Online Mentor

Approximately a month ago I dove back into the hobby, which I once loved, head first. You can read the reasons here: https://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?144275-4th-Generation. In that month I have been doing a lot, which is probably an understatement, of research. I have also dug deep into OpenRocket and have learned the basics and some advanced stuff. In addition, I am almost complete my first rocket in 21 years (Semroc - WAC Corporal). With all that being said, much has changed in the hobby in the last 21 years. I have come to realization that there is a lot of information that I do not know, but am willing and want to learn. This is why I have created this thread to see if anyone would be interested in becoming my online mentor. I understand I can find one by joining a club and I plan on doing that also, in the future though. I would like to find someone to bounce questions, ideas, review scratch build simulations, explain stuff, and much more. If anyone is interested please feel free to private message me via forums. I hope this does not come off weird, but I am a big believer in learning information from subject matter experts (SME). I can teach myself anything, but I would not know if I am teaching myself correctly. I want to thank you in advance.

I absolutely agree with this but at a point I feel like it is annoying. Every question I have has been answered multiple time on the forum, but hard to necro. That is when the, "Use the search function" members come out of hiding. One-on-one I feel is much easier to learn and more personal. I don't want to be that member that asks question, after question, after question, trying to learn the basics that have changed in 21 years.

qquake2k said:

Why limit yourself to one online mentor? If you post questions in the appropriate sub-forum, you will almost always get several answers and plenty of opinions. That's how I learned a lot of what I know, and is directly responsible for me getting my L2 several years ago. With multiple answers and opinions, you can pick and choose what works for you, as I did, and ask for clarification on anything, also as I did and do.

Click to expand...

ah qquake beat me to it , to which I'll add that innocent questions have been know to spark inspirations by presenting a fresh look at things. as you may have noticed the basics really haven't changed in the past 50 yr.s...however I will suggest some reading material; The Handbook of Model Rocketry by G H Stine, chock full of info and is a fairly good read(and may have the answers you are looking for).
Rex

And as for the search function the TRF search sucks, its better to use Google and search for the subject such as "xxx xxx xxx the rocketry forum".

Rex R said:

ah qquake beat me to it , to which I'll add that innocent questions have been know to spark inspirations by presenting a fresh look at things. as you may have noticed the basics really haven't changed in the past 50 yr.s...however I will suggest some reading material; The Handbook of Model Rocketry by G H Stine, chock full of info and is a fairly good read(and may have the answers you are looking for).
Rex

Click to expand...

Great suggestion. I found Stine's book around 1989 after being out of the hobby since 1974. The latest edition is on Amazon, both in book form and digital: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0471472425/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Also consider "Make Rockets" by Mike Westerfield: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1457182920/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Consider joining the NAR. Lots of good tutorials free online, such as: https://www.nar.org/model-rocket-info/
Depending on where you are in Maryland, a local NAR section (and experienced rocketeers) could be fairly close to you.
https://www.nar.org/find-a-local-club/nar-club-locator/

jsdemar said:

Great suggestion. I found Stine's book around 1989 after being out of the hobby since 1974. The latest edition is on Amazon, both in book form and digital: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0471472425/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Also consider "Make Rockets" by Mike Westerfield: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1457182920/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Consider joining the NAR. Lots of good tutorials free online, such as: https://www.nar.org/model-rocket-info/
Depending on where you are in Maryland, a local NAR section (and experienced rocketeers) could be fairly close to you.
https://www.nar.org/find-a-local-club/nar-club-locator/

Click to expand...

And if you do join NAR, the Stone book can be purchased at a discount through them.


Steve Shannon

Welcome aboard. The entire reason for the existence of the Rocketry Forum is to discuss rocketry. No one is required to answer questions, but most people like to. It's why we come here. It's paying it forward. It's causing our hobby to thrive and survive.

You have as many mentors as there are forum members. Not everyone does mach speeds and minimum diameter; not everyone does fiberglass; not everyone does high altitude; not everyone makes research motors; not everyone does MicroMax. So for any given question, you will attract answers from the forum members who do and like that aspect of rocketry.

And like you pointed out, some things will only make sense when you see them in person at a club launch. That's just how it is.

With that being said, fire away!

I also recommend the Handbook Of Model Rocketry.

Stop by my blog for some ideas:
modelrocketbuilding.blogspot.com
I never claim to have all the answers. I screw up and post about it.
I try to do two posts per day, lots of kit builds and some original designs.

I did two TIPS articles for the Apogee Peak Of Flight newsletter:
https://www.apogeerockets.com/education/downloads/Newsletter424.pdf
https://www.apogeerockets.com/education/downloads/Newsletter425.pdf

Welcome back!

(Duplicate post removed)

I would like to thank everyone for their recommendations. I would still like one-on-one mentorship. If anyone is interested feel free to message me.