Where's Waldo Dave Weber?

Here's a nice panorama of Red Glare IX.  To find Dave, click the thumb, go to the 'actions' pull down menu, click 'view all sizes', and select the biggest one.

On-board video...from pumpkin chunkin'!

Check out this video from the pumpkin chunkin' event sponsored by the U.S. Space and Rockets Center in Huntsville.  Although the chunkers weren't the big dogs found at the World Championships, the event was a lot more accessible to the spectators.  About 10-seconds in begins the first ever (?) on-board video from a chunked pumpkin.  I found this pretty cool!

Red Glare IX: the ROCKETS albums

Start on the Friday page and the navigate forwards.

The official Red Glare IX album

MDRA's Red Glare IX album is up!  Take a look and check back often.

Those were the days, my friend

I cobbled this image together as part of Nick's retirement from EMRR.  It depicts some of the stuff I received through contests and as a helper of some nine years. Thanks, man, it was fun!

Roughly from the upper left and moving clockwise:

• Model Minutes G-200 Carrier
• ARA Press Spaceship Handbook
• Cognis Aerospace Lunar Lander (inset)
• PML Small Endeavour
• Semroc SLS Sky Hook
• DG&A Lazarus
• Madcow AQM-37 Jayhawk
• Apogee Model Rocket Design and Construction (inset)
• Essence Aerospace Technologies 18mm Lambda-Class Shuttle
• Heavenly Hobbies Backdraft
• THOY Snipe (below the Backdraft)
• QModeling Stiletto
• Model Minutes XFLR-7

And, in the middle: me, the unpainted Backdraft, and Nick.

Halloween 2010 in the Dungeon

I only got around to carving one of the three pumpkins that we bought and thought I'd post it for tradition sake.  I cut it early for my grandson, who loves this character (consider this a reader quiz).  The thin bands really didn't hold up and it will be in the trash before the big day.  The top smaller pumpkin was decorated with a sharpie.  Originally, I was going to carve it but I guess it will stay as is.

As usual, the web is full of cool Halloween projects, but I also didn't get around to collecting the links.  But you don't need the Dungeon to find them.  I had wanted a photo of the King Kong costume from today's Regis and Kelly show.  But, you guessed it - I couldn't find one.  It was awesome although you almost couldn't call it a costume.  Kong was huge (possibly 10-12 ft) animatronic bust of the famous ape. The wearer/operator sat is a basket held by Kong.  You'd need a trailer to trick-or-treat with that thing but it would make a most awesome lawn decoration.  If I run across a photo, I'll swipe it.

More Red Glare IX coverage

Bender! (before the hard left turn)

New EMRR extension site...have YOU voted yet?

Roger Smith, EMRR's new owner/operator, has rolled-out a website where he will add new features to EMRR. My.RocketReviews.com requires registration, but that isn't too big a deal and you can reuse your login info from the base site, if you have it. (I normally don't do this but my EMRR accounts/data aren't at all sensitive.)  In the initial release, Roger has implemented the voting system for the Rocket Video Contest - 2010.  As an incentive to signing up and voting, you will be entered in a raffle for a $25 certificate from JonRocket.  Can you say that about the mid-term voting next week? {If you can say that, please don't say it here :) }

It's good to see some activity since it's been almost 2 months since a review update!  It looks like Roger will be using some interesting web code.  The voting system doesn't use a simple check mark form as before.  Instead, there are buttons to move the actual videos up and down in rank. Vote, and let me know what you think of this method.

I dream of Genie

Here's one launched from one of my favorite aircraft, the F104 Starfighter. Check out the interesting retractable launch mechanism and that huge plume! 



And this has some interesting footage too.



OK, I couldn't resist adding my favorite genie, Jeannie.

Practice Genie round on trailer

Practice Genie round on trailer, originally uploaded by wbaiv.

Couldn't resist another photo of the Genie. Someday, I gotta build one of these. A smaller one of course. I wonder how hard it would be to convert a real one for flight? I know I could find an MDRA'er to build the motor :)

Some Red Glare 9 videos

Al Gloer has loaded his videos to YouTube.  Here's one to whet your whistle - Tom Hier's 95% Harpoon on three experimental 'M' motors!.

Red Glare 9 gallery

_MG_4566.jpg, originally uploaded by Nick DeBrita.

Click through for the rest...

