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Model Rockets.

waggy

No Lifer
Anyone do these?

My son got a model rocket kit from a relative for his birthday. but damn the engines are expensive!
 
They are fun. Here's mine :biggrin:

images
 
Yeah I did alot of model rocketry when I was a kid. Wait until you get to the D and E sized engines and complex rockets with multiple engines and more than one stage. Between engines, recovery wadding, batteries and repairing of any damage, it does have a small cost. Best bet is to find a hobby shop near you that can order you the stuff you need, this way you dont have to pay for shipping.
 
Yeah I did alot of model rocketry when I was a kid. Wait until you get to the D and E sized engines and complex rockets with multiple engines and more than one stage. Between engines, recovery wadding, batteries and repairing of any damage, it does have a small cost. Best bet is to find a hobby shop near you that can order you the stuff you need, this way you dont have to pay for shipping.

I am kinda amazed at the cost. rockets aren't that bad its the engines that are expensive. i got a 3 pack for $9.

if the kids like it i will have to see if i can buy them in bulk.
 
I am kinda amazed at the cost. rockets aren't that bad its the engines that are expensive. i got a 3 pack for $9.

if the kids like it i will have to see if i can buy them in bulk.

I understand that NASA has some slightly used space shuttle rockets for sale, would that be considered bulk?
 
back in the 70s and early 80s I did this, then NYC got all pussified and banned pretty much everything.
 
When I was a kid I got a whole bunch of awesome rockets at a yard sale, but never launched a single one because I couldn't afford the engines.
 
I remember back in middle school for a science class we got to scratch build our own rockets. It was a shame to see more than half of the rockets failed to launch or fell apart half way up cause the students were too lazy or didn't care enough to build them properly. I was able to retrieve mine after it came back down but a few got blown outside of the school grounds.
 
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. 😛
 
I used to do these all the time when I was growing up. Still break em out every once in a while and launch a few. Most recent acquisition was a Comanche-3, a three-stage rocket. Pretty impressive, it went SUPER high. First launch we lost one of the stages though, so now it's a Comanche-2.

One key to having an enjoyable day is to use the proper launching mechanism. This means throwing out any "safe launch controllers" you may have. They suck and never work right. Hook those babies up to your car battery, much more reliable. A good-sized lantern battery works as well.
 
You can get a bulk pack of 24 B6-4s for $44 online. 😀

Nice! Amazon or somewhere else?

I used to always get the highest powered ones available, so C's for standard sized rockets, but I'm thinking going with B's might allow more safe recoveries.
 
One key to having an enjoyable day is to use the proper launching mechanism. This means throwing out any "safe launch controllers" you may have. They suck and never work right. Hook those babies up to your car battery, much more reliable. A good-sized lantern battery works as well.

I never used a car or lantern battery but I agree about the supplied estes launch controller. It worked but needed fresh batteries constantly. I assume that getting those ignitors to go required more juice than those 4 AAs could sometimes supply. And I hated those ignitors too. Fragile little things.
 
When my son was into rockets, I always bought the 24 packs to help keep the cost down. We got got some great video's by taping a 808 key-chain camera to the rockets. If you want to try it, make sure it's a version #3,#11 or #16 keychain camera because the other versions are junk.
You can see examples on youtube.
 
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.
 
When my son was into rockets, I always bought the 24 packs to help keep the cost down. We got got some great video's by taping a 808 key-chain camera to the rockets. If you want to try it, make sure it's a version #3,#11 or #16 keychain camera because the other versions are junk.
You can see examples on youtube.

yeah we watched a few videos of rockets. some rockets are rather insane. but it was neat with the cam on it.
 
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