All Rocketry Blogs

Model Rocket Building: New Estes Honest John Released (2015-10-02)

Estes has just released the new BT-60 based version of the Honest John. Retail price is $26.99 To see it, CLICK HERE Some Specs: Skill Level 3 Length: 22.9 in. (58.2 cm) Diameter: 1.64 in. (42 mm) ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: The BIG Fix, Estes Honest John, Part 1 (2016-12-07)

I hope I'm not the only one who has done this! My first D12-5 flight of the Estes Honest John looked great! I picked it up and walked it back to my car. I didn't notice this until I got home. It was ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: The BIG Fix, Estes Honest John, Part 2 (2016-12-08)

I'll have to make a coupler that will fit around the TTW fins tabs right above the cut engine mount tube. A short segment of BT-50H was cut into quarters. The sides were trimmed more to allow space ... [Read More]

Shroudlines: Honest Fins (2018-07-06)

Over 25 years ago I built an Estes Maxi Honest John. High power was beginning to really "take off" (pun intended), so I used my 29mm motor mount from an NCR Phantom 2600 (that met a less than ... [Read More]

Shroudlines: Honest Check-In! (2018-09-23)

Well, my Estes Maxi Honest John rebuild/ upgrade must be the slowest project ever (we're on about twenty something years now), but I did make a little progress this weekend! You see, this weekend ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Honest John to EAC Firecat? (2020-03-18)

After looking closer at the Estes E.A.C. Firecat kit, I thought at first the fins might be from the old K-27 Honest John kit. The instructions have you cut up the HoJo die-cut balsa to make the ... [Read More]

Rocket Dungeon: Madcow introduces mid-power fiberglass kits (2009-06-01)

I got sidetracked by Madcow's presence on Twitter and forgot to mention that they have two new fiberglass kits . An ARCAS and an Honest John. Both are 2.6 diameter (BT size) and are under $100 bucks ... [Read More]

Rocket Dungeon: ROCKETS Magazine, October 2009 (2009-10-28)

This month, Bob and Neil's editorial discusses the state of rocketry magazines. During the last 4 months or so, we have lost 50% of our rocket magazines - both LAUNCH and Extreme Rocketry succumbed ... [Read More]

Rocket Dungeon: Launch Report 2009-8 (Red Glare 7) (2009-11-15)

Location: Higgs Farm, Price, MD ( Red Glare VII ) Weather: mid to high 60's, light breeze, clear Total flights: Today - 7; YTD - 72 Total motors: Today - 10; YTD - 87 The remnants of Hurricane Ike ... [Read More]

Rocket Dungeon: Tau Zero completed (2010-03-04)

Well, I took advantage of a couple of dry, warm(ish) days and completed the Semroc Tau Zero .  This is a nice looking, futuristic rocket kit that flies on 18mm motors and recovers via a ... [Read More]

Rocket Dungeon: Review: Standard Cray-ARM (2011-01-03)

This is a review of my first Crayon rocket. I decided not to go with the typical clear fins and instead went for a 'goony' version of the Standard Missile. This one used an original 'Ralphco' brand ... [Read More]

Rocket Dungeon: Two reviews: Raygun Gothic Birdhouse and HoJo (2011-01-07)

These are two reviews of scratch rockets inspired by the Raygun Gothic Rocketship , which debuted at Burning Man 2009 and is now on display in San Francisco's Embarcadero. When I found the ... [Read More]

Rocket Dungeon: Reviews: MODifications to the Apogee V2 and Semroc Tau Zero (2011-01-29)

On the 10.5mm Micro V2, I added a stretched fin section (the Blitzkrieg Booster ) to allow it to fly on 13mm motors. On the Tau Zero, I merely put the fins on upside down. This is now a designer ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Old OOP MPC Launcher & Controller Part 1 (2011-04-11)

This is a recent Ebay purchase. Here's how the box looked after I opened the outside shipping carton. The cardboard was water damaged. It looked like it had been stored in a barn with a leaky roof! ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: EBAY Auction Cox Starter Set (2011-05-12)

