A Cub Scout Leader who has found what he needs to run a rocket launch - Thank you all.

[Little Charlie]

Hello All,

Pack 55 Basking Ridge, NJ - So I've flown rockets 20 years ago and helped with their launch last year so they put me in charge this year...lol...

The church has a small field, about 200 x 200, so we limit ourselves to Estes A8-3 engines. The Scouts absolutely love it. The Scouts build the Estes Alpha III, skill 0, Wizard - S-1, and the Guardian - S-2. As they move up in age. We are expecting about 40 Scouts and each will get to launch twice. I'm working on an S.O.P. and putting a plan together so we will have a fun safe launch day. This site has been very helpful, as I google stuff your posts keep showing up. So know that many are helped by what you share.

I want to say thank you, one and all,

Little Charlie

 

[afadeev]

Charlie,

Glad to hear you are having fun.
I am ~10 miles away from you, and have been launching with local Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts for years.

Feel free to drop me a line if you ever need help, now, or in the future!

a

 

[BigMacDaddy]

We are a troop in Hoboken / Jersey City, NJ... did one build and launch so far... planning our next for this year...

p.s., Mini Engine rockets are also great for small spaces -- the Mini Mean Machine is a great rocket and is even better if you put a second engine and make it dual stage...

 

[Little Charlie]

We are a troop in Hoboken / Jersey City, NJ... did one build and launch so far... planning our next for this year...

p.s., Mini Engine rockets are also great for small spaces -- the Mini Mean Machine is a great rocket and is even better if you put a second engine and make it dual stage...

Thank you, that is great to know. I'll have to check it out. I have a few mini engines. I've never done a two stage rocket before so that would be a great first two stage to start with.

I just replaced the micro clips on two of our four scout controllers. They are the newer 9-volt battery ones. I have an old AA battery controller 6-volt and can't believe how much more power it has.

 

[mjennings]

Mini engines are great for scouts the bulk packs run a little cheeper than 18mm. A scout is trifity after all. I real like FlisKits Whatchamacallits for scouts. FlisKits fricknfrack and Trifecta are 2 and 3 stage saucers. The stage low and the kids are always impressed by them.

Welcome to the forum!

 

[Little Charlie]

Mini engines are great for scouts the bulk packs run a little cheeper than 18mm. A scout is trifity after all. I real like FlisKits Whatchamacallits for scouts. FlisKits fricknfrack and Trifecta are 2 and 3 stage saucers. The stage low and the kids are always impressed by them.

Welcome to the forum!

Thank you, I checked out the site and it is a very interesting fin design. I'd have to figure the bulk pack cost lol - thrifty part - I'm getting the wizard and alpha 3 for $4 each in the 12 bulk pack from AC Supply along with the A8-3 engines at 24 for $44-. So $8- a scout / two flights.

 

[Stewman]

@Little Charlie - I will chime in and add a couple more recommendations. The Estes Generic E2X is a great kit to use, also Balsa Machining Services 18mm school kit.

Welcome to the forum and good luck!

 

[mjennings]

Thank you, I checked out the site and it is a very interesting fin design. I'd have to figure the bulk pack cost lol - thrifty part - I'm getting the wizard and alpha 3 for $4 each in the 12 bulk pack from AC Supply along with the A8-3 engines at 24 for $44-. So $8- a scout / two flights.

The 13mm run a little less than $2 an engine. The bulk rate at the time for the whatchamacallits was $8-10 but the jig tech fins and the excellent instructions from FlisKits really made the extra few dollars worth it.

 

[afadeev]

The 13mm run a little less than $2 an engine.

Bulk cost of 18mm B6-4 engines is also a tad under $2/per, or $1.82 to be exact.

The bulk rate at the time for the whatchamacallits was $8-10 but the jig tech fins and the excellent instructions from FlisKits really made the extra few dollars worth it.

I'd have to figure the bulk pack cost lol - thrifty part - I'm getting the wizard and alpha 3 for $4 each in the 12 bulk pack from AC Supply along with the A8-3 engines at 24 for $44-. So $8- a scout / two flights.

BMS school kits are, still, $ 5.95 / per.
I used to use Wizards, but the fins on those rockets are a PITA to align, and even I could not make them to stay on reliably (upper paper layer of the tube eventually peels off, together with the fin). Switched to BMS school kits, and never looked back.

I charge $10/kid for the launch event, in total. And we either break even, or make some money for other Pack/Troop activities. Parents marvel at why the cost is so low.
That includes rockets, engines, donut holes (aka munchkins) for kids, coffee for parents, water and disinfectants wipes (these days) for everyone.
Cost of good weather is not included.

HTH,
a

P.S.: I let kids fly as many higher power engines as they want, from my stash. It's not worth the time to keep track of how many for reimbursement, since the $$ amounts involved are inconsequential.

 

[GlenP]

As a project for our older Bear/Webelos scouts, several years ago when I had a scout and was a leader, the kids and dads built a simple saw-horse type launch pad that could hold 5 launch rods, we just used individual Estes launch controllers. I put those little hiking-stick medallions for each rank on each launch rod, and painted a kind of arrow of light on the front. I copied a similar design I found on the internet where some larger Pack made a ten-rod launcher.

 

[Ez2cDave]

Hello All,

Pack 55 Basking Ridge, NJ - So I've flown rockets 20 years ago and helped with their launch last year so they put me in charge this year...lol...

The church has a small field, about 200 x 200, so we limit ourselves to Estes A8-3 engines. The Scouts absolutely love it. The Scouts build the Estes Alpha III, skill 0, Wizard - S-1, and the Guardian - S-2. As they move up in age. We are expecting about 40 Scouts and each will get to launch twice. I'm working on an S.O.P. and putting a plan together so we will have a fun safe launch day. This site has been very helpful, as I google stuff your posts keep showing up. So know that many are helped by what you share.


I want to say thank you, one and all,

Little Charlie

ALWAYS remember . . . SAFETY FIRST . . . THEN, fun . . . IN THAT ORDER !

Dave F.