The Thrifty Rocketeer

 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... We return to my roots today, with an entry that focuses on saving money.  I'm always on the lookout for a way to save money, reduce costs, and do something cheaper or less extravagantly.  This includes looking at ways to home-build or jury-rig   SAFELY ,  a more simple system. In today's world of increasingly computerized Apps, AI and programmed chips, this is harder and harder. But it's not uncommon to see postings asking:   What's the simplest rocket system?  What's the best glue?   What's the best painting method?   What's the best paint?  and   What's the simplest launch system? Recently, someone asked on-line, "What was your first launch system" or "What was your first launch pad?"   Rocketeers of all ages were only too willing to answer, as everyone remembers "their first time"... and not just in rocketry. Most responses for the first launch system wer...

 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues...   Recently, I was searching the internet for things related to rocketry, trying to inspire another topic about rockets to come to mind.  Among the listings, I spotted something else, totally distinct from rockets that caught my attention. It was a latch hook rug kit that had been 95% finished.  It was a pleasant scene of three sail boats on a lake, with rolling hills behind, and a rainbow that soared overhead.  Except for one rolling hill and one more color in the rainbow, the rug was completed.  It looked pretty good, but was unfinished. Somebody was trying to sell it for $8.  Maybe someone would buy it. Something began to bug me about it, and I went back to look at it a second time.  Most of the rolling hills were colored by violet rug yarn, and it looked like most of the final stripe in the rainbow was also violet.   That's when it hit me.  The rainbow was out of order.  That is,...

A lot of people have been posting about their first launch of the spring... or their first launch pad.    You've inspired me to think back to my first launch pad. I wasn't sure just how much money I could sink into this hobby, (HA,HA~!) so I tried to assemble what I thought was needed from scratch. First, I had a 3/4" thick square of pine lumber for a base.  I went to Lowes and got what is commonly called a yard sale sign, consisting of a single straight rod that is two feet tall, and then describes a 360 loop before continuing strait up for another 6". (its intent is to hold a cardboard/poster board sign in the loop like a paper clip and display it in front of your yard sale or to direct people to your yard. I inverted the rod, so the loop was at the bottom, and stapled it with an electrical staple or cable holder nail in two places, to hold the rod perpendicular. I was a bit stumped for a blast shield, until I spied the pull top aluminum lid from our cat's moist...

 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... I'm a little late with this entry, but better late than never. It seems that there are some holidays that are more favorable to certain types of gifts than others. For example, snow skis might be more welcome during the Xmas holidays than in mid-summer.  And chocolate candies might go over more on Halloween than on the 4th of July. It would seem that there are at least two holidays that lend themselves to Rocketry gifts.  One might be the 4th of July, though it is more appropriately reserved for fireworks than model rockets. The other, obviously, would be as an Easter basket gift. Now, some parents might give a paper kite to their kids when the winds get gusty and steady in the spring.  But when it's rainy or windy, you'll probably want your kids indoors for a while yet, and a focused assembly project like a model rocket might be the perfect gift. I know that I'm preaching to the choir here, but how many of us have thought abo...

The Thrifty Rocketeer Blog continues.... I admit it. I was bored, so I started flipping about, looking for something interesting to read on the internet.  And I came across an entry or link to a well known hobby tutorial website and company that specializes in model rocketry. Now, I'm certain that it won't take you much effort to figure this out, but I'll change the names to make it at least a little more challenging. Let's just say that this company goes by the name Zenith Rocketry.  They have lots of how-to construction videos that show building various techniques on a table in front of a black backdrop.   We'll call the presenter, "Tom". I first linked to an article that listed "7 Most Common Mistakes" people make in certifying for Level 1 and 2.   It was well written, and I spotted myself in one of the first complaints... People who get in a rush, and so cut corners or make mistakes.  This one made me think. It seems like each time I have hav...