Club launch pit area

New Rocketry family here. We haven't been to a club launch yet but plan to in the near future. Was searching around to see how people set up their work area at club launches but didn't have much luck. So if you have any pictures of your club launch pit setup lets see them. And if its not to much to ask, how about a list of the essentials and also what you recommend taking for launch day. And for those with a significant other what are essentials for keeping them happy if they decide to go along. Thanks

https://www.facebook.com/groups/oregonrocketry/permalink/2066834970224701/

This is a link to a video taken at NXRS a few weeks ago. It gives a nice tour of the flight line, which should give you a pretty good idea of what it is like.

Most people use pop up tents (stake it down well if there is any chance of wind) with a table or two for prepping. Besides rocketry equipment (which varies a lot depending upon what you launch) you basically need to be prepared for a day in the sun/elements.

I think you will enjoy your first launch a lot - it is definitely a unique experience!

My wife became my photo and videographer and she enjoys coming to watch the show. She'll typically read during slow launch times or while I'm prepping.

A pop up tent is essential if it is sunny and hot out and you will be there for a few hours or more. I just got one, but sponged off others for a long time. A lot of guys in my club had them so I was able to use theirs after they invited me. Dick's Sporting Goods had a 10 x 10 on sale for $40. Not sure if that is still on sale or not. If you have a family you would probably need your own.

Other items I bring:
Water
Sunscreen
Hats
Bug spray
Snacks
Small folding table
X-acto knife
5 minute epoxy
Extras igniters
Extra motors (you may fly more than you planned to)
Needle nose pliers (for pulling out used motors)
Dog barf (blown in attic insulation used for wadding) (my club has a communal bucket anyone can use)
A wooden dowel (to push out new and used motors) (can also be used for GENTLY packing dog barf - as I always tell new people when loading dog barf, "it ain't a muzzle loader so don't ram the stuff in!)

If you forget anything that you really need just ask. Most rocketeers will gladly loan or give you something if you really need it.

I bring everything listed above. Plus almost everything else rocketry related that I most likely wont need.

Some days the pop up canopy doesn't go.

Pop ups are pretty popular...


I've found the minivan pretty useful. drop all the seats, setup tools and rockets inside and there's little setup or tear down. I've since moved over to a pickup, which is handy, but not as simple as the minivan was. The backdoor being popped makes a nice rain/sun shade at times.



Some days, the prep area is veeeerrrrryyyy efficient.


This event I set up two pop ups, with 3 foot stakes to tie down to. did the stakes so I could tie down within the footprint of my parking space, and had my truck parked under it for most of the event so my bed was in the shade, and the cab was too for cooler recovery drives



same event...this shows some of the gear... cooler, drinks, more drinks, seriously, take more to drink. paper towels, tools, all the tools, even the power tools, clothes, a pile of food, some more drinks, and hey cool even a rocket! Taking a laptop is handy for reviewing data and photos.

Most of the time I just use my pick-up for everything. I have a large wood box & moving pads,to hold rockets.
I have another box next to it which holds 3 smaller toolboxes.
1. actual tools. screwdrivers, drill, bits, wrenches,pliers,etc.
2. igniters...dual deploy stuff, nutz, bolts, CA, everything needed for repairs.
3. tracking equipment GPS.


Utilize the tailgate as a table.


Many of my friends do this, saves time setting up & breaking down.
Just bring needed chairs & possible table if ya fill up your ride with too much.
You'll see many SUV's & minivans being used as 'rocket haulers'.


On the other hand, I have gone to launch, with nothing more than 3-4 rockets totally prepped and ready to fly. Bring along some igniters and tracking...that's it.

As for significant other, ask/tell them beforehand what they are in for...show a You Tube video of rockets being launched, you may have one who reacts like a launch is as much fun as watching paint dry......DO NOT take her if that's the attitude, let her go shopping or have a day by herself, while you watch the kids. NOTHING worse than a spouse/girlfriend with the "can we go now"? issues.

Ask what will make them happy, my guess is same type of stuff as going to beach, camping, fair.
Drinks, snacks, a rest room facility [within reasonable driving]...some woman loathe PORTO-POTTIES... better find out all this stuff ahead of time. Sunglasses, headwear, you will be in sun, looking up a great deal of the time, be prepared for sunburn & hydration.

