"Going to the Darkside"

[techrat]

Ok, in motorcycle forums "Going to the Darkside" means using an automobile tire as the rear tire of your particular bike. The people for it say it's great, better traction, longer lasting, and less expensive. The people against it argue that it's dangerous, particularly when cornering.

I've seen the phrase "Going to the Darkside" used here, in the Rocketry Forum, but I don't know what it means in terms of rockets.

Anyone care to elaborate?? Thanks in advance.

 

[ThirstyBarbarian]

I don’t know what it means in rocketry or if I’ve ever even heard the phrase used in rocketry. But this I do know:

If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will, as it did Obi-Wan's apprentice.

 

[Antares JS]

The only time I have seen "going to the darkside" used on this forum, it was @Daddyisabar talking about clustered tractor rockets.

 

[techrat]

Actually I thought that was @lakeroadster who was clustering tractor motors, but then again, I can't remember what I had for lunch. And "tractor motors" make me think we're at a farm, so clearly, my mind has become a desolate wasteland.

 

[NateB]

When I have heard going to the darkside in reference to rockets, it has been from the pyro guys talking about building firework rockets. It is a common enough phrase among the PGI and regional firework guilds the builders tend to know what it was referring to. (and the darkside has cookies too. Seriously, at the PGI rocket range.)

 

[Daddyisabar]

The Dark Side of model rocketry is simply doing things that some may see as UNNATURAL in order to fly the rockets you love. For some it might include widely spaced pods, for others the abandonment of traditional, proven 3-4FNC designs.

It can start as innocently placed fins at the front of a scratch built, paper towel tubed rocket to make it look cool. The young Padawan makes their way to the RSO table only to be rejected and sent away to that old guy in back to get it flyable.

Just say No. The gateway drug to the Dark Side is oddrocs. Anything funny looking that will immediately draw the RSO stink eye. A young Padawan once tried to fly a very funny looking soccer field rocket and was required by the Jedi to reduce 29mm to 24mm and use a D12. It did not even move off the pad. Yes! A good lesson to the lad about safety and acceptable designs. A nice chuckel to be had, surely setting him on the straight and narrow! He eventually found his way to the oddroc scum and successfuly flew it on a composite G with shortest delay possible. Got his Jr Level one and flew it higher on an H. Base drag was his friend, trust in thrust, the path was set.

For ME PERSONALLY, it all started with PM's to Douglas Shrox about airplane rockets. He warned me of THE DARK ARTS of rocket design. I went on to WWI Triplanes, Biplanes, WWII fighters and bombers and many other Dark Side oddroc abominations. I once used the term "mindsim" and it frankly did not go over that well when first uttered at the RSO table. Those were the truly fun times.

 

[Daddyisabar]

When I have heard going to the darkside in reference to rockets, it has been from the pyro guys talking about building firework rockets. It is a common enough phrase among the PGI and regional firework guilds the builders tend to know what it was referring to. (and the darkside has cookies too. Seriously, at the PGI rocket range.)

The pyros are the worst Dark Siders. Strobe rockets, girandolas, illegal effects in flight, homebrew BP motors, explosions with zero recovery or reuse. RUN, DON'T WALK AWAY whenever such vile utterances meet the ears of a virtuous model rocketeer!

 

[NateB]

explosions with zero recovery or reuse.

That's actually a good thing and something I have built into my rockets. Display the header, then make an explosion big enough the spent motor tube and stick come down in small pieces instead of lawn darting. Safety first.

 

[ThirstyBarbarian]

The Dark Side of model rocketry is simply doing things that some may see as UNNATURAL

The Dark Side is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be … unnatural.

 

[ThirstyBarbarian]

The pyros are the worst Dark Siders.

You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy!

 

[NateB]

The Dark Side is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be … unnatural.

Wait... is commanding the elements of nature for science and entertainment unnatural?

 

[techrat]

So.... Oddrocs are "Darkside", which makes me think I was born to be a Darksider. On my 2nd trip to a launch I brought a plastic "Crayon Penny Bank" I had found at a $1 store, and modded it for a D12-0 and added some fins. I told the RSO that recovery was going to be lawn dart recovery and he promptly told me to get lost.