How the Rocket Boys of Buffalo were funded by NIH

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) isn't known for its rocket work, but it appears they did have a pivotal role in one amateur space program.  In February, 1957, Terrence Boylan sent a funding request to the NIH.  His father was a medical researcher funded by NIH, so the clever 9 year old asked for $10 so he and his friend could build a rocket ship.  As unlikely as it sounds, the proposal was presented to the National Health Advisory Council by the Chief of the Division of Research Grants, Ernest M. Allen, ScD.  The proposal obviously didn't meet the agency's research crititeria but Allen and his Council were so impressed that they fulfilled Terrence's request personally.  The whole interesting story can be found here: Shining Lady in the Sky. (hat tip to Royatl)

Run for the hills, Chicken Little, the Ballistic Chicken will be flying soon!

Yesterday, this oddly marked tube arrived in the mail.  It included a customs declaration, ominous 'ID RECORDED' stickers, and some hefty postage.  The content's included a beta version of the Ballistic Chicken rocket kit from I Build Rockets. I Build Rockets is operated out of Australia by Sascha Grant.  The kit, with its chicken head cone is right up my alley!  

I won't be able to work on it for a bit but, as you see, couldn't resist opening it and fondling the parts.  It is basically a 3FNC rocket so the build will be straightforward.  The 18mm mount includes the normal stuff - tube, rings, block, and hook.  The fins and launch lug standoff are all laser cut, which is really nice because of the feather patterned fin set.  The chute is Mylar and there is an elastic cord with the venerable tri-fold mount.  A water slide decal is also provided.

I didn't know what to expect for the cone but am really happy with it. I don't know how Sascha built it, but it's a full cone with a nice shoulder and integrated hook.  And the chicken looks nice and goofy too :)

Sascha was good enough to include a couple of his site's calling cards, which are a 2-part acrylic 'rocket' resembling a V2.  These are too cute. I think he should offer them to others (with their web site on them, of course).  One of mine will likely end up residing on the tip of a small flying rocket.

So, thanks a million, Sascha!

PS -  I'm not exactly sure about the Vegemite :)

npr in the news

Now, this is a story I can sink my teeth into! You weren't expecting that other story, were you? (If you've had your head stuck in the end of your rocket or have been hanging out on a farm for the last week, just ignore the 2nd sentence.)

Jetting toward space

New start-up, NanoLauncher, plans to use 'recycled' military jets to launch rockets with suborbital/orbital payloads.  The general idea is not new, but I was not aware of a commercial company proposing it.  More on Space.com. (Image credit: SpaceWorks Engineering, Inc. (SEI) and IHI Aerospace Co., Ltd.)

Not two, but three Saturn 1B's appeared at Red Glare

Events not to be discussed here prevented me from attending Red Glare IX.  However, my rocket buddy Warthog promised to send photos for me to post.  He reported that Steve Eves 1:9 scale model was standing majestically on its gantry.  Vern Hoag's was there too, less paint.  In addition, Steve had a 1:27 scale 1B to test out the staging and fin deployment mechanisms on the big one. MDRA member Brett Keller already has some reports up.

• Steve Eves' Saturn 1B (includes shots of Vern's)
• Steve Eves' (Other) Saturn 1B - Includes a flight report.  Here's the one liner:  A K1275R was staged to a J800T.  Staging worked, fins deployed, the laundry didn't come out.
• On Flicker: 1:9 Saturn 1B ... 1:27 Saturn 1B

I decided to embed one of Brett's photos and will post more when I get Warthog's photos. Meanwhile, check out Brett's stuff, it's worth the read.

DIY rocketeer backpack

Instructables shows you how to make this rocketeer backpack from trash.  Better photos of the actual pack are included...

MAKE: DIY Space

Yesterday, I mentioned that MAKE had posted about Steve Eves' 1:10 scale Saturn V.  Today (barely today, EST) and at my suggestion, they have a follow-on post about Steve and Vern Hoag's Saturn 1B's. 

I noticed the attached badge was appended to each of these posts but when I first clicked on it, the page barfed up an error.  Well, tonight it seems to be working and leads to all their posts about DIY Space.  Yeah, the Saturns didn't and won't go anywhere near space but certainly represent milestones in amateur rocketry and should motivate people who will get to space.  And, they are awesome!

