X-Git-Url: https://git.gag.com/?p=web%2Fgag.com;a=blobdiff_plain;f=rockets%2Findex.mdwn;h=84245da1b0a14fef574ebc2b6d54462534ceba6b;hp=0b286af175d26f9758b54c3c8ccdc2c227d5b8ba;hb=8466375721901894f34972bcb031e58acd834469;hpb=1ef8bbb7e04bb487734a85ce89b9235a0c1a12f1 diff --git a/rockets/index.mdwn b/rockets/index.mdwn index 0b286af..84245da 100755 --- a/rockets/index.mdwn +++ b/rockets/index.mdwn @@ -1,6 +1,7 @@ -# 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") + + +# 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 @@ -14,28 +15,11 @@ being father and son affairs... 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 Flickr Photostream. ## Clubs ## @@ -61,43 +45,85 @@ We have also flown with [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 Flickr Photostream. + 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 Topics in Advanced Model Rocketry 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). - - - +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. + +* Handbook of Model Rocketry, 7th Edition (NAR Official Handbook) + 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. + +* Modern High-Power Rocketry 2 + 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!