How do you transport rockets to launches?

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ewomack

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Another sorta newbie question here.

I brought 1 rocket to the last launch that I attended and I kept it in a long, skinny cardboard box for the some hour ride. I'm planning on attending another launch soon and I plan to bring 3 rockets this time. All are low powered and relatively small, ranging in size from 13.5" to 33.5" with the standard 18mm & 24mm engine diameters.

Do 3 long skinny boxes work just fine? I keep worrying that the fins will break in the boxes, but perhaps that just represents paranoid newbie thinking?
 
Yeah I just put them into a car trunk no boxes for high power launches. The only time I ever got paranoid was a 35 hour cross country launch in Utah for university with really thin airfoiled fins we wrapped that one in bubble wrap and it survived. But usually fins don’t break. I always pack epoxy too just Incase something comes lose at the field.
 
I use Harbor Freight "Movers Blankets" underneath and around the rockets. I can even layer the rockets with blanket in between. Never had any damage. I usually would pile rockets on the back seat of my Honda Accord, but I just bought an F-150 and may use the same method with the rear seats folded up.
 
I've done both the Harbor freight blankets and cardboard box. I have several larger boxes that I can fit several rockets into at once, and if necessary, will add something to cushion them. When I used to fly model rockets I also used a wine box with the dividers to hold my rockets vertically. Worked pretty well.

I use moving blankets for larger rockets, like the one in my avatar. I have some long skinny zip ties that I use to hold the blankets in place.


Tony
 
I put some in flat plastic totes (the kind made for under-bed storage), usually with some bubble wrap in there to keep things from banging around. Long ones might have the top section separated and the rocket is sort of folded in half to fit. Some rockets just sit on my back seat or the floor of my trunk. Always make sure nothing heavy will sit on top of them, and nothing can slide into them. Often there are blankets and/or bubble wrap or towels around or between them, again to keep from banging. At least one rocket travels vertically, due to (a) not being very tall, and (b) having a vary wide base, making it a poor choice for laying on its side.

My general finding is that LPR rockets come in such an incredible variety of shapes, there's really no one solution that works for all of them. Just make sure they're protected from harm.
 
For LPR, I typically use a 55 Gallon plastic tote with layers of bubble wrap between the rockets

Larger rockets typically get wrapped in a blanket
 
Usually i just toss my models in a cardboard box or two. Good Scale and PMC models get wrapped in lightweight towels, then add some packing peanuts or crumpled newspaper. At some point I built a wooden model box for airline transport. just check with the airlines to find the largest size you can check as baggage, and build something suitable. It works for car transport as well.
 
Vertically in a plastic tub is a good one for low power stuff. I pop the nose or payload off the booster and let them rest on the open tube ends. Packing paper or buble wrap or blanket, whatever you got, is good for preventing rattle back and forth.

Mid power and highpower stuff I lay down (also break in half) with blankets or something depending on how much I like that paint job.

I'm not a lifer yet where I've got trailer and truck cradles dedicated to rockets


Also, it appears Mack is going for the most "New Member forum" threads
 
I just use some beach towels or a moving blanket to put in between the rockets. I also make sure that any heavy items in the truck are secure, so they don't run into any of the rockets while driving. It seems an under bed tote without the lid would offer an extra level of protection.
 
IMG_7102.jpg
If it’s just me this is in the back seat. Otherwise it’s strapped into the bed of the truck under the bed cover. I need to add something to contain smaller, low power rockets.
 
