The Thrifty Rocketeer

 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... This is going to be a departure from my usual comments and tips  directly related to rocketry .  But bear with me, there is a connection. We've all gone to club launches where there are several launch pads.  Most of these are controlled through a  panel launch controller, via a  weak current that runs out to the launch pad through a standard electrical extension power cord.  But when it gets to the launch rod, it is typical for a jumper/adapter, or clip lead to be used. This consists of a short power cord (lamp, toaster, fan or other power cord) with a male plug on one end to mate with the extension cord, and bare wires at the other end that typically have alligator clips or micro test clips that connect onto the igniter wires.   Most of us haven't given this much thought, as we're focused on our rocket and the motor's igniter and getting a good connection that shows continuity.  Someone else (an ...

 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... This will be short and sweet. The wife decided to hold a yard sale Labor Day weekend, and pulled together all sorts of odds and ends. She got her usual materials together, and I created a sign for out front, some balloons to attract attention, and a dry erase board.  One of her regular items is a carpenter's nail bib, which she wears around her waist to collect cash, pens, masking tape, etc. When she ran inside for a bathroom break, she handed it off to me to wear for a few minutes. I couldn't figure out how to tie it on myself once she had left.  I tried tying a bow behind me, but couldn't make it work.  When she returned, she asked me why I was struggling.  I told her of my difficulties, and she said there was a simple solution.   Just tie it in front of you as if  you were wearing it backwards!  Then, just pull it around, straightening it to the front! How simple! So what does this have to do with r...

 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... At a recent club launch, a new rockeeter showed up with a fairly elaborate two stage Estes rocket kit that he had assembled well.  The fins were on straight, and the parts of the rocket were all there. However the startling thing about the kit was the complete lack of decals, decorations or paint.  Nada. Nothing.  No color.  No sealing.  Nothing. Not wanting to discourage him on this extremely humid August day, we looked over the rocket and the range safety officer approved the rocket for launch.  He marched his rocket proudly out to the low power launch rods and threaded it down the rod, securing it with a clothes pin an inch or two above the blast shield.  The leads were attached and all was ready. The new launch controller was in place and we were all learning its quirks and operation.  One thing that was different was the lack of a continuity tone, though each circuit had an indicator light for con...

 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... A recent inquiry on Facebook about papering fins has triggered a memory of my learning about  balsa wood sealing.     I learned the hard way about sealing your balsa nose cone before painting.  My first red nosecone looked SO good, I was proud of it until I launched the second time. The shock cord snapping the nosecone back against the top of the body tube (I presume) caused what is known as an "Estes Smile"... a curved indentation into the wood that mars the appearance.     Some wood filler and another coat of paint and I was good to go again.... and AGAIN it happened.  That's when I learned...  I've done papering of larger fins once... using typewriter paper and a heavy slurry of wood glue and water. It worked well, but seemed to be more work than I wanted to go into.   Instead, from my very first rockets some ten years ago, I read about mixing a slurry of Elmer's wood glue (yello...

 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues...   It's been a long while since we've done a build thread.... or posted anything in this blog, for that matter. A recent photo on Facebook showed a short, small rocket with what appears to be washers on the lower tips of each fin.   A closer inspection reveals that it's a "Lil' Hercules" reproduction rocket by Semroc. Now, Semroc has been acquired some years ago by eRockets.biz who have reissued many of the classic kits.  This is part of a reissued repro rocket line.  As some parts and motors have been discontinued, there have been some slight alterations in the kit, but they were made available to the buying public. After a number of years, all that appear to remain are a few sheets of laser cut fins, a file of the reissued instructions, and a parts list.  Fortunately, all the parts listed (all 12 of them) are still available.  Note that the washers are for weight purposes, as the length of the motor has ch...

  It's pretty well known that the NAR Safety Code does not permit metal parts composing a model rocket. However, there are a few notable exceptions. First, is the metal spring clip.  This is almost essential for most rockets, and it tends to be something that is permitted, or overlooked. Second, is the screw-eye.  In the days of balsa wood nosecones, this was essential to securing the shock cord and/or parachute to the nosecone. Third, is the fishing lure swivel, which is very commonly added at the gathering point of the shroud lines of a chute to prevent tangling. Though this device can be quite heavy and strong in higher power levels, they are relatively minor for low power.  The only drawback that I have heard, is that most cheap versions contain a sharp point on the clasp, which can poke or rip a plastic chute. So, with this background of metal parts in mind, I was a bit surprised to see an old-school plan for a model rocket that specifically calls for a metal st...