Here's another rare EBAY find. This is the complete shrink wrapped Cox Model Rocket starter set. It featured their RTF Honest John. The Cox rockets were made from the same tough plastic as their ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: EBAY Auction Cox Starter Set (2011-06-14)

Here's another rare EBAY find. This is the complete shrink wrapped Cox Model Rocket starter set. It featured their RTF Honest John.   The Cox rockets were made from the same tough ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: TRF Forum Bully? (2011-06-29)

Before I go on, I should clarify something about the building techniques I use. Here's a condensed version of what I wrote in the first blog post, almost one year ago: "Everyone has their own ... [Read More]

RocketReviews.com Blog: Rocketry Loses Another Friend (2011-08-12)

Darrell Mobley created Rocketry Online, one of the first rocketry web sites on the internet.  Later, he started Rocketry Planet which has become the premiere site on the web for ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Tampa TTRA Launch November 19. 2011 (2011-11-21)

I almost didn't go to the Tampa TTRA launch today. I had a evening show scheduled and realized the venue was only ten miles from the TTRA site! So, it was a launch in the afternoon then banjos at ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Mini Honest John Build Part 1 Parts (2012-02-05)

The Mini Honest John parts are all pretty standard, except for the blow molded nose cone which is as long as the main airframe tube. The laser cut fins seem very small. Some TRF posts have talked ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Mini Honest John Build Part 2 Engine Mount (2012-02-06)

Here's the parts for the engine mount. I marked the yellow space tube at 5/16" from one end. Instead of putting glue in the BT-5 motor mount tube and pushing the block into place with the yellow ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Mini Honest John Build Part 3 Engine Mount (2012-02-07)

The fit of the thick adapter rings was very loose on the BT-5 engine mount tube. A line of white glue was applied to the inside of the ring to build up the edge. After it dried, the ring had a ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Mini Honest John Build Part 4 Engine Mount (2012-02-08)

This kit uses the standard tri-fold shock cord mount. That method works okay, but could obstruct the parachute at ejection especially in smaller diameter body tubes. I upgraded to Kevlar and an ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Mini Honest John Build Part 5 Nose Cone (2012-02-09)

The blow molded nose cone was very well made. A slight seam was down the length both sides. This seam could be easily sanded smooth with no gap filling. It's hard to make out in the picture, but the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Mini Honest John Build Part 6 Laser Cut Fins (2012-02-09)

At group launches, sometimes you'll see flying models with the burnt laser cut edges under the paint. The tabs haven't even been sanded off. If the tabs are left on, the root edge gluing surface ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Mini Honest John Build Part 7 Fin Shaping 1 (2012-02-10)

From the instructions: "Use alternative fin profile for a more scale like appearance." (That's the way it's worded.) The dimensions are wrong. 5/32" or 40mm? They meant to say 4mm. 17/32" or 135mm ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Mini Honest John Build Part 8 Fin Shaping 2 (2012-02-10)

While the pictures show one side of the fins being sanded, here's what the leading edge would look like. As mentioned before, I don't sand to a knife edge but leave the top a little square for ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Mini Honest John Build Part 9 Fin Shaping 3 (2012-02-11)

When sanding the upper and lower surfaces flat, it helps to set the block edge to the side of the high point pencil line. While sanding, constantly check the diamond shape profile on the root and ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Mini Honest John Build Part 10 Engine Mount Install (2012-02-12)

Gluing an engine mount doesn't get much easier than this. Apply a light bead of glue with the end of a dowel 1 1/2" inside the end of the body tube. The instructions show a glue bottle being used to ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Mini Honest John Build Part 11 Gluing Fins (2012-02-13)

The trailing edges of these fins glue even with the end of the body tube and centering ring. Extend the pencil marks around the back and onto the centering ring. When fins are glued even with the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Mini Honest John Build Part 12 Paint Problems (2012-02-14)

I've been using the Rustoleum 2X Painter's Touch paint with good results - up until now. After fillets, the HoJo was primed with Duplicolor Gray and sanded smooth. I followed that up with a nearly ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Mini Honest John Build Part 13 Fin Mask (2012-02-14)

