EVENT TriCities Rocketeers announcing SodBlaster 2018 Labor Day Weekend

rharshberger said:

Great news, it looks like we have been approved for Tripoli Southeastern Washington, so now there is a very good chance we will be able to do research motors (we still have to finish a bit of paperwork).

What we need to know is how many attending would want to fly EX motors? This information will help us determine interest and what we will need for setup.

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Congratulations to our newest Tripoli Prefecture. Your Prefect should receive the binder this week or next. Your Prefecture might already be listed on the Tripoli website.

Great News!

I will not be flying research but would be excited to watch them if we have a research day.

Flyfalcons said:

I will not be flying research but would be excited to watch them if we have a research day.

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Commercial rockets and NAR members may also fly at Research launches. About the only difference is that the nearest HPR pads are set at 200 feet.

Steve Shannon said:

Commercial rockets and NAR members may also fly at Research launches. About the only difference is that the nearest HPR pads are set at 200 feet.

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That and the under 18 restrictions which shouldn't be much of a issue for the pads being used for research.

Awesome news! Now I need to learn how to build some motors!

We are proud to announce Lab Rat Rocketry and ASP-Rocketry as offical sponsors of SodBlaster 2018!

Also proud to announce Qualman Rocketry as a sponsor of SodBlaster 2018!

Shirts, Hats, Hoodies and Sweatshirts available from Bonnie Rosco at https://www.companycasuals.com/CozzzyUpToo2

Apparel ordered will be available for pickup at SodBlaster. Bonnieis the same person who does all of FITS apparel.

Current confirmed sponsors are (updated and reposted from Post#27 in this thread)

Loc Precision,
Aeropack,
Eggtimer Rocketry, ,
SMT Designs,
SBR/Fusion Rockets,
Missleworks,
ASP-Rocketry,
Lab Rat Rocketry,
Madcow Rocketry,
Additive Aerospace,
Boyce Aerospace Hobbies,



Hopefully I didn't miss anybody who has agreed to help sponsor SodBlaster.

If any vendors would like to be sponsors please send me a PM for more info.

rharshberger said:

Current confirmed sponsors are (updated and reposted from Post#27 in this thread)

Loc Precision,
Aeropack,
Eggtimer Rocketry, ,
SMT Designs,
SBR/Fusion Rockets,
Missleworks,
ASP-Rocketry,
Lab Rat Rocketry,
Madcow Rocketry,
Additive Aerospace,
Boyce Aerospace Hobbies,



Hopefully I didn't miss anybody who has agreed to help sponsor SodBlaster.

If any vendors would like to be sponsors please send me a PM for more info.

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Did Bay Area Rocketry ask to attend?

robbdm said:

Did Bay Area Rocketry ask to attend?

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Mike did, and Dave K our club president and also TSW's Prefect replied back to him. Any vendor that wants to come can, we just would like to be notified for planning purposes.
Bob Grossfeld and Scott Binder will both be onsite, Bob will have his usual stuff ( kits, motors, accessories etc), and Scott will have kits and some motors. Don Johnson of Chehalis Junction Hobbies may be there in a limited capacity as he is on crutches currently.

rharshberger said:

That and the under 18 restrictions which shouldn't be much of a issue for the pads being used for research.

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Agreed, but just for clarification, the restriction prohibiting those under 18 (except TMP Participants) from being on the high power range is effective for all Tripoli HPR launches, not just Research.

Steve Shannon said:

Agreed, but just for clarification, the restriction prohibiting those under 18 (except TMP Participants) from being on the high power range is effective for all Tripoli HPR launches, not just Research.

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Thanks Steve, we are in the process of reviewing our range operations in preparation for SodBlaster. We are having a BBQ and meeting next Sunday to finalize as much stuff as possible before the big event.

Alright here's a final major update for SodBlaster 2018

Research Flying: Friday and Monday will be TRA Research launch days, Saturday and Sunday will be commercial motors only. If you plan on flying motors over M impulse please let us know before the day of the launch so we can make sure and have an away cell set up for that size motor (we will have a full time 500' away cell available all weekend). Please remember the waiver is 9300' AGL.

Egg Loft Duration prizes:

1st Prize: a Missleworks RRC2+ altimeter
2nd and 3rd Prizes: US Rockets Streaker kit or set of Qualman Fin Alignment Guides (2nd place has first choice of the two)

Egg Drop Prizes:

1st place: Boyce Aerospace Hobbies BT80 Mercury Redstone (1/27th scale iirc)
2nd and 3rd place: US Rockets All Weather kit or Qualman Fin Alignment Guides (again Second place has first choice of the two)

Sparky Contest:
Prizes will be determined as soon as we have the rest of our sponsor items in.

Silent Auction: this years Silent Auction is a PML Nike Apache kit (this is a 4" Phenolic to 38mm Phenolic kit that is currently OOP)

Rocketry Swap Meet: Last minute addition to our plans, Saturday afternoon we would like to have a swap meet in the common area (near registration) so bring that rocketry stuff that you would like to trade, we know a little of this goes on at every launch but lets make it easy to get everyone together who would like to do some buying, selling, trading.

Launch Control Radio Frequency: The LCO will be using FRS radio frequency 5-0 to communicate for range operations as well as via PA System.

Saturday BBQ: Free to all fliers, we will be having pulled pork sandwiches with side dishes of coleslaw, baked beans and corn on the cob. John Ludwig has made us some of his Apple Jack BBQ sauce.

