Pippen
19th February 2009, 02:51 PM
Welcome to TRF’s Beginner’s Forum, a place for newcomers to model rocketry. Whether you’re a student, adult, teacher, or youth leader, please feel free to ask your questions here—no matter how basic. And be sure and come back and post pictures of your completed rockets because we love pictures!
Where can I find a glossary of model rocketry terms and acronyms?
http://archive.rocketreviews.com/cgi-bin/resources/glossary.cgi
http://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?33514-Rocket-jargon/page1
What are the parts of a model rocket and how do they work?
http://www.apogeerockets.com/education/rocket_parts.asp
Don’t know where to begin? Here’s a simple overview of model rocketry to get you started:
(under construction)
What supplies and equipment are needed need for a first rocket?
Model rocket kits will have a list of needed supplies, so check the manufacturer’s recommendations! Ready-to-fly kits will need few additional supplies. A typical supply list for rocket kits that require construction might look like this:
Building
Model rocket kit (Skill Level 1 suggested for beginners)
Ruler
Pencil
Hobby knife (ie Exacto brand)
Scissors
Glue (such as Elmer’s Glue-All or yellow wood glue such as Titebond II or Elmer’s Carpenter’s Glue)
Sandpaper
Masking Tape
Some kits require plastic cement (Note: the non-toxic plastic cement will not hold!)
Finishing
Sanding sealer (inexpensive, low odor sanding sealers such as Delta Ceramcoat can be found in the craft paint section at Wal-Mart or hobby/craft stores)
Paint brush for sanding sealer
Masking tape (blue paint tape works better than regular masking tape)
Spray primer
Paints (usually spray paints, for best results use same brand as primer)
Launching
Engines—check the kit instructions for manufacturer’s recommendations. The lowest power (lowest letter) engines are suggested for first flights.
Recovery wadding, igniters and igniter plugs (all typically included in engine packs)
Launch Pad
Launch Rod
Launch Controller
Batteries for the launch controller
Where can I find “How –To” Videos?
Rocketry How-To Part 1: How Model Rockets Work
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYh1pWHoQXE&feature=channel_page
Rocketry How-To Part 2: Components of a Model Rocket
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kAkitKKKlA&feature=related
Rocketry How-To Part 3: Construction Techniques and Supplies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxQ7vGgXx5Y&feature=related
Rocketry How-To Part 4: Finishing the Rocket’s Fins
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS021hCT3LU&feature=related
Rocketry How-To Part 5: Assembling the Rocket
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4GLuSSyBWo&feature=related
Rocketry How-To Part 6: Painting the Completed Rocket
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQFx1qe6zww&feature=related
What should I take to a rocket launch?
http://rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?t=569
What do those letters and numbers (B6-4, C6-5, etc) on rocket engines mean?
Explanation: (under construction)
Flight diagram: http://www.fliskits.com/products/accessories/downloads/edp-005.pdf
What do I need to know about safety?
http://www.nar.org/NARmrsc.html
Where can I find reviews and tips on model rocket kits?
http://www.rocketreviews.com/cgi-bin/reviews/arcbuild.cgi?ArcList&&ArcList
Where can I find ideas for rocketry on a limited budget?
http://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?t=1086
http://www.rocketreviews.com/featured/story_featured20.shtml
http://www.howtobuildmodelrockets.20m.com/BudgetRocketryPage8.html
Where can I find others in my area to launch with?
National Association of Rocketry Clubs http://www.nar.org/NARseclist.php
Youth Rocketry Clubs w/ TRF member sponsors: http://rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?p=11337#post11337
Want to learn more? Check out these lists of model rocketry links compiled by TRF members (resources, vendors, organizations, etc) :
Member suggestions for beginners: http://rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?t=539
General: http://rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?t=110
Where can I find a glossary of model rocketry terms and acronyms?
http://archive.rocketreviews.com/cgi-bin/resources/glossary.cgi
http://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?33514-Rocket-jargon/page1
What are the parts of a model rocket and how do they work?
http://www.apogeerockets.com/education/rocket_parts.asp
Don’t know where to begin? Here’s a simple overview of model rocketry to get you started:
(under construction)
What supplies and equipment are needed need for a first rocket?
Model rocket kits will have a list of needed supplies, so check the manufacturer’s recommendations! Ready-to-fly kits will need few additional supplies. A typical supply list for rocket kits that require construction might look like this:
Building
Model rocket kit (Skill Level 1 suggested for beginners)
Ruler
Pencil
Hobby knife (ie Exacto brand)
Scissors
Glue (such as Elmer’s Glue-All or yellow wood glue such as Titebond II or Elmer’s Carpenter’s Glue)
Sandpaper
Masking Tape
Some kits require plastic cement (Note: the non-toxic plastic cement will not hold!)
Finishing
Sanding sealer (inexpensive, low odor sanding sealers such as Delta Ceramcoat can be found in the craft paint section at Wal-Mart or hobby/craft stores)
Paint brush for sanding sealer
Masking tape (blue paint tape works better than regular masking tape)
Spray primer
Paints (usually spray paints, for best results use same brand as primer)
Launching
Engines—check the kit instructions for manufacturer’s recommendations. The lowest power (lowest letter) engines are suggested for first flights.
Recovery wadding, igniters and igniter plugs (all typically included in engine packs)
Launch Pad
Launch Rod
Launch Controller
Batteries for the launch controller
Where can I find “How –To” Videos?
Rocketry How-To Part 1: How Model Rockets Work
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYh1pWHoQXE&feature=channel_page
Rocketry How-To Part 2: Components of a Model Rocket
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kAkitKKKlA&feature=related
Rocketry How-To Part 3: Construction Techniques and Supplies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxQ7vGgXx5Y&feature=related
Rocketry How-To Part 4: Finishing the Rocket’s Fins
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS021hCT3LU&feature=related
Rocketry How-To Part 5: Assembling the Rocket
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4GLuSSyBWo&feature=related
Rocketry How-To Part 6: Painting the Completed Rocket
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQFx1qe6zww&feature=related
What should I take to a rocket launch?
http://rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?t=569
What do those letters and numbers (B6-4, C6-5, etc) on rocket engines mean?
Explanation: (under construction)
Flight diagram: http://www.fliskits.com/products/accessories/downloads/edp-005.pdf
What do I need to know about safety?
http://www.nar.org/NARmrsc.html
Where can I find reviews and tips on model rocket kits?
http://www.rocketreviews.com/cgi-bin/reviews/arcbuild.cgi?ArcList&&ArcList
Where can I find ideas for rocketry on a limited budget?
http://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?t=1086
http://www.rocketreviews.com/featured/story_featured20.shtml
http://www.howtobuildmodelrockets.20m.com/BudgetRocketryPage8.html
Where can I find others in my area to launch with?
National Association of Rocketry Clubs http://www.nar.org/NARseclist.php
Youth Rocketry Clubs w/ TRF member sponsors: http://rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?p=11337#post11337
Want to learn more? Check out these lists of model rocketry links compiled by TRF members (resources, vendors, organizations, etc) :
Member suggestions for beginners: http://rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?t=539
General: http://rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?t=110