Virtual and physical status reports

Since I didn't immediately see any actual rocket news this AM and I'm not actively building anything at the moment, I thought I'd do my part to raise the noise level on the Internet.  So, here's a quick status on both the virtual and physical Dungeons.

In the virtual world, MAKE magazine featured an article on Steve Eves' 1:10 scale Saturn V, which flew majestically in April 2009: 1/10th scale Saturn V rocket takes off!.  This article featured a short blurb, three embedded videos, and a link to one of my posts! (Steve Eves' Saturn V ROCKED Maryland's Eastern Shore)  This reference pushed yesterday's daily page views to 1,112.  I thought this might have been a record, but when I looked back at the history, I saw a spike of 1,277, 1,111, and 1,314 between April 25 and April 27, 2009.  Yup, those are also due to my post on the Saturn V launch.  While I was happy to see this spike, it won't have a significant, if any, impact on my on-going readership.  And looking at it from another viewpoint, MAKE probably has hundreds of thousands of on-line readers (they have that many followers on Face Book alone) so getting 600 or so hits above normal isn't that amazing. 

As for the physical Dungeon, I have been mulling over all the stalled projects lying around.  I almost got started on the upscale 38mm Whirlygig.  I'd like to mount a timer in one end with the G-switch in the direction of rotation.  Unfortunately, I had build fever and mounted the fins before thinking through the whole project.  Now, I find there isn't room to mount the timer (given I'm going to use the one I have).  I'm not throwing in the towel yet but I'm not holding out much hope.  I don't want to rebuild from scratch and may yet rely on motor ejection, hoping a 4 second delay will get the laundry out in time.  Well, that can't be worse than flying with no recovery system...although it might be identical!

A pair of 1:9 scale Saturn 1B's

I see that Steve Eves' and Vern Hoag's Saturn 1B's are slated to be on display at Red Glare IX this coming weekend. Attached is a shot of Steve's from Red Glare VIII last spring.  I hope to get plenty of photos of both of them.

Although smaller than his Saturn V (a mere 24' tall and 600lbs), the 1B is arguably more complex since it is staged and features deployable fins on the sustainer.   I don't know if I posted it before, but ROCKETS Magazine has a page dedicated to the Saturn 1B Projects. (As usual, follow the tag below to see my previous posts.)

A Little Joe II for those who hate to build towers

Under a General Dynamics/NASA proposal, the Little Joe II/Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) would have boosted an Apollo LEM to close to 200,000' where the descent engines could be tested in near vacuum and zero-G conditions.  This interesting configuration featured an interesting, bulbous payload section and, obviously, no escape tower.  The LJ II/LEM was wind tunnel tested with two different nose shrouds as shown in the attached diagram [1].  One source [2] indicates that the configuration was proved to be feasible, while another [3] indicates it was found to be unstable without the addition of larger fins.  Either way, the concept was scrapped in favor of a orbital, Saturn 1B-boosted test.  I like fat rockets and this is on my short list of future builds (but, it's been there a long time). More scale data can be found in ref. [4].

[1] Rogers, Charles, Apollo Little Joe II, High Power Rocketry, Vol. 13 No. 6, August 1998, p. 79, 82, 84.
[2] Data and Analysis of an 0.03 Scale Model of a Little Joe II/LEM Configuration (Langley 8-Foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel Test No. 288), Convair Report GDC-63-243, December 1963.
[3] Little Joe II, Encyclopedia Astronautica.
[4] Harris, C. D., Luoma, A. A., Static longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of a hammerhead-shaped Little Joe II - Lunar module model at Mach 0.30 to 1.2,  NASA-TN-D-4139, Langley Research Center, October 1967.

JIT bacon recipes

Just in time to insure that there is a bacon post on my top page, a reader sent me Yahoo Shine's Best Bacon Recipes, all guaranteed to make your mouth water.  Well, assuming that you like, as I do, the ancillary ingredients like beef, eggs, jalapeno, blue cheese, etc.  My mouth would have watered more if I hadn't just polished off some bacon rashers with a side of pancakes.

I'm starting to have mixed emotions about bacon joining rocket girls as the top draws on whats supposed to be a sport rocketry blog.  Oh well.

