Rustysocket
New Member
Hey everyone,
Revisiting rockets after a long break since my childhood in the late 70's as a project in scouts and I believe we built a big Bertha and another that had a clear payload tube that the fine specimen of grasshopper took a ride or two in. If I recall we used some observations and trigonometry to estimate altitudes and also had some device for the same. It was fun, but all were eventually lost to the pine trees and I vaguely remember one hung around through the winter.
Anyway, as a builder of model airplanes I found myself at the craft shop gathering supplies I stumbled across a quite significant section of Estes rockets. It's been in the back of my mind now for a few weeks so I decided to do a little research first and then see how far into this I want to go.
Bare minimum I want to build some cool rockets, even if they never get the chance to fly. But I have plenty of time, and am at the stage in my life I can afford to do things for fun and to learn.
I want to play around with data collection a bit. Or at least learn what can be done. I enjoy electronics, but am an assembler and don't really understand how it was designed and made to work. I'm willing to just accept that some things are a given at first and will hopefully learn why it works later.
So here I am. To ask some questions and get the basics.
I have a 3d printer. I like to build and fabricate things. Especially if a good set of instructions or guide is available. I figure that may compliment model rocketry.
I don't like to buy things which can easily be made. If I have to buy something like a specialty tool, I want good quality but not useless frills.
I can't imagine there is much I need to build that I don't already have.
My first question would be is what are a good quality launch stand and controller. Eventually I know I want to get into rockets that are maybe 3-4" diameter, but also will build some small stuff too.
Thanks for suggestions, hello from Washington state and I will ask questions after I do some general reading (suggestions please) and hopefully have some fun later on this summer.
Revisiting rockets after a long break since my childhood in the late 70's as a project in scouts and I believe we built a big Bertha and another that had a clear payload tube that the fine specimen of grasshopper took a ride or two in. If I recall we used some observations and trigonometry to estimate altitudes and also had some device for the same. It was fun, but all were eventually lost to the pine trees and I vaguely remember one hung around through the winter.
Anyway, as a builder of model airplanes I found myself at the craft shop gathering supplies I stumbled across a quite significant section of Estes rockets. It's been in the back of my mind now for a few weeks so I decided to do a little research first and then see how far into this I want to go.
Bare minimum I want to build some cool rockets, even if they never get the chance to fly. But I have plenty of time, and am at the stage in my life I can afford to do things for fun and to learn.
I want to play around with data collection a bit. Or at least learn what can be done. I enjoy electronics, but am an assembler and don't really understand how it was designed and made to work. I'm willing to just accept that some things are a given at first and will hopefully learn why it works later.
So here I am. To ask some questions and get the basics.
I have a 3d printer. I like to build and fabricate things. Especially if a good set of instructions or guide is available. I figure that may compliment model rocketry.
I don't like to buy things which can easily be made. If I have to buy something like a specialty tool, I want good quality but not useless frills.
I can't imagine there is much I need to build that I don't already have.
My first question would be is what are a good quality launch stand and controller. Eventually I know I want to get into rockets that are maybe 3-4" diameter, but also will build some small stuff too.
Thanks for suggestions, hello from Washington state and I will ask questions after I do some general reading (suggestions please) and hopefully have some fun later on this summer.