There was a guy a few years ago that had plans on the web for a fold down transporter rack that could hold several lp rockets and unfold at the launch site as a stand. Fits into the back of a van or SUV. Rockets were on dowels so they kept from rolling around and banging into stuff.
Really spiffy if you have several rockets and a large enough vehicle.
A cursory check for it is coming up empty, but I'll keep looking.
I've put lp rockets in a cardboard box (vertically) and placed bubble wrap in the spaces between them. Still have an occasional broken fin, though. Maybe it's just "rough and tumble" me.
For high value and fragile rockets I've constructed a cradle from a cardboard box and the outside of the centering ring squares that come in the kits, cut in half. Velcro strips for box flap closure. Hole at one end for long rockets. Pics below.
I just recently got an Estes cradle stand. Multiple uses:
1. Horizontal display stand.
2. Building tool, like when you want to have your rocket in the horizontal position when fillets are drying.
3. Estes claims that you can use these for transporting rockets. They have a tab on the support which you can attach rubber bands to and hold down your rocket. But it seems to me that the base is not wide enough to prevent tipping over during transport. Especially if you drive like me.:D
Cheers.
0909190939.jpg 0909190940.jpg 0909190941.jpg
 
Doug, how many cool cars do you own?

Daily driver: '17 Subaru Impreza hatch, aka "Hyacinth". Possibly not so cool, but that's what I mostly haul my rockets in.

If I have to do some towing or serious hauling there's the '98 Dodge Laramie 1/2 ton, aka: "Tow Blaster 5900" or "Lord Dominator". It's the rare 2x4 with the bigger 5.9 V8 in it. Also has Euro-style tail lights and has been lowered 1.5" inches. It towed the Champ over the Grand Tetons.

1963 Studebaker Champ 3/4 ton, aka: "Stu Bludebaker", a quasi-survivor. With 259 V8 with Carter AFB, over boosted power drum brakes, and New Process 5-speed with granny low and overdrive, it's a direct evolutionary predecessor to the camper special.

1951 Studebaker Commander Land Cruiser, aka: "Bunnie Ketcher", a 47k milesurvivor. It's the bullet-nose that looks like a rocket ship to an overly excitable eight year old. First year for the Studebaker V8. Second year for their Automatic Drive. Second and last year for that round thing in your face.

1957 Studebaker Silver Hawk aka "Josie" after the Steely Dan song. The one that the body man screwed me over on and the one the boost glider is named after.

1947 Studebaker Champion, "Sally" after the Asimov story and 1941 Studebaker Commander Land Cruiser, aka: "Ursula" after the Disney character because they're both big and round and dressed in black and weird looking. A couple of basket cases that I'd like to get going before I'm dead, but they're not even on the bucket list any more.

1979 Ford Pinto station wagon, aka: "Wee Beastie". You saw the Wee Part here's the Beastie part:
weebeastie2thebeastiepart.jpg
 
Daily driver: '17 Subaru Impreza hatch, aka "Hyacinth". Possibly not so cool, but that's what I mostly haul my rockets in.

<snip>

1951 Studebaker Commander Land Cruiser, aka: "Bunnie Ketcher", a 47k milesurvivor. It's the bullet-nose that looks like a rocket ship to an overly excitable eight year old. First year for the Studebaker V8. Second year for their Automatic Drive. Second and last year for that round thing in your face.
<snip>

1979 Ford Pinto station wagon, aka: "Wee Beastie". You saw the Wee Part here's the Beastie part:
View attachment 393037

I like a hot wagon!

'51, is that like this?

studebaker-us-1951-land-cruiser-commander-hgz472-400.jpg
 
I like a hot wagon!

'51, is that like this?

View attachment 393038

It's like this:

widewhites-jpg.391490


I forgot the third basket case, another '51 Commander, except it's a Starlight coupe. With the bullet nose and the semicircle of rear windows, it's one of the most retro futuristic things ever. It's nicknamed Dale after Ms. Evans because of that retro rocketship dealie....
 
It's like this:
I forgot the third basket case, another '51 Commander, except it's a Starlight coupe. With the bullet nose and the semicircle of rear windows, it's one of the most retro futuristic things ever. It's nicknamed Dale after Ms. Evans because of that retro rocketship dealie....

Wow. My daily driver is a '92 Subaru Brumby, Brat to you guys. I wanted something cool for so long, and you seem surrounded by them. Studebakers are rare over here, see some at rod and classic shows, but someone local has an Avanti.
 
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