Rocket launch probabilities

I was looking forward to this weekend's NARAMS launch but it looks like life has gotten in the way.  P_L=0. I also feel bad for the rest of the club because the weather report is saying the winds will likely scrub it anyway.  Time to replan for Red Glare the following week.  I originally had thought I couldn't attend but now the chances are good.  P_L=0.75.  I'd hate to tempt Murphy by rating it higher but it's time to plan the fleet, both with and without by pending BMS order.

This is what I would have taken out tomorrow:

1. Art Applewhite Max-Q (beta) on 2 x E9-4 - 
2. Art Applewhite Max-Q (beta) on 4 x Estes C6-3 -
3. Art Applewhite Max-Q (beta) on 7 x A3-4 -
4. Hermes A-1 on a Quest B6-4 - 
5. Semroc V-2 on a Quest B6-4 - 
6. Semroc Little Joe 2 on a Quest B6-4 - 
7. Boot Hill on a C11-3 - 
8. Half-Spool Jack-o-Lantern on an Quest C6-3 - This oddroc was designed for the 20mm Quest D5's so  I made an adapter plug from a spent D5 and wrapped the C6 in some card stock.
9. Hat of Death on an E9-4 - 
10. First Flight Corn-Roc on a Quest C6-3 - 
11. Estes Patriarch on a Quest C6-5 -
12. MRC Iron Man on a C11-3 - 

A rocket matrix

IMG_0025, originally uploaded by ah7925.

A neat view of the mass launch at SHAC JAM October 9, 2010. Well, technically not of the launch itself, but still cool.

Little Joe II - pre-flight landing damage (stupid rocket tricks #16 & #17)

This model in jinxed.  I think I mentioned that I dropped the LJ II twice during construction.  That number is up to four.  Event number three (and SRT #16) was the capsule only. After painting, the capsule wouldn't come off.  Because it is card stock, I couldn't grab it firmly and was worried about twisting the tower.  So, I got a dowel and gently tapped from the bottom up.  Well, out came the capsule core, leaving the cardboard ring and shoulder.  There is some good news here. When I put it back on, I adjusted out most of the tower misalignment.  Later, I dropped the whole thing again and popped a fin. (SRT #17 - don't drop rockets on floor.)  The fins are glued onto the paper corrugated shroud.  Either the shroud lifted internally or it lifted the top layer of the tube.  I assume it was the prior.  This was easy to fix, but I foresee similar pops on actual flight recovery.  Hopefully, I will find out at this weekend's NARHAMS launch.

First free glide of the VSS Enterprise (the first SpaceShipTwo)

High Power Rocketry magazine, September 1999 (featuring a rocket Safari and MDRA history)

Yesterday, I pulled out a random back issue of High Power Rocketry...and it was one of my favorites.  This is mainly because of the features on the 'Safari' launches. I also found a report from Maryland Tripoli's May 1999 launch.  More on these later. The other featured articles in include:

• Kimberly Harms' "Out of Harms Way" (also featured in the Crash and Burn special issue) - This is a set of tips on HPR flying with a safety angle.
• One of Ed Miller's excellent articles on "Rocket Art Part 3, Color Coats" - Ed wrote a long series for HPR mag, continued in Extreme Rocketry (now out of print), and IIRC is now in Sport Rocketry.  I say 'excellent' mostly due to the results displayed.  Ed uses airbrushes and automotive paints so much of the content is lost on me.
• A report on Thunder in the Desert Southwest regional Sport Launch 1999.  This southern New Mexico launch featured some large HPR birds made from foam and remains an inspiration to this oddroc-eteer.

Three 'features' are dedicated to reports from the 'Safari' launches - a set of indy  launches that were held in the Black Rock desert.  I read about these in my nascent HPR career and couldn't put the issue down.  They offer a good look at what it is like to camp out and launch in the Black Rock desert and featured cool projects.  These included lots of research motors, including three micrograin flights. I still drool over the 2" diameter, 6.5' long, 29 lb, steel rocket.  Not that I'd ever fool with zinc/sulfur motors but how could you not love an L18,523!  Since the micrograin prep area was a mile from the launch site, I'd say they respected this volatile mixture.  There was also an attempt at a clustered, staged hybrid project with three Hypertek J205's in the booster and three AeroTech J211's in the sustainer. The dual stage version failed on the pad but the sustainer was saved and later flew successfully. (The rocket owners, Sue McMurray and Becky Green are featured on the cover.)