Snacks: We will have a snack vendor, selling sodas, chips etc. For other food items (like lunch we would recommend either bringing it with you or about 7 minutes away is the Country Merchantile Store https://www.countrymercantile.com/

I forgot to mention a really important event,

The Raffle saturday evening. Tickets are $1 each, must be present to win ( or have someone with your tickets to claim and deliver prize).

From Dave King via the TCR Forum page:

"Everything is looking good for this coming weekend. Our launch site parking coordinator will be on site by 1:00 pm on Thursday to help organize parking. If you arrive before then, please do not set up camp, or be prepared to move. We have to leave access for the landowner until Friday afternoon, and row things in to leave room for everyone."

Weather is currently looking outstanding for all flying days.


We have what is shaping up to be some awesome prizes for the contests and a phenomenal raffle on Saturday night

Current confirmed sponsors are:

Loc Precision,
Aeropack,
Eggtimer Rocketry, ,
SMT Designs,
Scott Binder Rockets/Fusion Rocket,
Missleworks,
ASP-Rocketry,
Lab Rat Rocketry,
Madcow Rocketry,
Additive Aerospace,
Boyce Aerospace Hobbies,
PML,
Qualman Rocketry,
Estes Rocketry

For all the EggHeads out there please log onto the TCR forum page and check out the Eggfinder Frequency table, it shows who is using what at our field for the upcoming weekend. Please post on the thread then Larry can add you to the table.

https://tricitiesrocketeers.freefor...er-frequency-assignments?page=1&scrollTo=2198

Is anyone bringing a drone to SodBlaster? It would be cool to have an aerial photo from Saturday afternoon if so of the venue.

NOTAM has been called in and we are GO FOR LAUNCH! Winds are predicted to be about 5-8mph average for the entire weekend and temperatures in the low to mid 80's (Fahrenheit that is).

Here is a copy of our sponsors sheet that will be available at the registration table:



I would like to apologize I am not a graphics artist or particularly skilled with Inkscape but this is what we have along with 50 copies of the Estes 2018 Catalog and several flyers from some of our sponsors (they sent me their pdf's and I just printed them out. Good news is the Events Sponsors Banner was professionally done.

Looks like I better take out a loan for raffle tickets. Don't think I have much ready for the contests this year, sadly. Maybe Bob will have some sparkies so I can try a best sparky flight, other than that, I'm just going to be FFBB again (flying, filming, BS'ing, and Buying).

Flyfalcons said:

Looks like I better take out a loan for raffle tickets. Don't think I have much ready for the contests this year, sadly. Maybe Bob will have some sparkies so I can try a best sparky flight, other than that, I'm just going to be FFBB again (flying, filming, BS'ing, and Buying).

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I mentioned to Dave K it might not be a bad idea to get more raffle tickets...[emoji3]

Our sponsors have been generous.

Mostly I will be BS'ing, RSO'ing, LCO'ing, not much flying, and helping to ensure the event goes as smoothly as possible. The skies are finally blue again and very liitle if any smoke visible from the BC and Cali fires.

Prepping for the launch.

Me too

Flyfalcons said:

Prepping for the launch.

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car is packed, I am ready to head to the sod farm at 0 Dark:30 in the morning! See everyone there!

I have a nice double batch of my smoked chex mix to provide as a offering to the rocket gods for a good launch (and anyone else who wants some on Saturday night!)

We got back to Montana late last night from Phoenix. This afternoon we got in the van and drove as far as Spokane. We should be there tomorrow afternoon sometime.

Steve Shannon said:

We got back to Montana late last night from Phoenix. This afternoon we got in the van and drove as far as Spokane. We should be there tomorrow afternoon sometime.

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Sweet Steve, see you tomorrow then!

Ellis Langford of Estes is planning to be there as well tomorrow ( Christine notified me of his planned visit via email today).

Most of the range setup is done, we just have to wait till tomorrow morning to put out the 8 HPR pads (thats right 5 more than normal) and the Away Cell, we also will have 8 MPR pads (one 1010, four 1/4"" rods, two 3/16" rods, the 20mm and 15mm rails, and the 6' tower) and this time no swapping leads, each pad will have dedicated leads. The LPR will be the usual twelve stations. OROC has been generous and loaned us 6 HPR pads for this launch and the use of their wireless (which we are using for the HPR and Away Cell), the wireless will make moving the pads off the crop circle easier each evening and back out in the morning. The circle we normally fly from has been harvested of sod so there is nothing to burn unless someone can catch dirt on fire, Basin Sod however is working that circle so we may have pauses during the day tomorrow to allow them to work. The other good news is that no work is being done on the circles our launch site sits between so there should be limited traffic. We do ask that all attendees camping and parking please park perpendicular to the road and there are orange marks on the gravel every 12' to allow some idea of spacing, see Tamara King at the registration table for information. All flyers need to register and get their badge, the badge will notify the range personnel of your name and cert level and flying status (observer, flier, etc). All flyers who do not have a waiver on file with us already need to make sure and fill out one. Weather for the weekend is unchanged low to mid 80's and 5-8mph winds.

The bad news, the corn fields, the damn things have not been harvested yet. They basically cover East side of the flight line just over the hill, there is also a cornfield to the north of our usual crop circle. High Altitude flights either need some form of tracking, dual deploy, or both.

I personally have a ComSpec RDF system (only one transmitter though) that I will make available to flyers, its an older system but it works great.

On my way!

Drive carefully!