 

[Daddyisabar]

That's actually a good thing and something I have built into my rockets. Display the header, then make an explosion big enough the spent motor tube and stick come down in small pieces instead of lawn darting. Safety first.

When they had the high power three seconds of hell contest there were some lovely big birds that came down in shreds. THAT WAS ACCEPTABLE BECAUSE IT WAS ROCKET SCIENCE! A big difference it was! Rocket science rules!

 

[NateB]

So.... Oddrocs are "Darkside", which makes me think I was born to be a Darksider. On my 2nd trip to a launch I brought a plastic "Crayon Penny Bank" I had found at a $1 store, and modded it for a D12-0 and added some fins. I told the RSO that recovery was going to be lawn dart recovery and he promptly told me to get lost.

I bet you could fly it with rear motor ejection and a streamer.

 

[Daddyisabar]

So.... Oddrocs are "Darkside", which makes me think I was born to be a Darksider. On my 2nd trip to a launch I brought a plastic "Crayon Penny Bank" I had found at a $1 store, and modded it for a D12-0 and added some fins. I told the RSO that recovery was going to be lawn dart recovery and he promptly told me to get lost.

Good for that RSO! A true Jedi being a good influence and crushing your Dark Side temptations. You must repent. Stay to the Light young lad.

 

[Daddyisabar]

You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy!

WE MUST BE CAUTIOUS.

 

[Daddyisabar]

Actually I thought that was @lakeroadster who was clustering tractor motors, but then again, I can't remember what I had for lunch. And "tractor motors" make me think we're at a farm, so clearly, my mind has become a desolate wasteland.

Lakeroadster was a recent BAR having impure thoughts and came to the forum for knowledge and advice. He has since been spiraling towards becoming the successor to a long line of un or little known sith that came before him. First to officially adopt the term "oddroc scum."

 

[ThirstyBarbarian]

I told the RSO that recovery was going to be lawn dart recovery and he promptly told me to…

 

[Daddyisabar]

I bet you could fly it with rear motor ejection and a streamer.

BEWARE: Mindsimming leads to rear ejection, which leads to pyramids, which leads to funny looking base drag oddroc abominations.

 

[Daddyisabar]

View attachment 530072

The differences between the light and dark side is very little. They are both essentially the same in many ways. Both must follow all the basic rules of flight, but with the sith simply having better looking rockets.

 

[Daddyisabar]

Recognize the Dark Side when you see finless rockets, excessive nose weight, motors in the wrong places or canted at weird angles. Fins up front are not good, pods are a sure give away. Anything funny looking and not provided by a trusted kit manufacturer.

 

[ThirstyBarbarian]

Here is an example of a Dark Side rocketeer mind-simming an oddroc.

 

[Daddyisabar]

Here is an example of a Dark Side rocketeer mind-simming an oddroc.

View attachment 530073

Curses! The Jedi got away in the ship parked behind again!

 

[Daddyisabar]

Here is an example of a Dark Side rocketeer mind-simming an oddroc.

View attachment 530073

Using the Dark Side force to keep your oddroc stable off the pad! No need for silly rocket science or Jedi mind tricks.

 

[Daddyisabar]

View attachment 530072

So easy to appeal to that little devil sitting on the shoulder of the Top Men. Just put it on the far far away pad...maybe we can see a really cool crash...

 

[dlb]

 

[Daddyisabar]

View attachment 530113

There you go. A sensible high powered rocket with a Dark Side themed paint job all the old dudes can get into. They can smoke some cotton candy after the launch and finish off any leftover munchies!

 

[kuririn]

Reminds me of a joke.
An eccentric rocket scientist held a news conference to announce that he had built a rocket that would land on the sun.
"But sir," said one of the journalists.
"What about the heat?"
To which the scientist responded " Not to worry, I've got it covered".
"We're going to the darkside of the sun."
"And we're going at night."

 

[Daddyisabar]

I'm scared of the Darkside of the Moon ever since I saw that Iron Sky movie.

 

[ThirstyBarbarian]

View attachment 530113

There is no dark side of the moon really.
Matter of fact, it's all dark.