| Making model rockets is an inexpensive and | | | | When you have completed all of this you are |
| fun hobby that has two very different | | | | ready to paint and apply stickers to your |
| components. You get to make rockets, which is | | | | rocket. This whole process, depending on your |
| a great hands on craft, and you also get to | | | | hobby skills, will take between one and two |
| launch them which makes for a great outdoor | | | | hours. Some of the newer rocket kits do away |
| event for family and friends. Here is an | | | | with a lot of the balsa wood and replace it |
| overview of what it is all about and how to | | | | with plastic engine mounts and fins. This |
| do it. | | | | makes the assembly process much easier and |
| | | | all you need to complete it is some plastic |
| You don't need a whole lot of materials to | | | | cement. This type of rocket will take you |
| start out in this hobby. There are many | | | | less than an hour to assemble. |
| all-complete kits available that give you | | | | |
| everything you need. This includes the parts | | | | Once your rocket is completed you will be |
| to make a rocket, the launching pad, and the | | | | ready to launch it and to do this you should |
| engines that power the rocket. You just have | | | | find a large open field that is free of any |
| to spend the time to assemble the components | | | | brown or dry grass (for fire safety). You |
| and supply some basic tools and materials | | | | install the igniter into your engine then put |
| like glue and a small saw or hobby knife. | | | | the engine into the rocket and place it on |
| | | | the launching pad. As a final step you hook |
| How does a model rocket work? | | | | up your launch controller and after standing |
| | | | back and doing a countdown you press a button |
| The typical path for this type of hobby is | | | | to launch your rocket. |
| you first make a rocket out of a cardboard | | | | |
| tube and add fins (either balsa wood or | | | | Making and launching model rockets is not |
| plastic) then attach a parachute and | | | | hard and it is not expensive to start out. |
| nosecone. Into this rocket tube you install a | | | | There are plenty of complete kits that have |
| thing called an engine. It is what creates | | | | everything you need that typically cost less |
| the propulsion for launch and it is a | | | | than thirty dollars. There are half a dozen |
| cylindrical object about the size and shape | | | | companies that make excellent rockets and |
| of a roll of pennies and it contains an | | | | outstanding complete kits. The two companies |
| ignitable dry propellant. You insert this | | | | I recommend for you as a beginner in the |
| engine into the bottom of the rocket and when | | | | hobby would be Estes and Quest. They both |
| it is fired it propels the rocket into sky. | | | | have kits aimed directly at beginners. There |
| After a certain period of time (usually 4-6 | | | | are several variations of kits and when |
| seconds) the propulsion stops and a secondary | | | | selecting a kit you should make sure it has a |
| charge goes off the other end of the engine. | | | | launch pad, a rocket, engines, and protective |
| This causes the nose cone to blow off the | | | | wadding (sheets of fireproof tissue). If your |
| rocket and the parachute to deploy -which | | | | kit doesn't have all these things make sure |
| safely carries your rocket back to the ground | | | | you order some to go with it. |
| so you can use it again. The engine however, | | | | |
| is spent and to launch the rocket again you | | | | Some kit suggestions |
| would install another engine. These engines | | | | |
| cost from 2 to 3 dollars each. | | | | Estes makes a great beginner kit called the |
| | | | Tandem-X launch set. It comes with two |
| How do you fire off the rocket? | | | | rockets and the launch pad but doesn't come |
| | | | with engines or wadding so you have to order |
| You fire off the rocket engine by installing | | | | them separately. Quest has several kits that |
| a small metal igniter in it then connecting | | | | have everything including the engines and |
| it to a battery source, which is inside | | | | wadding and two of these kits are the Astra |
| something called a launch controller. This | | | | III Quick Kit StarterHAZ and the Vertigo RTF |
| igniter is very similar to the filament | | | | HAZ. When you order kits with engines or |
| inside a light bulb in that when you apply an | | | | engines separately you have to allow a longer |
| electrical charge to it it will heat up and | | | | delivery time. Engines, because they have a |
| glow causing a small fire. This small fire | | | | fire creating material in them, cannot be |
| ignites the engine and launches your rocket. | | | | shipped by air. They can only be shipped by |
| When you purchase engines the igniters come | | | | ground. |
| with them and the launch controller comes | | | | |
| with the launch pad. | | | | Safety |
| | | | |
| I recommend, if you are just starting out in | | | | Model Rocketry is a very safe hobby and there |
| the hobby, you purchase an all-inclusive kit | | | | is no risk of injury as long as you follow |
| that has everything you need. You first | | | | the standard rules of safety as laid out by |
| assemble the launching pad, which has only a | | | | the National Association of Rocketry. They |
| few parts and is easy to assemble. The parts | | | | have a nice safety code that you should read |
| all snap together and this launching pad is | | | | and understand before you embark on your new |
| what you will launch the rocket off. It comes | | | | hobby. |
| with a guide bar that your rocket will travel | | | | |
| up and a metal plate that the rocket sits on. | | | | Taking your hobby to new creative heights |
| This plate keeps the rocket safe by | | | | |
| deflecting the exhaust from the engine. | | | | One of the best things about model rocketry |
| | | | is the fact that you can take it to new |
| Next you will assemble your rocket and, | | | | heights of creativity in many different ways. |
| depending on the kit, there will be | | | | You can design your own rockets, make bigger |
| variations in this procedure. Traditional | | | | rockets that climb to even higher heights. |
| rockets will have a cardboard tube body and | | | | You can even design and build multi-stage |
| balsa wood fins. You cut these fins out and | | | | rockets or gliders. There are also many |
| glue them to the body tube. You then assemble | | | | additional kits and options like an onboard |
| the cardboard tube engine mount. This is a | | | | altimeter that will display how high your |
| specially designed tube for holding the | | | | rocket went and onboard cameras and video |
| engine and it is the most challenging part of | | | | cameras that will take snapshots of the |
| the process. A few more steps include | | | | ground or even take a video from right on the |
| building the parachute and nosecone assembly. | | | | rocket. |