Looking at the Peter Alway drawings, three of the HoJo fins are painted black. With the wedge taper of the fins, this is not one of the easier masks. I used my standard Scotch tape strips to mask ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Mini Honest John Build Build Part 14 Fin Mask Reveal (2012-02-15)

This is two facing fins where the masked came out clean. Not all the fins came out this good! I will have to go back and touch up some masking "tears." There wasn't any bleeding under the tape but ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Apogee Peak Of Flight Article Newsletter #306 (2012-02-15)

My third article for the Apogee Peak Of Flight newsletter was published yesterday. You can see it HERE This article explains how to create that sharp paint line around the perimeter of a nose cone. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Mini Honest John Build Part 15 Scale Factor for Masking (2012-02-16)

The real M-50 Honest John diameter is 23". The model diameter is a BT-50 at .976" 23" divided by .976" = a scaling factor of 23.56 All the measurements on the Peter Alway drawings will be divided by ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Mini Honest John Build Part 16 Nose Cone Mask (2012-02-16)

To really get a grasp of how to mask a nose cone, go to the Apogee Peak Of Flight newsletter HERE I wrote an article in much more detail on how to do a nose cone mask. The article shows a simple one ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Mini Honest John Build Part 17 Nose Cone Masking (2012-02-17)

The mask for the black band around the nose cone was a little more complicated, it has a masked on both curved sides. The Scotch tape was cut on the window as before and marked with a wide permanent ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Mini Honest John Build Part 18 Nose Cone Masking (2012-02-17)

As this mask was closer to the tip, the masking strip of tape wasn't very wide. Even though the mask strip was cut in a smaller tighter curve, I had to cut it to about 1/8" wide to conform to the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Mini Honest John Build Part 19 Body Roll Pattern (2012-02-18)

John Boren from Estes R&D posted the original proposed decal pattern for the Mini Honest John on YORF a while back. You can see the PDF HERE All the bars are right at .25" wide. A copy was ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Mini Honest John Build Part 20 Body Roll Pattern (2012-02-18)

For a reference, two copies of the HoJo body decal were printed on 20 lb. paper, not decal stock. One was used to keep track of the roll pattern. The top third of the second sheet was cut off and ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Mini Honest John Finished (2012-02-19)

The model is still due for a coat of dullcoat. If you haven't tried the blackboard Contact Paper yet, it is a great trim material. The six foot roll was about $6.00 at Michael's crafts. I'll tie in ... [Read More]

Rocket Dungeon: 24mm Paper Honest John, Part 2 (2012-08-12)

I made good progress on the 24mm paper Honest John today. As I mentioned in the previous post, I attached three centering rings to the 24mm tube. I didn't fully think out the recovery harness but ... [Read More]

Rocket Dungeon: 24mm Paper Honest John, part 3 (2012-08-13)

Today, I continued building the nose cone by adding the lower sections. The third section (larger-to-smaller diameter) went on well but I hit a snag with the lowest section (straight tube section ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Micro Bullying on TRF (2012-08-14)

This is a copy of a message sent to a "Micro" Rocketry Forum member. I sent this letter after many negative responses to forum posts I've made over the past five years. ... [Read More]

Rocket Dungeon: 24mm Paper Honest John, completed (2012-08-17)

Earlier today, I was in the Dungeon for something else and decided to dry-fit a rod in the newly installed lug.  I discovered I had forgotten something...the through-the-nose launch lug. Glad I ... [Read More]

Rocket Dungeon: Launch Report 2012-10 (2012-08-19)

Location: Central Sod Farm, Centreville, MD MDRA ESL-171) Weather: mid-70's, wind 0+ mph, cloudy Total flights: Today - 6; YTD - 80 Total motors: Today - 6; YTD - 95 Motors by class YTD: MicroHybrid ... [Read More]

Rocket Dungeon: Launch Report 2012-11 (2012-08-21)

Location: Mattie Sepanek Park Weather: 75 degrees, wind 0++ mph, partly cloudy Total flights: Today - 3; YTD - 83 Total motors: Today - 0; YTD - 95 Motors by class YTD: (Air -3); MicroHybrid -1; MMX ... [Read More]

