter. The igniter holder, which is inserted in the throat cavity of the rocket engine, is preferably molded with a series of ribs around its periphery which impart a holding force keeping the electrical igniter in place in the engine throat.

An igniter holder is designed for use with a model rocket engine for temporarily fixing the igniter in the ignition cavity of the model rocket engine in preparation for launch.