There is also a fairly long launch report on Tripoli Maryland (before there was a MDRA) by Bob Utley.  Several currently active MDRA members are featured, including Neil McGilvray, Dave Webber, Kathy Gilliand, Fred Wallace and, of course, Tommy Higgs and his 'Road Kill Cafe'.  Neil was slumming it back then with mere 'K' flights.  Dave logged flight 100 on his Tuber.  I don't know what Tuber's flight count is now, but it hit 220 flights at this past July's launch!  Kathy was already flying colorful rockets and Fred certified Level-3.  In addition, then prefect Dave Bullis set history with MDRA's first 'N' flight.  This launch was 6 months before I first headed to the Eastern Shore and got my Cert-1. 

O say can you see...3200 rockets

Yesterday, October 9, 2010, at SHAC Jam, the Sam Houston Area Council's celebration of the 100th anniversary of scouting, the scouts pushed the button on a mass launch of 3,200 modrocs.   Unofficially,
3,130 worked, breaking the previous record of 965!

Post mortem on "The Rocket Project"

Well, I must say I was impressed with the project and the show.  The kids did a lot of work under the supervision of some talented amateur sport rocketeers. They did more that I had expected, working on everything from aerodynamics to grain design. As everyone knew, the involvement of Sony and Intel was largely PR fluff.  Sure, the team used their computers, but any modern PC would have done the trick. 

Also, we knew the first flight failed.  A 3 x 'P' motor cluster staged to another 'P' isn't easy, in fact, it is rocket science.  The second vehicle fared better breaking mach 2 and hitting 100K ft. If you follow the tags you'll find a lift-off shot and there is a YouTube video out there too.

Almost forgot.  The closing title says " Tom Atchison plans to replicate this program at 28 schools internationally."  Cool.

DVR alert: The Rocket Project

The Rocket Project is airing on Discovery Science Channel at 9PM EST.

Eight high school students begin a journey to design, build and launch a rocket out of the stratosphere. As inevitable delays and mechanical troubles set in, even a healthy dose of support and know-how may not be enough to get the rocket off the ground.

Methinks this is the Sony Project, which was flew in early August.

{BTW, here is my brief report on the show.}

Variations on a theme

TRF just opened a new forum section for rocket Galleries.  These are organized by kit type (e.g. Fliskits Deuce's Wild!) or scale subject (e.g. V-2).  The latter will include all renditions of that type or rocket.  These galleries will include stock kits, scratch builds, up- and down-scales, and even 'goonie' versions all in one place.  Right now, the list isn't too big but, when it gets huge, you can always look at the index post.  So, take a look-see and add yours.  Here's the full set of guidelines (no permit required).

Bacon week in DC

We don't venture into the city to eat, but I am about as tempted as ever.  Via DCist:

Back by popular demand, bacon week will return to Restaurant 3 on October 14 and run through the 21st.

Wash your "Bacon Explosion" down with a "Bacon Bloody Mary." And while your are at it, stay for free classes, which provided a "general bacon education".

What Chris does when he isn't making Odd'l Rockets

Chris is the owner of Odd'l Rockets, a rocketry blogger, and an all around great modeler.  This is what he does with the rest of his time.

Little Joe II - stick a fork in it

Well, here it is in probably its best view.  I am not really happy with it but, it is what it is.  The white is Krylon white, the silver is Rusoleum Titanium Metalflake, the black trim is vinyl pin striping, the bottom of the escape motor is brush-on Testors.   The final insult is that one of the 'United States' decals strips stuck in place prematurely so it's a tad wavy.  It still needs a clear coat and I need to build the 'chute. Since I don't like it much, I'm going to use a single 'chute.  If something breaks, I'll glue it back on.

Visit the Victorian Space Age to bring out the steampunk in your designs

I caught this link via TRF.  Victorian Space Age is dedicated to 19-century sci-fi, including Jules Verne and  H.G. Wells.  Just another potential source of design motivation for the ol' links list.

Little Joe II - Frankenstein style

No, I didn't go bonkers and decide to paint it in a Halloween motif.  However, the finish job will be a 'parts is parts' mishmash of (per ROTW):

• From the wraps down it will basically be the QTV (i.e. silver with the USA decals).  ROTW doesn't show the black stripes specified in the instructions, so I'm not putting them on. It does show white fins in one view.  Mine will be all silver.  So, this part itself is a mixture.
• The upper body will have the stock decals but will be white. This pattern may be the same as the others but I'd have to hold them in by grubby paws at the same time I have ROTW open.
• The capsule will be per round A-001 with the BP-12 capsule.  But, with the vanes that appeared on the QTV. 
• The abort motor will be per round A-004/Spacecraft 002.

