All Rocketry Blogs

Model Rocket Building: Launch! Schoolyard Soccer Field, September 29, 2019 (2019-09-30)

I didn't get to the NEFAR launch yesterday, next month should be a lot cooler. Off to the schoolyard about 7:30 a.m. before the wind kicks up. I was trying a faster shutter speed at 3,200 of a ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: "Bones" Halloween Build, Part 1, Inspiration (2019-10-03)

I was at the Dollar Tree store picking up some cheap snacks. I found the spider web candy dish that George Gassaway turned into a successful saucer rocket. I almost picked one up, but saw this ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: "Bones" Halloween Build, Part 2, Parts (2019-10-03)

I might be able to fit a BT-20 down the center of the coffin but it looks like it'll end up a BT-5 central tube using an A10-3t engine. I spent some time fitting the skeletal drawings onto fin ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: "Bones" Halloween Build, Part 3, Adapting the Coffin (2019-10-04)

The candy coffin is deeper than it needs to be. I wanted the height to be closer to the width. A pencil tracing was made around the lid. The cardboard was dense. It took a few passes over the pencil ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: "Bones" Halloween Build, Part 4, Skull Nose Cone (2019-10-05)

Check out the width of the skull on the left compared to the center skull that was cut out. I widened the skull in Corel Draw. When it is wrapped around the centering ring supports it will look ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Launch! Orlando R.O.C.K., October 5, 2019 (2019-10-06)

The Orlando R.O.C.K. club has gone through some changes. While we redistribute the launch duties everybody jumped in and helped out. I met Roger at the launch site at about 8:30 a.m. He was dropping ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: "Bones" Halloween Build, Part 5, Skull Top & Sides (2019-10-07)

I have to equalize the airflow. As it is now, this small rocket would probably curve off to one side with just the half of the skull wrap. I cut another skull, did a two layer laminate and glued it ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: "Bones" Halloween Build, Part 6, Fin Skins (2019-10-08)

Here's one way to paper fins:  3/32" thick balsa fins were cut out. These fins are wide and trail below the end of the coffin body. The skins were printed on 24 lb. paper. Two fins will have ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: "Bones" Halloween Build, Part 7, Ends & Edges (2019-10-09)

The paper covering on the coffin is a bit slick and may not give good glue adhesion. I traced around the root edge and cut away the covering. EDIT: You'll need to go deeper and cut a shallow trench ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: "Bones" Halloween Build, Finished (2019-10-10)

This was a fun change of pace. The nose cone assembly was a bit much, but it works and adds some nose weight without adding any clay. Visually it works, a goofy looking skeleton sticking out of a ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: TOP TEN BUILDS for 2019 (2020-01-01)

An end of the year tradition -  This annual list puts some of the blog builds in order from least favorite (10) to the best (1). These are the models and events that were rocketry high points ... [Read More]