Only Two Power Levels

 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues...

Although this has been debated before, it seems even more clear to me now that there are only two levels of power in Model Rocketry.  Oh, I know that people will claim there are three:  Low power, mid-level and High power.   But the more I see of the industry nowadays, I believe there are only two.

Ask any member of the general public about model rocketry and they will usually respond something like, "Yeah, I remember that from Boy Scouts....or Grade School.  Do they still do that?"   It's much the same response when you talk about comic books, or plastic models... are they still around?  Are they still doing that?"

The fact of the matter is that most people think of cardboard tubes and fins along the line of low power rockets. And anytime that you walk into a  hobby store.... whether it is a Hobby SHOP, or Hobby Lobby...  you'll find a number of low-power rockets hanging on the rack or on the shelf.  This is the entry level for the industry these days.

Oh, I know there are other means of acquiring such low power rockets.  They can be ordered on-line, or supplied by any number of internet marketing services, whether Amazon or eRockets.  But the average public member isn't familiar with these options.

Now, there may be some higher power rockets on the shelf at the Hobby Shoppe, but the odds are not many are present, and they're likely dust covered.  When one of these higher power rockets are sold, it's few and far between, as they are big ticket items, and don't turn over often.  Most shops, faced with tying up inventory on their shelf, are not likely to stock deep or to replace items that turn over so slowly.

Plus, Mom and Dad, knowing of Junior's interest in rockets, find those higher priced items a bit off-putting, when they aren't familiar with the hobby.  They'd rather play it safe with a smaller rocket at a lower price.

Now, when transitioning to higher power rockets, there are a bunch of barriers to entry.  And  maybe that's good.  You need a stronger launch rod or rail,  larger motors, stronger glues, stronger materials, more patience, and a longer time frame to build in.  And before you can order the materials to make your own motor, you must first demonstrate that you know how to handle these materials, and what to do with them.  That's a good thing....cause we don't want just any Tom, Dick or Harry to have access to them.

So, though some rocketeers grow from low power rocket into D and E level motors, which we may want to call mid-power,  there's no convenient way to bridge into high power.  The exception is if you are familiar with a rocketry club, who have the pads, the materials and the expertise to guide you.  Take any one of these three legs away, and the high power interest quickly collapses.

So, I would argue that we have only two power levels in rocketry:  Low Power from hobby stores,  and high power via the internet from industry manufacturers/distributors.

You may feel different.

Convince me otherwise.

This has been the Thrifty Rocketeer saying, "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year" to all my followers...