Priming and tower rework is in progress.  Now, I see why EVERY other builder said NOT to use anything but CA on the tower.  Can you say glue blobs?

Hobby Lobby report

I went by the Hobby Lobby in Columbia, MD today.  They stocked Estes motors from 1/2A through E9 and a small number of kits.  Fewer kits than I expected, but more than Michael's ever did.  However, they only had a few packs of each motor type and in several cases only one.  I grabbed some A3-4's for the Art Applewhite Max-Q and a pack each of E9-4's and E9-6's...and the shelves were bare (at least of those). I didn't see any bulk packs. 

The prices were not great. $9 for the A3'a and $20 for the E9's.  However, all rocket items were 30% off during their opening week.  This week, they also have single-item, 25% coupons of FaceBook and claimed they had 40% coupons via their email list.  They also said they were accepting competitor's coupons, up to 40% off, this week only.  I thought people on the forums said their stores always accepted those coupons, possibly subject to Hobby Lobby limitations (no custom items, etc.). Oh well, maybe they will refine this policy.


The store is humongous and they have a lot more of everything than Michael's.  I resisted the urge to pick up tons of Halloween-related paraphernalia. I did grab some white Krylon for the Little Joe II.  It's the 'new' Krylon (ptui!).  But I needed some white, I was there, and they did accept an A.C. Moore coupon for it.

LJ II status and question

For better or worse (and leading towards worse), the tower is all together and installed.  The abort motor nozzles are being installed as I speak.  I think I can pick one angle that won't show off how crooked everything is.  Some of this is inherent tower misalignment and some occurred when I fumbled it.  It hit the dirt twice, not once, twice, during final assembly.  Only then did the much feared cussing begin. (And, it had nothing to do with Chris, whose posts were very helpful.  Or adult beverages for that matter.  Hey, maybe if I drank before and during every build I'd have an excuse.  Back to the scheduled channel...)

At any rate, parts have been reinstalled, extra dings have been filled, and it will be ready for priming later in the week.  I'm going with the more typical paint scheme (silver on the bottom, white on the top).  I'll use the stock decals and add some black trim to the capsule and tower, IF I don't leave the pretty printed capsule as is.  None of the capsules actually flown on the LJ II, boilerplate or not, looked like this.  But it is cute.  So, the question to you is: leave the decorated wrap or make it look more like the real thing and paint it white?.I can't decide and probably will flip flop until I actually HAVE to decide.

Amateur space balloons are easier than amateur space rockets

Make:blog brings yet another story of an amateur spaceflight. A father and son team from Brooklyn, NY sent their spacecraft to around 100,000'. The vehicle was a 19-inch helium balloon and the payload was an HD camcorder, GPS enabled phone, and a couple of hand warmers. There have been several similar projects lately. What I find interesting is that getting to 100k' isn't the hard part.  The hard part is recovery and these cheap GPS phones seem to be the enabling technology.  I was also surprised that after encountering 100+mph winds at times, that the payload was recovered only 30mi. away.  Finally, I note that none of these teams discussed their FAA waiver.


Homemade Spacecraft from Luke Geissbuhler on Vimeo.

Little Joe II - tower construction has begun! (updated)

So far so good.  I cut all the dowels required for the main struts.  I carefully laid them out in order off to the side.  The kit includes template guides as shown in the photo.  The instructions have you pin them down during assembly. I pinned them to scrap foam board and added extra pins at the ends of each vertical member.  Once the Tightbond Trim and Molding glue is dry on the perpendicular cross-pieces (as shown), I'll add the diagonal pieces.  These will then be inserted into the laser cut alignment jig.  The side struts will be also be assembled using the template and then added to the tower assembly.

Update: Things started well but headed south shortly thereafter.  My current feeling is the tower isn't hard to do poorly.  Also, there isn't enough thin dowel.  Grrr.

Raygun Gothic Rocketgirl #9 - #13

Cassandra Photo Shoot, originally uploaded by HeRM:P P h o t o g r a p H y.

