2 <img src="level2.jpg" align="right">
6 Building and launching model rockets is one of our favorite hobby activities
7 right now. While everyone in the family gets into the act in one way or
9 and Robert are the most serious and so most Garbee rocket projects end up
10 being father and son affairs...
12 [Bdale](http://www.gag.com/~bdale) is
13 [NAR](http://nar.org/) Sr member 87103 and
14 [Tripoli](http://tripoli.org/) member 12201, and holds a level 3
15 high power certification. Robert is [NAR](http://nar.org/) Sr member
16 87104 and [Tripoli](http://tripoli.org/) member 14036, and also holds a
17 level 3 high power certification. Robdert was one of the first kids to
18 pass the [Tripoli Mentoring Program](http://www.tripoli.org/TMP)
19 exam, and flew a lot of high power including a fair number of research
20 motors in mentored projects before turning 18...
22 ## [Airframes](airframes) ##
26 See some of our launch photos in the [Garbee Gallery](http://gallery.gag.com/rockets/),
28 Bdale's <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28636323@N03/">Flickr Photostream</a>.
32 We have family memberships in (and regularly enjoy flying our
33 models with!) local clubs
34 [Tripoli Colorado](http://www.tripolicolorado.org/),
35 [SCORE](http://scronline.net),
37 [NCR](http://ncrocketry.org).
39 We have also flown with
40 [ARS](http://www.arsabq.org/),
41 [COSROCS](http://cosrocs.org/),
42 [Kloudbusters](http://kloudbusters.org/),
43 [Metra](http://metrarocketclub.org/),
44 [NRVR](http://nrvr.org/),
45 [NZRA](http://www.nzrocketry.org.nz/),
47 [QRS](https://qldrocketry.com/).
51 * [Apogee Components](http://www.apogeerockets.com/) is a local
52 company. Perhaps best known as the place to get the RockSim
53 rocket design and simulation software (which we wish came in a Linux
54 version!), we've also bought lots of
55 [parts](http://www.apogeerockets.com/building_supplies.asp)
56 from them for building rockets from scratch, and we really like some
57 of the [Dynastar](http://www.dynastar-rockets.com/) mid-power
58 kits like the Rip-Roar and Sky Torpedo. Apogee is also a distributor of
59 our [TeleMetrum](http://www.apogeerockets.com/Altus_Metrum_GPS.asp) starter
62 * [Giant Leap Rocketry](http://giantleaprocketry.com/) is a
63 great source for components for building high power rockets. We particularly
64 like the Pinnacle nose cone series, and DynaWind pre-glassed airframe
65 tubing. Local rep Joe Hinton shows up at various launches we attend, and
66 gets most of our commercial motor reload business.
68 * [What's Up Hobbies](http://stores.whatsuphobby.com) is the home of the
69 Polecat Aerospace line of kits, plus Jack carries a lot of other useful
72 * [Public Missiles](http://www.publicmissiles.com/) make very nice parachutes
73 and HAMR retainers, which are our favorite retainers for 29-54mm motors.
75 * [Aero Pack](http://www.aeropack.net/) makes the flanged motor retainers we
76 like the large projects that contain 75 and 98mm motor mounts.
78 * [Chris' Rocket Supplies](http://www.csrocketry.com/) handled a problem
79 caused by one of their suppliers with an order brilliantly, and will get
80 more of our business in the future.
82 * [Discount Rocketry](http://www.discountrocketry.com/)
83 used to consistently have the best prices on kits and motors, but recently
84 has seemed to be mostly out of stock on things we want. We've bought lots of
85 [Estes motors](http://estesrockets.com),
86 smaller [Aerotech reloads](http://aerotech-rocketry.com),
87 and [Rouse-Tech cases](http://rouse-tech.com) from them. And they're
88 responsive and helpful on the phone, so we'll happily buy things from
89 them that are in stock.
93 Lots of people make electronics for use in hobby rockets. This is a brief
94 list of only the things we've actually used ourselves.
96 First off, Bdale and friends develop fully open hardware and software
97 designs for rocketry avionics, under the name
98 [Altus Metrum](http://altusmetrum.org).
100 We also fly commercial altimeters in some projects. The cheapest off the
101 shelf altimeter we've used and often recommend to beginners is the
102 [Missile Works](http://www.missileworks.com/) RRC2-mini. At about $80, it
103 gets the job done for simple barometric control of dual deployment. Note
104 that while early versions had a firmware bug that we believe is at least
105 partially responsible for Bdale's loss of his first L3 project, recent
106 versions seem fine. For another $20, the
107 [PerfectFlite](http://www.perfectflite.com/)
108 [miniAlt/WD](http://www.perfectflite.com/catalog/MAWD.html)
109 adds the ability to records the barometric flight altitude profile. Both
110 of Bdale's L3 certs flew with one each of these two commercial altimeters,
111 and we often use the MAWD as a backup for our
112 [TeleMetrum](http://altusmetrum.org/TeleMetrum) units during test flights.
114 The [BeeLine TX](http://www.bigredbee.com/BeeLine.htm) boards from Big Red
115 Bee are radio tracking transmitters that just work. They require an
116 [amateur radio](http://www.altusmetrum.org/Radio) license, but we think
117 anyone flying big rockets can and should get one of those anyway!
121 While a lot of great information is available on the web, there are some paper
122 books that we've found very helpful at various stages.
124 * <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0471472425?ie=UTF8&tag=garbandgarb-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0471472425">Handbook of Model Rocketry, 7th Edition (NAR Official Handbook)</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=garbandgarb-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0471472425" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />
125 may be the best first book on model rocketry. While the focus is on small
126 rockets, the basic principles of static stability and construction covered
127 here are important at all levels of the hobby.
129 * <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1412058104?ie=UTF8&tag=garbandgarb-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1412058104">Modern High-Power Rocketry 2</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=garbandgarb-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1412058104" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />
130 covers a lot of material, and is a great resource if you're starting to think
131 about a high power certification and don't have a club nearby, or just like
132 to read about how other people have done things and why.
134 * [Topics in Advanced Model Rocketry](http://www.apogeerockets.com/topics_advanced_model_rocketry.asp) is definitely not for everyone, as it's heavy on
135 math and isn't a "how to" book at all! But, if you really want to understand
136 what's going on with higher performance models and/or inside the simulation
137 software we use when designing rockets, the material here will take you