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
-another, Bdale
-and Robert are the most serious and so most Garbee rocket projects end up
-being father and son affairs...
+another, Bdale and Robert are the most serious and so most Garbee rocket
+projects ended up being father and son affairs before Robert went off to
+college.
[Bdale](http://www.gag.com/~bdale) is
[NAR](http://nar.org/) Sr member 87103 and
[Tripoli](http://tripoli.org/) member 12201, and holds a level 3
-high power certification. Robert is [NAR](http://nar.org/) Jr member
-87104.
+high power certification. Robert is [NAR](http://nar.org/) Sr member
+87104 and [Tripoli](http://tripoli.org/) member 14036, and also holds a
+level 3 high power certification. Robert was one of the first kids to
+pass the [Tripoli Mentoring Program](http://www.tripoli.org/TMP)
+exam, and flew a lot of high power including a fair number of research
+motors in mentored projects before turning 18...
## [Airframes](airframes) ##
## Photos ##
-See some of our launch photos in Bdale's <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28636323@N03/">Flickr Photostream</a>.
-
-## Electronics ##
+See some of our launch photos in the [Garbee Gallery](http://gallery.gag.com/rockets/),
+and on
+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
models with!) local clubs
-[COSROCS](http://cosrocs.org/), which is
-[NAR](http://nar.org/) section #515,
-[SCORE](http://scronline.net), which is
-[NAR](http://nar.org/) section #632, and
-[NCR](http://ncrocketry.org), which is
-[NAR](http://nar.org/) section #565, and
-[Tripoli](http://www.tripoli.org/) Prefecture #72.
+[Tripoli Colorado](http://www.tripolicolorado.org/),
+[SCORE](http://scronline.net) (which is now dual-homed and also
+known as Tripoli Southern Colorado!), and
+[NCR](http://ncrocketry.org).
+
We have also flown with
-[Tripoli Colorado](http://www.tripolicolorado.org/) and
-[ARS](http://www.arsabq.org/).
+[ARS](http://www.arsabq.org/),
+[COSROCS](http://cosrocs.org/),
+[Kloudbusters](http://kloudbusters.org/),
+[Metra](http://metrarocketclub.org/),
+[NRVR](http://nrvr.org/),
+[NZRA](http://www.nzrocketry.org.nz/),
+[Oregon Rocketry](http://oregonrocketry.com),
+and
+[QRS](https://qldrocketry.com/).
## Vendors ##
[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.
+ responsive and helpful on the phone, so we'll happily buy things from
+ them that are in stock.
## Electronics ##
-Lots of people make electronics for use in hobby rockets. This is a brief
-list of only the things we've actually used ourselves.
-
-First off, Bdale and friends develop fully open hardware and software
-designs for rocketry avionics, under the name
-[Altus Metrum](http://altusmetrum.org).
-
-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!
+Bdale and friends develop fully open hardware and software designs for
+rocketry avionics, under the name [Altus Metrum](http://altusmetrum.org).
## Books ##
projects / web / gag.com / blobdiff