Model Rocketry!

Gargamel · 04-07-15, 05:24 PM

With my nephew turning 7 later this year, I'm going to introduce him to model rocketry. My brother and I both grew up launching (and losing!) many rockets over our years, so we're both familiar with the concepts and systems.

But with the purchase of my 3d printer, I've seen the possibilities are endless.

I designed, and built a collapsible launch pad, that not only looks cool, is very stable, and a later iteration of it will make it modular so you can add multiple launch rods to the same pad! http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:588121

Just found a cool rocket I'm going to be making too! http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:761156/#comments

And then to top it off, I found an open source rocket designer and simulator. This should be a lot of fun! http://openrocket.sourceforge.net/

And using an arduino based system, I'm building a custom launch controller. It will have a key locked power switch, a big safety covered arming switch, LED lit of course!. It will also have a digital countdown display, and pad selection. I love being a a kid again!

The other day I was at the hobby shop, getting parts for my boat, and I found an Estes rocket catalog. I remember drooling over that as a kid, it was my porn as a young kid. Turns out it still is!

(Ok that sounds bad, don't read too much into that!)

August · 04-07-15, 05:52 PM

Awesome! Can you put a camera on it?

Gargamel · 04-07-15, 06:14 PM

Probably, it would just require designing a tube section to carry one.

For fans of Kerbal Space Program, OpenRocket is VERY similar to the VAB, but less cartoony, more CAD. I'm really digging it!

Red October1984 · 04-07-15, 06:56 PM

I love model rocketry! Got my Civil Air Patrol Model Rocketry qualification last year and had a blast doing it. I still have a few of my rockets laying around but I have nowhere to lauch them. I earned my qual. on the parade field at Ft. Leonard Wood.

Would love to get into it again.

Torplexed · 04-07-15, 07:28 PM

I still miss that big "Patriot" rocket I got from Estes back in the late '70s. The thing had a nice heft to it and even lifted off in slow-motion. I'm still convinced that if I search that woodlot again for the umpteenth time I'll find it.

Unfortunately, the woodlot is no more and so probably is the rocket.

em2nought · 04-07-15, 11:56 PM

http://www.bonanza.com/listings/9922...n=product_feed
I suggest the introduction of cannon fuse and match heads because what is rocketry without explosions. The '70s Estes Catalog was wonderful for suggesting what not to do, one didn't have to come up with it oneself.

And for inspiration "Hello Kitty in Space" by Lauren Rojas

Eichhörnchen · 04-09-15, 02:25 AM

I remember the name Estes even from way back myself; who couldn't love a hobby you set fire to?! I expect half the excitement lay in wondering whether you'll ever see the thing again once it's blasted off. Great stuff, Gargamel...

AVGWarhawk · 04-09-15, 03:41 PM

Estes has been around for decades. Designed many rockets that I purchased, assembled, painted and launched never to be seen again.

I had a lot of fun with rockets.

Wolferz · 04-12-15, 05:37 AM

My son dabbled in the hobby for a short time. I built his launch pad out of a block of wood and a coat hanger and I fixed up a long set of test leads for supplying ignition power to the motors from my car battery.
IT WAS FUN!
Alas, the launch site is now a Lowes parking lot.

Aktungbby · 04-12-15, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red October1984

I love model rocketry! Got my Civil Air Patrol Model Rocketry qualification last year and had a blast doing it. I still have a few of my rockets laying around but I have nowhere to lauch them. I earned my qual. on the parade field at Ft. Leonard Wood.

Would love to get into it again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torplexed

I still miss that big "Patriot" rocket I got from Estes back in the late '70s. The thing had a nice heft to it and even lifted off in slow-motion. I'm still convinced that if I search that woodlot again for the umpteenth time I'll find it.

Unfortunately, the woodlot is no more and so probably is the rocket.

Quote:

Originally Posted by em2nought

I suggest the introduction of cannon fuse and match heads because what is rocketry without explosions. The '70s Estes Catalog was wonderful for suggesting what not to do, one didn't have to come up with it oneself.

And for inspiration "Hello Kitty in Space" by Lauren Rojas

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eichhornchen

I remember the name Estes even from way back myself; who couldn't love a hobby you set fire to?! I expect half the excitement lay in wondering whether you'll ever see the thing again once it's blasted off. Great stuff, Gargamel...

Quote:

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Estes has been around for decades. Designed many rockets that I purchased, assembled, painted and launched never to be seen again.

I had a lot of fun with rockets.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolferz

My son dabbled in the hobby for a short time. I built his launch pad out of a block of wood and a coat hanger and I fixed up a long set of test leads for supplying ignition power to the motors from my car battery.
IT WAS FUN!
Alas, the launch site is now a Lowes parking lot.

"Here 12-year-old Wernher von Braun, inspired by speed records established by Max Valier and Fritz von Opel in rocket-propelled cars,

caused a major disruption in a crowded street by detonating a toy wagon to which he had attached a number of fireworks. He was taken into custody by the local police until his father came to collect him."

TO THE MOON BBY! never mind the politics...at least we have collected all the true

locos in one thread

and ya kin never start too young as evidenced by the #1 Rocketmann of the 20th century himself. Myself included: we but wallow in his contrail.

we're mit you kid! from dis? V-2 to dat! Saturn V>

Wolferz · 04-13-15, 10:05 AM

Might get a tad warm.

Unless you're into barbecued kahunas.

Aktungbby · 04-13-15, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolferz

Might get a tad warm.

Unless you're into barbecued kahunas.

Or cajones on the kebabs!

