8th Grade Rocket Project

[Volcanomom]

Hi Everyone! I found this forum while looking around for some answers to several questions. I'm an 8th grade science teacher and we are building Estes Viking Rockets to launch. I've done this before, but we're in a time crunch this year so I'm going to paint all the rockets myself and not give them a choice of colors etc. This may seem like a weird questions but does anyone know how many rockets you can cover per can of spray paint? I used Krylon last time, but let the kids do the painting and choose colors etc. and there was a lot of waste. Thanks for any suggestions you have! We're trying to figure out if the school has funds to buy the paint or if I need to, so that's why I'm trying to get a quantity.
Julie P.
Texas

 

[Wally Ferrer]

That's hard to estimate, it depends on how light or heavy you paint. I imagine one regular spray paint can could do two dozen or more Estes Vikings, if you paint lightly.

 

[K'Tesh]

Hi Julie,

Not an answer to your post, but something that might be of use to you... The story of my first launch event, and how it could have been so much worse.

Model Rocket Safety: For Educators... A cautionary tale.

Towards the end of each school year, Mr. Deller of Ashland Middle School (Ashland, Oregon) would have his science class launch model rockets. It was a fun way to end the year. In 1983, I was in his class, and we built our rockets. I had a Spin Fin that I had gotten in the class, as well as a...

www.rocketryforum.com

 

[DigBaddy]

Too bad you're in a time crunch or you could let the kids paint them in their art class to improve the overall value of the project and use paint likely available in that classroom

Like Wally mentioned, Vikings can be easily covered with not much paint. If your school doesn't have funds to cover the paint, message me and I can help cover a few cans for you via paypal or Venmo.

 

[dhbarr]

I do markers & stickers for my group builds specifically to avoid the challenges associated with spray paint.

I haven't done older group builds, however.

 

[Volcanomom]

That's hard to estimate, it depends on how light or heavy you paint. I imagine one regular spray paint can could do two dozen or more Estes Vikings, if you paint lightly.

Thank you! That at least gives me an estimate to start with. And thank you so much for the offer of help! I will let you know what I find out.

 

[Volcanomom]

That's hard to estimate, it depends on how light or heavy you paint. I imagine one regular spray paint can could do two dozen or more Estes Vikings, if you paint lightly.

That is a good base level estimate to start with!

 

[Volcanomom]

That's hard to estimate, it depends on how light or heavy you paint. I imagine one regular spray paint can could do two dozen or more Estes Vikings, if you paint lightly.

Hi Julie,

Not an answer to your post, but something that might be of use to you... The story of my first launch event, and how it could have been so much worse.

Model Rocket Safety: For Educators... A cautionary tale.

Towards the end of each school year, Mr. Deller of Ashland Middle School (Ashland, Oregon) would have his science class launch model rockets. It was a fun way to end the year. In 1983, I was in his class, and we built our rockets. I had a Spin Fin that I had gotten in the class, as well as a...

www.rocketryforum.com

Excellent reminder. I teach 8th grade - I don't trust ANY of them at ANY time That is why I'm not letting them paint their own - not letting this crowd anywhere near spray paint! LOL

 

[boatgeek]

Excellent reminder. I teach 8th grade - I don't trust ANY of them at ANY time That is why I'm not letting them paint their own - not letting this crowd anywhere near spray paint! LOL

This is the voice of hard-earned experience.

 

[cls]

Another vote for markers and stickers.

I definitely could not bring spray paint on campus for the rocketry elective.

 

[mjennings]

Craft paint can be a good alternative in a group setting as well.

 

[dr wogz]

tempra paints, acrylics, etc.. and a brush are also an option..

if you are painting them all yourself, stack a few on a dowel, and do a 'mass painting' less waste.. There a re some methods where yo can set these up a la 'production line' to minimize waste, time efficiency, handling, etc..

 

[BigMacDaddy]

Side comment -- I found it really helped to 3D print jigs to help align fins when doing Vikings with scouts...

 

[Sandy H.]

Thank you! That at least gives me an estimate to start with. And thank you so much for the offer of help! I will let you know what I find out.

Not sure what part of the country you are in, but it might be worth going by a 'big box store' like Lowes or Home Depot and ask for a manager. Explain the situation and ask if they have any spray cans that were damaged (dents, cracked lids etc.) and see if they will pass them along to you for free. I know when non-profits ask for reasonable accommodations around here, they get some if not all the support they need, most often.

Sandy.

 

[BABAR]

The plastic nose cones can be colored with a black “magnum” sharpie, comes out a blackish purple. I liked the way it looked.

works on body tubes as well (and can do other colors), and since the fins are cardboard, you can color those as well,

to my knowledge (maybe @hcmbanjo or others will contradict me) I am pretty sure you can color with sharpies BEFORE gluing without any loss of adhesion (something you can do with carpenter’s would filler but CANNOT [or should not] prime or paint before gluing, unless you protect or scrape the attachment surfaces.)

good luck and have fun!

 

[hcmbanjo]

Quote from Babar:
"To my knowledge (maybe @hcmbanjo or others will contradict me) I am pretty sure you can color with sharpies BEFORE gluing without any loss of adhesion (something you can do with carpenter’s would filler but CANNOT [or should not] prime or paint before gluing, unless you protect or scrape the attachment surfaces.)"

You can color with felt tip pens before assembly, it shouldn't effect glue adhesion.
I'd probably assemble the rockets - then color with markers.
The only time I use felt tip markers is usually after painting when I want to carry the black color
over the lip of a body tube. Sometimes I can fill in a open spot on a black decal.
On touch ups, black Sharpies work best - other colors are a crap shoot.

 

[Volcanomom]

You all have been really helpful! I'm excited about the project.

 

[Volcanomom]

This is the voice of hard-earned experience.

Yep - had to put on gloves and dig ramen out of one of my lab sinks this morning.

 

[Volcanomom]

Side comment -- I found it really helped to 3D print jigs to help align fins when doing Vikings with scouts...

I don't have a 3-D printer but a friend does. Would that be something a rocket novice can do?

 

[BigMacDaddy]

I don't have a 3-D printer but a friend does. Would that be something a rocket novice can do?

Sure, easy enough to print if a friend has a printer... I just made them free on my Cults profile --

Fin Jigs for Estes Viking Rocket Kits

These simple jigs make it much easier to get your fins on straight and evenly spaced around your body tube for Estes Viking Kits (or most any kit that uses a BT20 body tube). I used these with my son's scout troop and they worked great (also great for STEM classes or Rocket Clubs). Keeps rocket...

cults3d.com