Rocket Dungeon: Rocket status including a new, smaller air Honest John (2012-09-04)

The weather and my personal schedule have continued to delay the launch of my air-powered Saturn V.  So, this is what I've been up to instead. I wanted to build one of the Honest Johns ... [Read More]

Rocket Dungeon: Launch Report 2012-13 (2012-09-05)

Location: Mattie Stepanek Park Weather: 78 degrees and HUMID, wind 0++ mph, partly cloudy Total flights: Today - (6); YTD - 80 Total motors: Today - 0; YTD - 95 Motors by class YTD: (Air -12); ... [Read More]

High Power Rocketry: HoJo Montana - A football rocket (Honest John / Joe Montana) (2012-11-13)

    See more rockets by Ross Ohmen here. [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Questions? Good Questions and a Tip (2012-11-24)

Here's some questions and answers to Dana who wrote me at: oddlrockets@bellsouth.net Question 4 is actually pretty cool idea from Dana - Hi Dana,   Thanks for writing, I'll do my ... [Read More]

Rocket Dungeon: The Dungeon's Top-10 for 2012 (2012-12-22)

I see Chris Michielssen posted his top ten for 2012. So, I see no reason to wait to post mine: 1. Space Shuttle Discovery buzzes Washington DC . 2. Discovery and Enterprise nose-to-nose at ... [Read More]

Rocket Dungeon: Launch Report 2013-2 (2013-06-15)

Location: Central Sod Farm, Centreville, MD MDRA ESL-181) Weather: Sunny, mid 80's, wind 0-10 (crossfield, away from the trees) Total flights: Today - 9; YTD - 14 Total motors: Today - 10; YTD - 15 ... [Read More]

Rocket Dungeon: My flyable fleet (2013-10-10)

After seeing ~1/10 of Dave Bucher's huge fleet on Facebook, I thought I'd snapshot mine, which consists of a paltry 233 birds. First sort criteria is a column that's not showing, breaking the list ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Honest John K-27 Decals (2013-10-30)

  I was thinking about building a clone of the Estes Honest John, K-27. Years back it was a challenge to build with the nose cone shroud, diamond tapered fins and spin nacelles. I found a ... [Read More]

Rocket Dungeon: Converting my Saturn V from air power to 'pyro' (2014-01-23)

A couple of flying seasons ago, I built a bunch of air powered rockets, including a many from AlaskaPaperModelWorks . I also converted one of their large paper Honest Johns to fly on 24mm motors. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: FlisKits MMX Crayon Build Part 1, Parts (2014-02-02)

I haven't built a MMX rocket in a while. They are great first launch of the day models to test the controller, rod angle and winds. This one is almost a minimum diameter and should be fast with good ... [Read More]

Rocket Dungeon: It's a bird, it's a plane, NO, it's Dan's Honest John (2014-04-13)

This pegged the pucker-factor meter! What happens when your clustered 'M' motors don't all light at the same time. [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ModelRockets.US Instructions (2015-02-09)

I like seeing a sample of kit instructions before buying a kit. Sometimes I won't buy a model if the instructions aren't good. I found this page showing the instructions for the ModelRockets.US ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: The Micro Fleet (2015-04-24)

Here's the active MicroMaxx fleet. I built and flew a lot of Micro models when I got back into rocketry. They are perfect small field flyers. I just wish the delays were a little longer. Any ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: FlisKits Honest John Build, Part 1, Parts (2015-05-14)

I've built one of these before, it is one of my favorite MMX models. A reliable, high flyer. My first HoJo has over 20 flights and is showing it's age. The kit parts are high quality. The body ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: FlisKits Honest John Build, Part 2, Engine Mount (2015-05-15)

Here's the parts for the HoJo engine mount. You'll need a MMX engine casing to place the engine block. The engine block center is removed. Be careful, it peels out like a Pillsbury flaky biscuit. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: FlisKits Honest John Build, Part 3, Engine Mount Kevlar (2015-05-16)

The MMX kit Kevlar seemed a little thin. I've had this thin cord burn through before. I replace it with thicker Kevlar. A simple overhand knot was pressed into the glue fillet. The ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: FlisKits Honest John Build, Part 4, Fin Shaping (2015-05-17)

