Haven't flown model rockets since you were a kid? Taking your own kids out to fly rockets? Are you inspired (or horrified) by what Mythbusters does with rocketry? This is the thread for you.
Kari Byron, hosting the science channel's coverage of LDRS 2012.
I used to build them as a kid! Can't wait for pictures and videos. My family started graduating from Estes into the more powerful stuff, but ended up dropping the hobby at some point.
Subbing in.
Cross posted from the "Silly Purchase" thread:
I took a STM-012 rocket with a C11-3 engine and inserted a 808 keychain camera in the side of the nose-cone. Unfortunately there wasn't much left in the end. The cone was on too tight (or there was too much wading) and the camera made it top-heavy. I could hear it whistling as it crashed nose-first into the ground. I think it was still accelerating as it nosed over. I did get to retrieve the SD card from the camera and some footage.
Here's the video (watch with the sound off, the incessant beeping is from a locator I installed):
I bought another STM-012 because I still have 5 big engines to fly and I know they'll work with that rocket. I just need to build it. I'm still toying with the idea of a camera but I may disasemble the 808 camera to reduce weight and for better integration.
I absolutely loved model rocketry as a kid and was fortunate to have belonged to a thriving NAR affiliated club. This of course was back in the 80s and, damn, how things have changed. Last time I built and flew anything in competition, the largest available engines were in the E and F class. I recall a handful of local hobby outlets sold SRS F engines and compost dynamite, er, Composite Dynamics engines were only available via mail order...assuming UPS or FedEx were willing to ship rocket engines that week.
Of course it's totally different now. If it keeps going, I'll love following this thread.
Always brings back memories of the rocketry portion of the high school aviation class. Watched a lovingly crafted, painted, highly detailed X-Wing that went up 4 feet, canted over 90 degrees and raced full power toward the parking lot. The burst of confetti when it hit the chainlink fence around the lot was just glorious. Thankfully not mine, my failures tends to be quiet and modest.
I might have to take this up as a hobby again; once I get moved.
Hi guys and gals,
Just adding my name to the list of crazy rocketeers. My boys and I had about as much luck as you on our 'maiden' voyage of our Big Daddy. The nose cone was too tight and we had the same lawn dart finish. Looked eerily similar to the photo above. Muddy nose cone and everything!
Oh well. Here's a pic of one of our more successful launches, Long Tom:
Keep on flyin!
Model rocketry was a huge part of my childhood. I won an Estes contest when I was just getting out of the hobby (around when I discovered girls... maybe 14 or 15 years old...), and so I have about $250 worth of unbuilt rocket kits sitting in my garage until my son is old enough to catch the bug.
I'm going to try to start playing Kerbal Space Program with him, and then tell him "you know you can actually build small versions of these and launch them yourself!"
That's awesome. My rocket paint jobs always look like crap (using spray paint). But then I've lost 3/5ths the rockets that we've launched so spending a lot of time making it look good doesn't seem to be worth it.
Yeah, I always took great care during construction, carefully finishing balsa, plywood, fiber glass, and even carbon fiber parts in an attempt to achieve low drag while maintaining structural integrity of my rockets. However, the paint job? Heh! Without fail, the more time I put into paint and decals, the more likely I'd never see the darn thing ever again.
Car's all packed... we could probably fit a few more rockets in there.
You're doing it wrong.
You need to be transporting those on a roof rack.
Wow, what a blast from the past. I loved putting together model rockets when I was in my teenage years.
I think my favorite, back in the day, was a two-stage Estes rocket. The fact that we were shooting stuff into the sky felt like we were getting away with something at the time. Putting up one of those rockets that took pictures up at their apex seemed like the ultimate prize, but I never got to that point. Maybe some day.
We just went out today to fire off an Estes, but got grounded due to high winds. Hopefully tomorrow.
Does anyone have an tips for aerial photography? We are thinking about moving in that direction.
Spectacular, and not what I was expecting. The big Der Red Max isn't two stage is it? I'm guessing a launch rail alignment failure?
I'm just making a observation here, but I was kinda surprised to see that just about every city in my area now has some sort of restriction or ban on flying model rockets. This realization makes me very thankful for a couple of big rocketry clubs that have secured arrangements to fly.
I get why cities might be concerned about safety or a lack of adult supervision. It does, however, make me miss the old days when my dad and I could just walk to a nearby field and let 'em fly whenever we had some free time and good weather.
EDIT: Actually, it turns out that no city in my area actually bans flying model rockets. However, several cities have passed ordinances that require a permit before flying. Inconvenient for your average family but not a showstopper.
Damn! I expect you'll need FAA clearance to launch that thing. That's awesome!
Well, given the size of the rocket, I imagine that you could easily work in a 808 keychain camera. They are small enough (and that rocket is big enough) that it shouldn't affect the CG that much.
Hell, that thing could probably carry a GoPro.
For video, I'm thinking that using a tripod would help out a bunch. You'll be moving the camera fast enough that much of any camera wobble will make it tough to see anything very well. Should be easier to use the tripod handle to pan up smoothly with the rocket as well.
How do you go about finding if there are ordinances like what ringsnort mentions above?
Launch rockets and see if you get arrested or fined.
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