And the real simple answer is: everything you need to fly your rockets! If there is an onsite vendor that helps a lot.

In addition to what others said, I have 4 boxes that go with me to multi-day launches:
1) Motors, reload casings, spare igniters
2) Recovery (chutes, fire blankets, sticks for pushing motors out, spare shock cord, quick links, etc.)
3) Electronics (altimeters, batteries, e-matches, etc.)
4) Tackle box (pliers, screwdrivers, electrical tape, scissors, 5-min epoxy, gloves, sandpaper, black powder, utility knife, toothbrush)

That covers every rocket in my fleet. For small launches where I'll only bring a couple of rockets, I'll get stuff ready so I only need the tackle box. If you're flying lower-power/single use and/or with motor ejection only, you can dump a bunch of this stuff. The organization into boxes above only sort of makes sense, so rearrange stuff to suit.

For keeping your significant other happy, going to a relatively close launch the first time is a good idea, and be willing to go home if they're not having fun any more.

For me a must is a table, chair and canopy. I will not sit in the sun. I have used a market umbrella before that I used ratchet straps to strap it to my pickup bed. I have a sun wall attached to my canopy that blocks the low sun as well. Not sure why on this particular day (in the photo) everyone was setting up beside their vehicles rather than behind them but we followed suit. I always take more junk than I will need. I have (I think) 4 toolboxes that go with me, a big tote for rockets, and some plastic storage bins for recovery gear, fasteners, motor hardware and so on.
Something I don't think has been mentioned is tape. Four kinds. Electrical tape, masking tape, scotch tape and duct tape. Any given day I will use three of the four.
Rubbing alcohol, baby wipes, paper towels, a variety of screwdrivers. One day I lost two screwdrivers. Guess a grass troll stole them.
My old truck finally gave up on me so I now drive a Nissan Xterra. It is nice being able to load it down the night before and not have to worry about rain or dew getting everything soaked. No, that's my dad's truck in the picture.

Canopy, tarp to keep shoes from getting filthy, table, rocket supplies, chairs, cooler with food and drink, hand wipes, hand sanitizer, hat, sunglasses, binoculars, cash.

Zeus-cat said:

A pop up tent is essential if it is sunny and hot out and you will be there for a few hours or more. I just got one, but sponged off others for a long time. A lot of guys in my club had them so I was able to use theirs after they invited me. Dick's Sporting Goods had a 10 x 10 on sale for $40. Not sure if that is still on sale or not. If you have a family you would probably need your own.

Other items I bring:
Water
Sunscreen
Hats
Bug spray
Snacks
Small folding table
X-acto knife
5 minute epoxy
Extras igniters
Extra motors (you may fly more than you planned to)
Needle nose pliers (for pulling out used motors)
Dog barf (blown in attic insulation used for wadding) (my club has a communal bucket anyone can use)
A wooden dowel (to push out new and used motors) (can also be used for GENTLY packing dog barf - as I always tell new people when loading dog barf, "it ain't a muzzle loader so don't ram the stuff in!)

If you forget anything that you really need just ask. Most rocketeers will gladly loan or give you something if you really need it.

Click to expand...

That’s a great list. I would suggest bringing chairs also. I suspect it’s just an oversight here.
Folding director chairs are my favorite. They support your back while sitting upright at your work table.

I have a 10 x 10 with a couple of side panels that I haven't used in several years. Mostly because the home field is on a farm and we launch from Oct. to Apr. Winter sun doesn't require the shade like summer sun. As for other things, I pretty much bring everything except the kitchen sink. I've got a folding table, range box, tool box, chute and misc box, 4 ammo cans for smaller reloads, a larger box for larger reloads, a motor case container for 29mm to 54mm , an ammo can for igniters, a car starter for charging LiPos etc., a box with tracking devices and LiPo chargers, a cooler with water and lunch, extra shoes and socks (we have creeks and mud on the field), various hoodies and jackets so I can layer in the winter and an assortment of moving blankets to wrap the rockets in for transport, and of course, the rockets.