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I'm building an Big Daddy with my wife, and as usual, I enter everything into Rocksim to ensure things go well. I am seeing stability numbers that seem awfully low. Doing some research, I found that Rocksim seems to have issues with short and fat rockets. I saw discussions of using a base...

For anyone who might be interested, you have an opportunity to have your name added to a metal plate to be installed on the upcoming NASA Europa probe. Free. https://europa.nasa.gov/message-in-a-bottle/sign-on/

I've got an Estes Big Daddy that I plan to modify the nosecone bay removing the rear of it, and installing a plywood bulkhead w/eyelet. As I haven't yet cut up the nosecone, and I'm making an Erockets order soon, I was thinking maybe they have something of a suitable diameter so I don't have to...

For your viewing pleasure, here is my latest creation: a stretched version of Estes's Protostar rocket. I used a set of 1/8" plywood fins from Bad Boy Rocketry, an 18" body tube instead of the stock 16", and an longer nosecone. Overall length is 30" instead of the standard 24". The idea was...

I've got an Estes Longship that has suffered numerous crashes, culminating with having to replace the front half of the body tube. I didn't scan the decal so that I might print replacements as needed. I wasn't able to find any online, so I have to ask if anyone here happens to have a scan or...

Anyone know whats up?

I've started construction of one of Radical Rocketry's Tau Zero Christine, with 3d printed parts by our very own BigMacDaddy. After reviewing the directions, I decided that I needed to sit down and try-fit everything and see if the results matched up with the directions. This is the result...

I was "papering" the fins on my latest rocket because I messed up with the grain orientation. While I have been trying to make sure that all the excess glue is squeezed out before putting some heavy books on the fin to dry, I found this: I tried ironing the area to no avail, and I'm...

Situation: I have a potential situation that I may need to address. On my old Talon rocket, the fin tips have a large extension at the tip which goes forward. I had done a multi-part fin out of 1/8" balsa, and the fin tip was a separate piece with the balsa grain parallel to the body tube. A...

So what is everyone working on this winter, in preparation for a Spring launch? I did an upscaled (2x) version of my Talon rocket, though not its more an inspired by version; for example, the length and body tube are 2x the length, but the fins aren't quite as 2x as wide, etc. Target weight is...

I made the apparently stupid error of "upgrading" to Rocksim 1.05 from 1.03 because I was still seeing "crossed line" errors despite there being no crossed lines and my rocket not launching. Dumb, dumb. During the installation of the update, it said something about not being able to install...

I have bought some 1010 buttons and flanges from at least 2 vendors. One thing I have noticed is that one variety of flange/button is very tight fitting, with no turning on the flange shaft. The other brand is just fine. The ones that are good shaft measure about .172-3, whereas the other...

I have a rocket I'm building, and the forward rail button is a bit off - I had drilled the hole in the tube, and noticed it had wandered a bit off the desired position. I had intended to wallow out the hole a bit in the correct direction, but my son distracted me and I forgot, epoxying the rail...

I'm getting ready to mount a pair of rail buttons on a scratchbuild. I was under the impression that one should mount the lower button at or near the center of pressure, and one close to the center of gravity. I realize this is a question with no good answer... but on this rocket, the CP is 9"...

I've been looking for a more economical alternative to the Duplicolor filler primer I've been using. I was looking at Krylon's Automotive 2 in 1 filler and sandable primer. This one: https://www.krylon.com/en/products/automotive/automotive-2-in-1-hi-build-primer Anyone have experience with it?

One of the members of my club let us know that Epic Games is making their Kerbal Space program software FREE until Jan 12. I had heard of it, but never did look into it. Looks complicated but addicting from what I am told by others. Link: https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/kerbal-space-program

I was wondering if anyone knows of an good quality wind gauge for use at launches? I thought it would be a neat item to have on hand at club launches. There are plenty of them on Amazon, but I have zero experience with wind gauges and don't know what would be best for this use.

I have a rocket that I had to replace the shock cord mount - on a previous flight the ejection charge was way too powerful and ripped the mount right out of the tube. I made a replacement, and installed it, flying the rocket today. Unfortunately at ejection the replacement mount gave way and...

I discovered today that upon recovery of my rocket, the launch rail had scraped the front of the body tube, leaving two decent sized scrapes at the end of the body tube at the nosecone. Ugh. I was thinking of trying to shim the button away from the body about 1/16" in the hope of preventing...

I'm finishing up my first real mid-power rocket, and have installed two 1010 rail buttons. I am under the impression that it may be better to leave the screws a little loose so that the buttons can turn if they need to. I epoxied the backings inside the body tube. Two questions: 1) I am...