Launch Reports

Here's an attempt to capture some of our earlier launches and my 2021 re-launch of the hobby.
I will continue to update this page as I get additional pictures organized from old launches.

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3D printing a rocket no longer produced using OpenRocket

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Well, I finally decided to try merging my software skills with my new toy to try to recreate an out-of-production rocket, the 37 inch tall Estes Maxi Brute Honest John  (available 1975-1983; on page 31 of the Estes catalog at  https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0686/0220/0369/files/Estes_1975_Catalog.pdf ).  The nose cone is unique and no longer available, so I decided to try to take advantage of a new feature in OpenRocket version 23.09 that allows the export of parts of a rocket as an .OBJ file, suitable for 3D printing.  The OpenRocket team put together a great tutorial describing the process.   Luckily for me, someone posted a RockSim file for the Maxi Brute Honest John on RocketReviews.com in 2010, and OpenRocket supports the import of RockSim .rkt files so I thought I'd give it a try. OpenRocket displays the nose cone in two parts, a cone and a "transition" that inserts into the body tube.  Selecting each part in the OpenRocket design then choosing File/ExportAs al
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Resurrecting my X-15 with my scratch STRETCH X-15

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Back when I used to launch rockets with my kids, I built a model from scratch of an Estes X-15 (here's my old fleet ).  It flew great the first time , but on the second flight , the shock cord must have burned through because all I ever recovered was the nose cone and parachute.  I always like the looks of that rocket, partly because of its role in getting astronauts ready for spaceflight, and kept going back to look at the plans on Jim Z‘s site .  I finally decided to build a new one, starting from the nose cone I recovered.  I printed the plans , cut fins from 3/8" balsa wood (more on that in a moment), cut the body tube (BT-60, 1.637" diameter), glued the fins together on wax paper, brushed them with wood filler and sanded them to get ready for assembly. I decided to use some epoxy putty to make a "cockpit" on the nose cone and plan to use Kevlar to avoid having the next shock cord burn through. After gluing the fins together on wax paper, I coated them with
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Building my SpaceX BFR

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 I've always admired the retro look of the SpaceX rockets but didn't want to pay $150 for the ready-to-fly SpaceX Falcon 9 model from Estes.  When browsing Thingiverse I came across a f lying version of the Starship Super-Heavy by jsheedy , previously known as the SpaceX "BFR" (let's go with " Big Flying Rocket ").   The author provided files to 3D print the "BFR" nose cone, transition and fins designed to take my favorite 2.6" diameter body tube (BT-80).  I used some modifications made by jgutz20 on Thingiverse , allowing just the Starship to be a rocket by itself without needing a booster stage.   Starship BT-80 Full by jgutz20 on Thingiverse , not mine! I printed jgutz20's nose cone, which includes modifications attach a parachute and shock cord and 3D printed launch lugs, along with other parts from jsheedy (below), then built an OpenRocket simulation file based on their weights and fin shape to ensure its stability and pred
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