Glue the small launch lugs to the standoffs. When setting parts this small it helps to use tweezers. I found it easier using very little white glue. Once that dried, fillets were added. There ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: FlisKits Honest John Build, Part 5, Fin Shaping (2015-05-19)

Use a sanding block to shape these diamond shaped fins. This the top edges first. Don't thin it to a "razor edge", leave a little of the squared top. With the edge black you can see how thick the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: FlisKits Honest John Build, Part 6, Primer, Fin Gluing and Paint (2015-05-20)

The fins and lugs were stuck down on their root edges for a shot of primer. The body tube was set on a dowel end for a primer coat. The kit supplied marking guide ends didn't quite match up. I ... [Read More]

Rocket N00b: Mid Power: Building the Quest Big Dog (Part 12) - Finishing Touches (2015-05-20)

Click here for Part 1 The Big Dog is looking really good at this point. Now it's time to attach the rail buttons and take care of a few final details. If you're just tuning in , rail buttons ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: FlisKits Honest John Build, Part 7, Decal Re-Draw (2015-05-21)

I drew up some decals the first time I made the MMX Honest John. These were a downsize of the old Estes kit decals I didn't space them accurately, there was a lot of cutting apart and moving ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: FlisKits Honest John Finished (2015-05-22)

On the left is my older Fliskit Honest John, it has 21 flights. On the right is the new replacement. Since the first Honest John build in 2010, my decals are turning out better. The ink is ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: FlisKits Honest John Build, Part 8, Mask and Decals (2015-05-23)

Whoops! This one should have gone in earlier - after Part 7 and before "Finished". After a day or two I'll get them in order. Here's the mask for the black paint. The same is repeated on the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Coming Soon from Estes (2015-06-27)

Estes has some new kits unveiled in their Coming Soon page - CLICK HERE  A larger Maxi-Brute sized HONEST JOHN was shown at a past NARAM. This one is smaller, BT-60 based. To me, a more ... [Read More]

Rocket N00b: Estes Pro Series II - Ventris (Decisions) (2015-08-24)

Click here for the Pro Series II introduction . Here is the Ventris. First step, of course, is to check all the parts. The fins are made of 1/8 inch plywood, and they're nice and large. ... [Read More]

Rocket N00b: Picking Your First Model Rocket (2015-11-02)

If you are a total n00b to rocketry, wondering What's a good model rocket for an absolute beginner? then welcome, and this post is for you. First of all, I want to stress that these are just some ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Top Ten list for 2015 (2015-12-19)

Here's this year's TOP 10 . . . #10 is the worst counting down to #1 , or the best build and news of the year. (These are simply my picks, based on the build and flight experience and blog ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: New Estes Kit? (2016-04-28)

I don't know what this is . . . When you go to the Estes website and look at the Upcoming Nike Smoke kit, this comes up as the parts picture. CLICK HERE and go to "Additional Images". That is a ... [Read More]

Rocket Dungeon: Honest John Nike @ WSMR (2016-07-12)

[Read More]

Shroudlines: Maxi Honest John Rebuild- Construction Finale! (2018-11-03)

Well, it seems like this project has been dragging on FOREVER. That's probably because it has. If you remember our last post (way back in September, I think) we were waiting to slap on the "motor ... [Read More]

Shroudlines: The Estes Maxi Honest John...A Long Awaited Conclusion! (2018-12-03)

  I now have the pleasure to write a post that was literally decades in the making...the conclusion of the rebuilding of my Honest John! When we last left off, I had created and installed ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Cox Nike Zeus Starter Outfit On Ebay (2019-01-28)

Here's a rare, mint item on Ebay -   Complete Cox rocket starter set in their boxes. The plastic wrap is gone - Nike Zeus rocket (early gap staging), Cox launcher and controller and ... [Read More]

Rocketeer's Corner: Breaking news from the rocket vendors! (Part 2) (2020-07-29)

One of the best features of the NAR manufacturer's forum is that you are exposed to new ideas and products beyond your normal hobby experience. This was the case for me and vendor #6, Cris Erving of ... [Read More]