The Raygun Gothic Rocketship and rocket girls are two of my blog's most popular themes. Now, if one of the rocket girls would pose wearing bacon, I'd have the perfect storm of blog themes. Click through to access #'s 10 - 13.

On another note, it looks like the builders left of the upper rail button. (Only actual rocketeers have a chance of seeing any humor in this comment.)

MD Hobby Lobby alert

Although the corporate web site says they aren't open until Monday, they announced on FaceBook that they opened today (Friday).

9031 Snowden Square Drive
Columbia, MD 21046
(410) 290-0845

3333 Corrider Marketplace
Laurel, MD 20724
(301) 490-2170

Jedi Masters Verna and Randy take a new Padawan

Congratulations to Verna and Randy on the latest addition to their 'fleet' - their new rocket baby, Luke.  I trust Luke will be well trained in the ways of the force...and design, construction.and recovery too!

While there, check out their report on paying forward, Part 2 of the AltimeterOne review, and paranormal research into the newly released Estes Saturn V.

Little Joe II - thoughts on the paint scheme (updated, already)

Looking quickly on-line, I basically see 2 variants - one with the bottom 2/3 or so silver and the top section/capsule white (excluding trim items), and one with the whole body silver and a white capsule.

The cover art appears to be solid white. And the instructions say the whole body and capsule are silver, with a white tower.

I'm leaning towards the first option mentioned above - only painting the lower area, from the wraps down, silver.

I also hit my first goof (as opposed to merely mediocre workmanship).  I built the capsule without looking back at the main set of instructions, which reminds you to built it with the supplied wrap inside out.  So, mine currently is an operational versions complete with all the trim.  Somewhere, I read the last LJ II boosted an actual capsule, so I guess I could leave it..  Luckily the fix is easy...paint over it!

Update:  This is what ROTW has to say:

• The Qualification Test Vehicle (QTV) -  The wraps were silver as were one 1/2-quadrant of the top section and capsule.  The rest was white.  Oh, and the faces of the fins on the white quadrant were also white. So, this doesn't match the Semroc-recommended scheme.
• A-001/Spacecraft BP-12 - Lower section from the wraps down were silver and the rest was white. I'm leaning towards this one even though the supplied decals are not accurate for this round.
• A-004/Spacecraft 002 - The basic pattern as the previous.  Lots of trim differences (black rectangles, etc.).  The motor compliment was different and there were additional fairings at the fin roots.  The actual capsule was not painted like the operational versions.

Nice BALLS video montage

Pharaoh's snake (or the spawn from hell?)

Check out the creepy alien life form that grows when you burn Mercury(II) thiocyanate. Well, it's not actually living, but it is creepy. I wondered if that is what is in fireworks snakes and checked Wikipedia.  It appears Mercury(II) thiocyanate was the 'classic formula' but the newer snakes use something less toxic. (as seen on MAKE Mag)

Little Joe II dowel sanding

Woohoo, sanding the dowels wasn't that bad.  I used a different method than Chris did.  I have not doubt that my dowels have some flattened spots but I'm sure they are close enough!  I laid them on my cabinet door/sawhorse workbench and sanded as I rolled them slowly along.  I sanded about 60% of the dowel at a time with sweeps towards the end. Then you flip them end-to-end and repeat.   I snagged the tip of the second one and pulled a small sliver off, so this became one of the thinner ones.  All-and-all, not too bad...and no cussing.

Meanwhile, the fins are being installed. I added tick marks on the inside of the body tube in-line with the fin alignment lines.  When this is centered on the fat part of the fin and the pointy end is right on the mark, you have perfect alignment.

The tower is built and the three balsa cones/transitions are being sealed with Fill'n'Finish.

TGIF!

I blame Chris (my first LJ II post)

At least I will some time tomorrow.  That is, after reading and enjoying his detailed posts on the Semroc Little Joe II, I decided to start mine.  The body is moving along well and really wasn't too bad - typical Semroc motor mount, a couple of body wraps and built up fins.  This was slightly challenging and fun.  By the end of tomorrow, it will be ready for paint.  Where the cussing Chris will come in is that I actually decided, despite my ranting to the contrary, will sand the stinking dowels to spec.  I'm going to reference his posts, so any problems I encounter will be his fault! (And if all goes well, I suppose he should get the credit.)