Any model rocketeers out there?
By baci on Jul 5, 2009 in Uncategorized
would like to do something like this. If you have/know of anyone who has a rocket program, other than North Korea, please let me know.v
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I was really into this stuff as a kid of about 10, and we also had to build model rockets in high school for physics class. I haven’t been there in many years, but Carr’s Hobbies on 20th Avenue West & Superior Street used to have a good selection of model rocketry supplies.
You need to find a wide-open place to shoot them off, and do it on a very calm day, otherwise you’ll lose your models.
I should add that model rocketry isn’t mega expensive like RC planes or boats. It’s really cheap. I bet you can get a good rocket kit for under $10.
Rockets are basically just a cardboard tube with fins and a nose cone made from balsa wood and/or plastic. The engine is a one-time-use chemical engine, similar in idea to a bottle rocket only much more powerful. When you recover your rocket, you pop the used engine out and insert another one if you want to launch again.
You’ll need a launch pad, which is just a stiff wire that guides the rocket on its path initially. And you’ll need an ignition system (you ignite the engine electrically, using batteries and a long wire so you can safely keep your distance). Plus engines and igniters. All told, it’ll probably be a $30-$40 investment at first.
Thanks for the tips Barrett. Actually I have a very specific “mission” it need to accomplish. It involves wireless video, state boundaries and a rocket propelled delivery vehicle. So I can provide a payload but I’m looking for a rocketeer to be the delivery “contractor”. I cant wait until my kiddo is old enough to do this as a hobby activity with me..When we do it, wanna join?
The payload/camera makes it tricky. Any weight imbalance or glitch in the aerodynamics can cause a violent crash. I’ve seen rockets launch, travel up 50 feet, do a U-turn can blast straight down into the ground and explode. It’d be a shame if your camera got burned up.
yep that would NOT be good. That’s why I need a “professional”… or at least someone who has done it before. I guess I’m thinking a low ceiling 2 stage deal with a parachute payload to have the cam drift down.
It seems to me that if you were able to encase the camera in the rocket, thereby limiting the aerodynamic disturbance, you could successfully jump that hurdle. This could potentially be accomplished by putting clear plastic tubing around the camera, with the camera placed inbetween the nose and the body.
You would then have to figure out how to manage the weight imbalance by attempting to ensure that the camera doesn’t shift while launching or in flight.
And then, of course, you would have to calculate the amount of fuel needed to give the rocket that now has additional weight the thrust for launching…
One suggestion might be to purchase a mini-spy camera, ala James Bond, that would be ultra-lightweight and ultra-small. It would minimize some of the above issues.
Another idea would be to use disposable digital cameras, that way you aren’t ruining your very nice digital camera, and then you have room for mistakes.
You can buy them at wedding/party shops or I would guess FirstPhoto might have them.
Good luck!
We’ve got a rocket and launch pad setup.
We’ll give you a call next time we lift off.
We’ve launched several times up at the 8th street baseball fields. It’s still not really large enough for the big engines, the rocket has drifted onto 2 roofs up there (we got it back).
Got some leftover fireworks too.
NEBRASKA fireworks.
Here is a link to the MN model rocket club. Doesn’t seem to be anything right around here, but if you don’t want to travel I would just ask around at the local hobby shops. If there wasn’t anyone around here launching these there would not be anyone selling the supplies.
http://www.masa-rocketry.org/
There are also commercially available model rockets with a camera integrated into the design. In the early 80s I had the Estes Astrocam 110. It’s a great hobby.
A great place to launch rockets is the Duluth R/C Airplane Club field on Riley Rd (off of Jean Duluth Rd adjacent to the soccer fields). You need to ask permission first. I don’t have any contact names, but Carr Hobby would know who to call. They are usually pretty cool about launching rockets if no one is using the field- and on occasion when there are only one or two planes up there. They think it’s fun to watch rockets, too, but the field was bought and paid for by them, so you gots to be respectful!
Model Rocketry can be a very rewarding hobby. I have over 30 years experience in the hobby.
The next launch in your area is July 11th. Check it out: http://www.tripolimn.org/node
There are two national organizations for rocketry. http://www.nar.org and http://www.tripoli.org you can get more information from them on local clubs. If you are interested I can help you get in touch with fliers in your area.
Check Out My “On Board” Rocketry Videos at:
http://www.youtube.com/thebayourat
The sky’s the limit,
Whit R.
whitney@bayourat.com
got a rocket in my pocket
OK. I’ll be really impressed if someone designs a control system for the inverted pendulum in this case. You could make it “butt” heavy, but that would affect the trajectory as well.
There are actually rocket kits with cameras on them. When I was a kid it was with a real film camera.
They look pretty cheap these days(from froogle):
http://www.google.com/products.....p;resnum=4
http://www.lolife.com/tag/rocket/
My friend lolife’s rocket adventures with iPhone payloads.
I’m in, Kites are another great way to get some aerial video. I saw this last year and really want to try it someday.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related
(I forgot to add the link)
It could be Cosmic!
Here’s another excellent kite photographer. He’s doing stills, not video, but the principles apply.
http://blog.makezine.com/archi.....ode_2.html
Dorkiest PDD post ever? But in a cool way?
hey BACI check out
http://www.raidentech.com
They have video cameras that have clear recording that are really cheap. I used one for the deal we did at Webber and they worked great!!!
Peace
Todd