-# Garbee Rockets #
-![Photo of Bdale and Robert with Horizon just before successful level 2 certification flight](./level2.jpg "Photo of Bdale and Robert with Horizon just before successful level 2 certification flight")
+<img src="level2.jpg" align="right">
+
+# Garbee Rockets #
Building and launching model rockets is one of our favorite hobby activities
right now. While everyone in the family gets into the act in one way or
## [Airframes](airframes) ##
+## Photos ##
+
+See some of our launch photos in Bdale's <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28636323@N03/">Flickr Photostream</a>.
+
## Clubs ##
We have family memberships in (and regularly enjoy flying our
[parts](http://www.apogeerockets.com/building_supplies.asp)
from them for building rockets from scratch, and we really like some
of the [Dynastar](http://www.dynastar-rockets.com/) mid-power
- kits like the Rip-Roar and Sky Torpedo.
+ kits like the Rip-Roar and Sky Torpedo. Apogee is also a distributor of
+ our [TeleMetrum](http://www.apogeerockets.com/Altus_Metrum_GPS.asp) starter
+ kits!
* [Giant Leap Rocketry](http://giantleaprocketry.com/) is a
- good source for components for building high power rockets. We particularly
+ great source for components for building high power rockets. We particularly
like the Pinnacle nose cone series, and DynaWind pre-glassed airframe
tubing. Local rep Joe Hinton shows up at various launches we attend, and
gets most of our commercial motor reload business.
+* [What's Up Hobbies](http://stores.whatsuphobby.com) is the home of the
+ Polecat Aerospace line of kits, plus Jack carries a lot of other useful
+ bits and pieces.
+
* [Public Missiles](http://www.publicmissiles.com/) make very nice parachutes
- and HAMR retainers, which we like for 29-54mm motors.
+ and HAMR retainers, which are our favorite retainers for 29-54mm motors.
+
+* [Aero Pack](http://www.aeropack.net/) makes the flanged motor retainers we
+ like the large projects that contain 75 and 98mm motor mounts.
+
+* [Chris' Rocket Supplies](http://www.csrocketry.com/) handled a problem
+ caused by one of their suppliers with an order brilliantly, and will get
+ more of our business in the future.
* [Discount Rocketry](http://www.discountrocketry.com/)
- seems to consistently have the best prices on kits and motors, but often
- are out of stock on things we want. We've bought lots of
+ used to consistently have the best prices on kits and motors, but recently
+ has seemed to be mostly out of stock on things we want. We've bought lots of
[Estes motors](http://estesrockets.com),
smaller [Aerotech reloads](http://aerotech-rocketry.com),
and [Rouse-Tech cases](http://rouse-tech.com) from them. And they're
- responsive and helpful on the phone.
-
-## Photos ##
-
-See some of our launch photos in Bdale's <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28636323@N03/">Flickr Photostream</a>.
+ responsive and helpful on the phone, so we'll happily buy things from
+ them that are in stock.
## Electronics ##
-A related project Bdale works on delivers fully open hardware and software
-designs for rocketry avionics, under the name
-[Altus Metrum](http://altusmetrum.org).
-
-## Rocketry books we like ##
+Lots of people make electronics for use in hobby rockets. This is a brief
+list of only the things we've actually used ourselves.
-Note that <i>Topics in Advanced Model Rocketry</i> is definitely not for
-everyone, as it's heavy on math and isn't a "how to" book at all! The
-others are great general books for learning about and gaining greater
-enjoyment from the hobby.
+First off, Bdale and friends develop fully open hardware and software
+designs for rocketry avionics, under the name
+[Altus Metrum](http://altusmetrum.org).
-<iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=garbandgarb-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0471472425&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr&nou=1" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>
-<iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=garbandgarb-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=1412058104&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr&nou=1" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>
-<iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=garbandgarb-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0262632780&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr&nou=1" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>
+We also fly commercial altimeters in some projects. The cheapest off the
+shelf altimeter we've used and often recommend to beginners is the
+[Missile Works](http://www.missileworks.com/) RRC2-mini. At about $80, it
+gets the job done for simple barometric control of dual deployment. Note
+that while early versions had a firmware bug that we believe is at least
+partially responsible for Bdale's loss of his first L3 project, recent
+versions seem fine. For another $20, the
+[PerfectFlite](http://www.perfectflite.com/)
+[miniAlt/WD](http://www.perfectflite.com/catalog/MAWD.html)
+adds the ability to records the barometric flight altitude profile. Both
+of Bdale's L3 certs flew with one each of these two commercial altimeters,
+and we often use the MAWD as a backup for our
+[TeleMetrum](http://altusmetrum.org/TeleMetrum) units during test flights.
+
+The [BeeLine TX](http://www.bigredbee.com/BeeLine.htm) boards from Big Red
+Bee are radio tracking transmitters that just work. They require an
+[amateur radio](http://www.altusmetrum.org/Radio) license, but we think
+anyone flying big rockets can and should get one of those anyway!
+
+## Books ##
+
+While a lot of great information is available on the web, there are some paper
+books that we've found very helpful at various stages.
+
+* <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;" />
+ may be the best first book on model rocketry. While the focus is on small
+ rockets, the basic principles of static stability and construction covered
+ here are important at all levels of the hobby.
+
+* <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;" />
+ covers a lot of material, and is a great resource if you're starting to think
+ about a high power certification and don't have a club nearby, or just like
+ to read about how other people have done things and why.
+
+* [Topics in Advanced Model Rocketry](http://www.apogeerockets.com/topics_advanced_model_rocketry.asp) is definitely not for everyone, as it's heavy on
+ math and isn't a "how to" book at all! But, if you really want to understand
+ what's going on with higher performance models and/or inside the simulation
+ software we use when designing rockets, the material here will take you
+ a long way!