Sailor Steve · 04-13-15, 10:17 AM

People keep repeating that same mistake. "Cajónes" is the plural of "cajón", which can be a drawer or box, or a musical instrument shaped like the same.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caj%C3%B3n

The word you keep missing is "Cojones".

em2nought · 04-13-15, 10:20 AM

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhujM7T1_fQ

Thread needed some music.

Aktungbby · 04-13-15, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

People keep repeating that same mistake. "Cajónes" is the plural of "cajón", which can be a drawer or box, or a musical instrument shaped like the same.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caj%C3%B3n

The word you keep missing is "Cojones".

¡Me falta mis cojónes! ¡Cáramba! YIPES! I won't be able to 'keep my mast up in port'!

My cojónes could well be in that Cajón!

Well I am wearing 'boxers'!

(pretty cool bass player too!)

04-07-15, 05:52 PM	#2
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 22,667 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Awesome! Can you put a camera on it? __________________ Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.

04-07-15, 06:14 PM	#3
Gargamel Lucky Sailor Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Rome Posts: 4,272 Downloads: 81 Uploads: 0	Probably, it would just require designing a tube section to carry one. For fans of Kerbal Space Program, OpenRocket is VERY similar to the VAB, but less cartoony, more CAD. I'm really digging it! __________________ Luck is a residue of Design.

04-07-15, 06:56 PM	#4
Red October1984 Airplane Nerd Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 6,241 Downloads: 115 Uploads: 0	I love model rocketry! Got my Civil Air Patrol Model Rocketry qualification last year and had a blast doing it. I still have a few of my rockets laying around but I have nowhere to lauch them. I earned my qual. on the parade field at Ft. Leonard Wood. Would love to get into it again. __________________

04-07-15, 07:28 PM	#5
Torplexed Let's Sink Sumptin' ! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,823 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	I still miss that big "Patriot" rocket I got from Estes back in the late '70s. The thing had a nice heft to it and even lifted off in slow-motion. I'm still convinced that if I search that woodlot again for the umpteenth time I'll find it. Unfortunately, the woodlot is no more and so probably is the rocket. __________________ --Mobilis in Mobili--

04-07-15, 11:56 PM	#6
em2nought Ocean Warrior Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,266 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	http://www.bonanza.com/listings/9922...n=product_feed I suggest the introduction of cannon fuse and match heads because what is rocketry without explosions. The '70s Estes Catalog was wonderful for suggesting what not to do, one didn't have to come up with it oneself. And for inspiration "Hello Kitty in Space" by Lauren Rojas __________________ Looks like we need a Lemon Law for Presidents now! DNC sold us a dud, and they knew it.

04-07-15, 05:24 PM	#1
Gargamel Lucky Sailor Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Rome Posts: 4,272 Downloads: 81 Uploads: 0	Model Rocketry! With my nephew turning 7 later this year, I'm going to introduce him to model rocketry. My brother and I both grew up launching (and losing!) many rockets over our years, so we're both familiar with the concepts and systems. But with the purchase of my 3d printer, I've seen the possibilities are endless. I designed, and built a collapsible launch pad, that not only looks cool, is very stable, and a later iteration of it will make it modular so you can add multiple launch rods to the same pad! http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:588121 Just found a cool rocket I'm going to be making too! http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:761156/#comments And then to top it off, I found an open source rocket designer and simulator. This should be a lot of fun! http://openrocket.sourceforge.net/ And using an arduino based system, I'm building a custom launch controller. It will have a key locked power switch, a big safety covered arming switch, LED lit of course!. It will also have a digital countdown display, and pad selection. I love being a a kid again! The other day I was at the hobby shop, getting parts for my boat, and I found an Estes rocket catalog. I remember drooling over that as a kid, it was my porn as a young kid. Turns out it still is! (Ok that sounds bad, don't read too much into that!) __________________ Luck is a residue of Design.

04-09-15, 02:25 AM	#7
Eichhörnchen Starte das Auto Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: The Fens Posts: 15,745 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Fantastic hobby: I remember the name Estes even from way back myself; who couldn't love a hobby you set fire to?! I expect half the excitement lay in wondering whether you'll ever see the thing again once it's blasted off. Great stuff, Gargamel... __________________

04-09-15, 03:41 PM	#8
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 27,343 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Estes has been around for decades. Designed many rockets that I purchased, assembled, painted and launched never to be seen again. I had a lot of fun with rockets. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

04-12-15, 05:37 AM	#9
Wolferz Navy Seal Join Date: May 2007 Location: On a mighty quest for the Stick of Truth Posts: 5,963 Downloads: 52 Uploads: 0	He didn't shoot his eye out. My son dabbled in the hobby for a short time. I built his launch pad out of a block of wood and a coat hanger and I fixed up a long set of test leads for supplying ignition power to the motors from my car battery. IT WAS FUN! Alas, the launch site is now a Lowes parking lot. __________________ Tomorrow never comes

04-13-15, 10:05 AM	#11
Wolferz Navy Seal Join Date: May 2007 Location: On a mighty quest for the Stick of Truth Posts: 5,963 Downloads: 52 Uploads: 0	Estes on your testes?!!! Might get a tad warm. Unless you're into barbecued kahunas. __________________ Tomorrow never comes

04-13-15, 10:17 AM	#13
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	People keep repeating that same mistake. "Cajónes" is the plural of "cajón", which can be a drawer or box, or a musical instrument shaped like the same. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caj%C3%B3n The word you keep missing is "Cojones". __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

04-13-15, 10:20 AM	#14
em2nought Ocean Warrior Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,266 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Fly me to the moon http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhujM7T1_fQ Thread needed some music. __________________ Looks like we need a Lemon Law for Presidents now! DNC sold us a dud, and they knew it.