Model Rockets.

[waggy]

If you want to save a few $'s on the rocket motors use the near weekly 40-50% off coupons at Micheal's and Hobby Lobby, they have a full range of rockets and motors. That's how I keep it going at my house without breaking the bank to much or buy a mega pack.

thanks for the info. signed up at hobby lobby and hobby usa. already got 1 40% off coupons and a $10 off $40 purchase!

 

[hanoverphist]

Pro tip: Don't launch them on a windy day.

if you put a streamer instead of a chute they dont wander too far.

Just within the past week I brought up to my wife how it'll be fun to give model rockets a try with our son when he's a bit older and asked her if she or her brother every used to play with them growing up. She had no clue what I was talking about and then said "we weren't "rich" like you growing up"

WTF? Didn't know model rockets were a "rich" thing.

haha we were the poster kids for poor, but we had the whole set up. i used to buy the engines myself, i dont remember them being too bad to buy. but that was back in the 80s.

i still have my launch pad and igniter too. we break the stuff out once in a while and shoot off a few. my kids all have rockets, and they still have a good time making their own. my nephews were notorious for breaking stuff with theirs lol.

 

[waggy]

They are fun. Here's mine :biggrin:

bwhahah i just showed my daughter this picture. she laughed and said she could ride that as it took off!

hehe

 

[SphinxnihpS]

Make your own propellant.

 

[DrPizza]

Might I suggest building a launcher for 2-liter bottles? You can easily build a launcher for under $20. Empty 2-liter bottles are practically free. After that, some of that thicker posterboard stuff, or whatever the kids want to use - along with their imagination. Launch = pumping it up with a bike pump. Fuel = air & water (fill the bottle about half way with water.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DusmrzYQiy4

Something like this - note, there's only a 2 liter bottle. Leave it to the kids to figure out how to add fins & a nose cone. I little weight toward the top helps a lot too. Do *not* put your hand on top of the bottle while it's pressurized - that's the equivalent of leaning over a regular rocket while a fuse is lit.

The expense of such rocketry is very small and allows a ton of creativity. Mechanically inclined kids can easily move up to parachutes, 2 (or more) stage rockets, cameras, altimeters, etc. - and never spend a cent on rocket engines.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qzOzjRJpaU

A very simple launcher, and kids can do dozens upon dozens of launches in an afternoon.

And, if you and the kids are especially adventurous & mechanically inclined, you can start making your own carbon fiber wrapped 2-liter bottles capable of a lot more pressure and MUCH higher altitudes. Of course, with the higher pressure, comes increased risk; always have a rough idea what the bursting pressure is & stay way away from it.

 

[tcsenter]

The model rocket engines (e.g. Estes) back in the 70s and 80s were unreliable. Failed to ignite, or ignite and burn-out prematurely, non-uniform (e.g. side) burning that could cause your rocket to take some interesting non-vertical paths, exploding, etc. I've heard they're much improved in the past 15 years.

 

[MontyAC]

bwhahah i just showed my daughter this picture. she laughed and said she could ride that as it took off!

hehe

Good, go get it and strap her on for a fun ride.

 

[Evadman]

Back when Iw as a kid I loved making my own designs. The highest one I ever got used 12 E engines in 3 stages of 4 each. The 1st stage would get the rocket to about 15 feet up, then the 2nd set of 4 engines would fire, and you would dive for cover. the 2nd stage would fire somewhere around 1000 feet, then the last stage would go, and the rocket would be gone.

About 10 minutes later, you could see it again on it's way down with the 200 foot bright orange drag line chute.

 

[Destiny]

I used to play with model rockets with my elementary school friends... it got expensive and addicting - so go for the bundle pack if you can...

 

[Red Squirrel]

I always thought it would be neat to play around with them, but never really got into it. It's a very expensive hobby but quite rewarding especially when you put instruments on it like a camera on a parachute.

Check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvDqoxMUroA&

 

[Drako]

The model rocket engines (e.g. Estes) back in the 70s and 80s were unreliable. Failed to ignite, or ignite and burn-out prematurely, non-uniform (e.g. side) burning that could cause your rocket to take some interesting non-vertical paths, exploding, etc. I've heard they're much improved in the past 15 years.

I never had any problems with Estes engines back in the 70s when I was a kid. My brother and I were in a rocketry club, and I don't recall any engine failures as you have described.

 

[BladeVenom]

I played with them when I was a kid. Some of them can get really high. That's why in the end I preferred the bigger less aerodynamic ones. A bit slower, and easier to keep sight of.

 

[waggy]

I always thought it would be neat to play around with them, but never really got into it. It's a very expensive hobby but quite rewarding especially when you put instruments on it like a camera on a parachute.

Check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvDqoxMUroA&

that was awesome.

 

[JackOfHearts]

I remember my first three stage rocket as a kid. I finished one night and couldn't wait for my dad to get home to launch it. So I grabbed my kit and went to a nearby park. Didn't even think about the engines I had not being for multi stage rockets. So first stage goes off burns out and the rocket starts to pitch over. Then second stage kicks as it approaches
horizontal flight, and I have an oh shit moment. By now the rocket is really hauling ass and clear of the park and over the nearby golf course. Now the second stage to burns out. The rocket is now taking a distinct nose down attitude. Yep here comes stage three, and my rocket on it's maiden voyage is going like hell for the 18th fairway, and I am running after it screaming "holy shit look out!" Thankfully no one was in the way. When that sucker augered in the nose cone got jammed, so when the chute went to deploy it just blew out the side of the tube. Needless to say my pa was not amused when I told him the story good times

 

[BUTCH1]

Back in High school our shop teacher had us build one an we flew 'em at the local little league field , one dude had a beloved Saturn V and we convinced him to launch it despite a fairly windy day, need less to say it's flight terminated over wooded area and was damaged when found 2 hours later..

 

[Drako]

http://www.spacemodeling.org/jimz/estes.htm

Wow, this page brings back so many good memories