Bogus Tips & Alternate Facts

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Measure it with a micrometer.

Mark it with chalk.

Cut it with an axe.

If you don't have chalk, magic marker, whiteboard marker, powdered burnt propellant, or spray paint work just as well.

If you don't have an axe, try using a chainsaw, flamethrower, belt sander, brick, or running it over with your car.
 
If you don't have chalk, magic marker, whiteboard marker, powdered burnt propellant, or spray paint work just as well.

Dang, I was thinking a paint roller would work.

FH02APR_ROLLTE_01.JPG
 
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Cutting fins with a scissors leaves a splintery edge that's excellent for gluing.
 
The CG should be well back. That way, when you balance the rocket midway along the body, the tail will point down, which is where you want it pointing during flight.

Fins - who needs them? The Trident missile flies perfectly well without them, and if that's good enough for a rocket on which the nation's security depends then it's good enough for yours as well.

There's no need for a full countdown. "Ready, steady, go" is perfectly acceptable. So is "Hey y'all, watch this". But "Hold my beer" is not - you should have handed the beer to someone before you took the launch controller, which is why there's now beer all over the launch controller.

Or, for preference, drink the lot before going near the launch controller. If the rocket is more stable and more vertically upright than you, then it will be fine, which means you need to have plenty of beer inside you so that you are less stable than the rocket.

LCO's checklist:
1. Has the rocket been verified stable in a simulator?
2. Has it been swing-tested?
3. Does it look interesting?
4. Did the owner give you one of his beers?
If the answer to any of these is "yes", let it fly.
 
Static test each motor before use.

Test each igniter for firing current before use.

Test each BP ejection charge for compatibility before use.

Test all electronics for maximum current before use.

Test all fins for shear strength before use.

Test the airframe for crush strength before use.

Test all wadding, parachute protectors, reusable wadding and baffles for flame resistance before use.

Test all reloadable casings for puncture strength before use.

Test all nose cones for crush strength before use.

Test all paper parts for flame resistance before use.

Test all plastic parts for melting point before use.

Test all cables for tensile strength before use.

Test fiberglass parts for compressive strength before use.

Test motor hooks and motor retainers for malleability before use.

Test all glues for drying or curing time before use.

Test all cutting tools for dulling time before use.

Test all shear pins for shear strength before use.

Test all blast deflectors for burn through time before use.

Test all launch sites for flammability before use.

Test all launch rods and rails for malleability before use.

Test launch lugs for screwdriver compatibility before use.

Test rail guides for attachment strength before use.

Test all extinguishers for duration and capability on a testing fore before use.

Test all shock cords and shroud lines for tensile strength before use.

Test all parachutes for flame resistance before use.

Test barrel swivels for hammer resistance before use.

Test eyelets for tensile strength before use.

Test all paper towels for grime cleaning ability before use.

Test all balsa for crush strength before use.

Test all centering rings and engine blocks for plasma torch cut resistance before use.

Test all fillets for maximum hold strength before use.

Test all launch pads for maximum rocket weight before use.

Test all trees for rocket grabbing ability before use.

Test all spray paints for paint volume before use.

Test all fillers for drying time before use.

Test all clear parts for permanent clouding before use.

Test finished rockets for ballistic re-entry before use.



Test all the above tips for validity... after use.
 
LCO's checklist:
1. Has the rocket been verified stable in a simulator?
2. Has it been swing-tested?
3. Does it look interesting?
4. Did the owner give you one of his beers?
If the answer to any of these is "yes", let it fly.

5. Will it be a heads up launch?
6. Does it follow at least 1 of the NAR safety code rules?
7. Is the motor big enough for the field?
8. Do you like the rocket's owner?
9. Are you being bribed?
10. Are you in a bomb suit?
 
Destructive testing can lead to many more hours of enjoyable building

Hotels / Motels at major launches always have extra rooms..
 
To quickly build your rocket, hot melt glue works great.
We once had an entire Civil Air Patrol group show up at a launch and every one of them had used hot glue to attach the fins. What a mess.
 
Always keep your fingernails nice and long while working with balsa parts.

:bang:

Especially the lightweight "competition" balsa!
:facepalm:

X-Acto knives are great for flush trimming paint and excess decal off of fins! The blade never strays from the intended path!
 
Don't bother to scan (with a ruler) the fins (in the matrix, or out of it) and decals of your old eBay scores or bother to document the thickness. Everything you could possibly want has already been archived.

Forget about your rocket's hang tags and face cards, they don't have any valuable information on them, and can't possibly ever be useful.

And instructions? Go ahead and cut them up for the fin alignment guides, and tri-fold mounts without scanning them first. Who would possibly ever want to see instructions after you build your rocket?
 
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To prevent loose wires near your recovery harness and ejection charge holders, just run a slow-burning fuse to them out a vent hole and light it before they close the range.
 
A Metalstorm motor is a really good choice on a windy day, in tall dry grass, while temperatures are above 90 degrees F (and humidity is low).
 
Scared your ejection charge is too wimpy? Stuff the tube with flash powder!
 
Just clone this and you're set!
duG8PUN.jpg
https://imgur.com/duG8PUN Stamped out serial number?
duG8PUN.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Pe4qft2.jpg
6mJDWiG.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/6mJDWiG.jpg


nvyfhyJ.jpg
https://imgur.com/nvyfhyJ Bottom


NcNFZt0.jpg
middle to bottom

mDYuQxt.jpg

mDYuQxt.jgp
https://i.imgur.com/mDYuQxt.jpg middle to top.

Im leaning away from the APFSDS (armor piercing fin stabilizing discarding sabot) round. I just looks too old to be one and the weight and shape aren't right.
Im leaning away from the APFSDS (armor piercing fin stabilizing discarding sabot) round. I just looks too old to be one and the weight and shape aren't right.

Pre 1960 were people making their own hobby rockets out of steel?
Possibly this piece would have came down on a parachute and the back half would have been separated at the apex of the flight. It would have been at least twice as long and considering the material, it would have stood at least 3 foot tall in order to have enough propellant to lift it up. Thoughts on that?


Pre 1960 were people making their own hobby rockets out of steel?
Possibly this piece would have came down on a parachute and the back half would have been separated at the apex of the flight. It would have been at least twice as long and considering the material, it would have stood at least 3 foot tall in order to have enough propellant to lift it up. Thoughts on that?
 
Start a thread about bogus tips and put it in the "Beginners & Educational Programs" forum where a newbie would never confuse it for actual good advice, instead of the "Watering Hole" where it should probably be. :confused2:
 
To get a flame effect in your paint job, hold a lit match in front of your paint gun while spraying lacquer.
 
Start a thread about bogus tips and put it in the "Beginners & Educational Programs" forum where a newbie would never confuse it for actual good advice, instead of the "Watering Hole" where it should probably be. :confused2:
Well, you can see what not to do...
I mean, without this thread, would you have known not to cram your body tubes with dog barf?

Very common beginner mistake. Obviously.
 
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