All Rocketry Blogs

 Rocketry Product: Odd'l Rockets - Cyclone {Kit}

Model Rocket Building: Cyclone Build Part 1 Back Story and Websites (2010-12-23)

Here's one I found on Wayne Hill's Rocketry Blog at: http://rocketry.wordpress.com/ This is a fascinating model featuring maple seed (helicopter) recovery. At ejection, the upper half is a ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Cyclone Build Part 2 Parts (2010-12-23)

Here's (almost) all the parts after cutting them out. The model will be built in two separate assemblies according to Mr. Mills instructions. First up in the build is the single finned Spin Unit (to ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Cyclone Build Part 3 Vent Hole Punch (2010-12-25)

First up, you are to punch a hole in the longer BT -20 for an ejection charge vent. This went much better than I thought it would. The smaller side of the hole punch is inserted as far as it will go ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Cyclone Build Part 4 Fin Spar (2010-12-25)

The fin spar spacer is glued between the two long fin spars. I cut mine a little oversize so I could sand it down to the outside edges once all three parts had dried. I made sure that the inside ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Cyclone Build Part 5 Spar Contour (2010-12-26)

When sandwiched together, the spar is 3/16" thick. While it could have been glued to the body tube as is, I wanted a better root edge fit on the BT-20. I wrapped 220 grit sandpaper around a BT-5 ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Cyclone Build Part 6 Spar Contour (2010-12-26)

The instructions specify a 15 degree angle of the spar. This is critical! You can have a variance of + or - 1 degree. If the angle is much wider the the upper unit won't rotate. If the angle is ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Cyclone Build Part 7 Main Fin and Dowel Weight (2010-12-27)

The main fin is glued between the spars. Clothes pins were used again to clamp the fin in place while the glue dried. The dowel is glued on the trailing edge. The tapered end overlaps the fin spar. [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Cyclone Build Part 8 Launch Lug and Nose Cone (2010-12-27)

The launch lug is glued beside the spar, even with the end of the body tube. To protect the base of the nose cone from the ejection charge, I coated the base with white glue and let it dry. The ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Cyclone Build Part 9 Engine Mount Prepping (2010-12-28)

Right now I'm on a cruise ship going down the Mexican Riviera. Internet connections are slow on board the ship, so only one posting. On the days when the connections are good, I'll do my regular two ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Cyclone Build Part 10 Engine Mount (2010-12-29)

A 1/8" wide slit is cut in the BT -5 for the engine hook, 3/16" from one end. The engine block is glued in place and rests against the upper bend of the hook. The shorter 5/20 ring is notched to ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Cyclone Build Part 11 Engine Mount (2010-12-29)

This is from a little farther along the build. I didn't get a picture of the engine mount glued in the lower, shorter BT-20 tube. At this point in construction I haven't glued the stabilizer fins on ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Cyclone Build Part 12 Fin Gluing (2010-12-30)

While the instructions don't say to do so, I rounded the leading and trailing edges of the fins before gluing them onto the lower body tube. The two lower stabilizer fins are spaced at 18mm apart. I ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Cyclone Egg Lofter! (2012-08-22)

Mike Debreceni (MarmotFL on YORF) has taken the Jonathan Mills Cyclone design to new heights - as an Egg Lofter! Here's Mike's launch report from YORF - "This Saturday, we held our egg loft ... [Read More]

Odd'l Rockets: Cyclone Hole Punching TIP (2015-02-09)

I'm making up a batch of Cyclone kits and have to punch a ejection charge relief hole in the BT-20 upper body tubing. You can get a clean hole using a simple 1/4" hole punch. This is how Estes ... [Read More]

Odd'l Rockets: Neil W's Cyclone Flight Report (2017-07-16)

From a post on TRF:  "I am pleased to report that Cyclone II performed flawlessly at the BARC launch yesterday. Don't have any pics yet, hopefully soon. First launch was on an 1/2A3-2T. It ... [Read More]

Odd'l Rockets: Odd'l Cyclone from Bob Portnell (2020-06-09)

Hi, Mr. M! Just wanted to report that Cyclone #251 has completed assembly and been turned over to my younger daughter (18-1/2 years old) for marker decoration action.     ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Top 10 for 2011 (2011-12-19)

I had 280 launches in the past year, 85 flights more than in 2010. Of the 24 builds completed in 2011, these are my top picks. Click on the BOLD NAME to go to the finished pictures or blog post. ... [Read More]