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

04-07-15, 05:24 PM	#1
Gargamel Lucky Sailor Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Rome Posts: 4,273 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.

04-07-15, 05:52 PM	#2
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 22,936 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: 4,273 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: 6,243 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: 3,465 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 __________________ em2nought is weird