-# Garbee Rockets #
-
+<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
high power certification. Robert is [NAR](http://nar.org/) Jr member
87104.
-## Airframes ##
-
-### Bdale's L3 Projects ###
-
-* A custom rocket for NAR L3 certification, called
- [YikStik](airframes/yikstik). This rocket flew beautifully but a
- significant portion was lost and not recovered. Feel free to look through
- my [collection of photos](http://gallery.gag.com/rockets/yikstik/)
- from the build and flight.
+## [Airframes](airframes) ##
-* A second airframe for NAR L3 certification, this one based on a
- Polecat Aerospace [Goblin 10](airframes/goblin10) kit and capable of
- flying at more launch sites in Colorado. Flew on 15 November 2008 at the
- SCORE Hudson Ranch launch site on an Aerotech M1297W
- to 5953 feet AGL for a successful level 3 certification! See
- [photos by James Russell](http://picasaweb.google.com/jamesr2/StealeyMemorialLaunchSiteHudsonRanch)
- and a [Jeff Lane video](http://cosrocs.org/all%20other%20videos/2008videos/11-15hudson/bdale_L3.mov)
- of the flight! You can also have a look at my
- [photos of the build and flight](http://gallery.gag.com/rockets/goblin10/)
- from various contributors.
+## Photos ##
-### [The Rest of the Fleet](airframes) ###
+See some of our launch photos in Bdale's <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28636323@N03/">Flickr Photostream</a>.
## Clubs ##
[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!
projects / web / gag.com / blobdiff