Steve Simkins
Member
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2023
- Messages
- 5
- Reaction score
- 8
A neighborhood friend from 5th grade (1973) introduced me to model rocketry while I was living in upstate New York. The bug bit hard when, after moving to a town to the east (same state) in 1974, I got an Estes Der Red Max starter kit.
From 1975 to 1979, with a move to South Carolina in 1977 and starting 9th grade, the hobby filled the holes of any days not consumed by school, homework or family outings. I didn't have a regular job to fund my hobby, but I learned early that Estes had a Design of the Month contest that paid $75 in merchandise for the winning design. I have a creative streak (artist mom) and I was pretty handy with mechanical drawing (engineering dad). Dad supplied me with quality drafting paper and drawings tools. I bought the NAR Handbook of Model Rocketry, and I learned how to test for stability. I entered five designs (mostly deep space concept ideas) from '77 to '79, two won Design of the Month and three won honorable mentions--$25 in merchandise for each I think. Those paid for kits, motors, and launching equipment until I started working and preparing for a college degree in Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering.
The hobby took a back seat during my time at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana from 1981 to 1985. I donated a lot of what I had accumulated to a local school before graduation, but kept my original designs and a few of my favorite kit builds. And it continued to sit while I worked for the Air Force in information technology, found the love of my life and married her, and started a family.
My first return to rocketry began with my oldest son in 1997 when he was six. I also had a friend with young boys who was also getting into it. We had some great fun, and a passion for rocket gliders and piggy-back gliders. But, 1998 called me to a job in Germany that included the family, so I entrusted my entire rocketry collection to my friend and his boys until my return in 2003.
In late 2003 my friend returned everything, a little worn and beat up, but with some new additions based on their explorations while I was gone. I tried to drum up interest among family friends, but it never caught on, so I set it aside.
My second return to rocketry began a few days ago when I learned my oldest grandson (now 3) from my first born son, has taken an interest in rockets. Trains are so yesterday now! So once again I am taking up the mantel and preparing for their visit this Thanksgiving. I'll keep it simple. I have a few kits, and I could make lots of repairs to existing models. But I'd really like to pursue a boost glider design I have that I've never executed. And I'd like to restore my Estes Bomarc IM-99 Citation. It had a fast level glide in a wide circle that took people's breath away.
I look forward to interacting with some of you in this forum, to help those with any knowledge and experience that I have, but also to learn and be helped by you. Here's wishing you no prangs!
Steve
From 1975 to 1979, with a move to South Carolina in 1977 and starting 9th grade, the hobby filled the holes of any days not consumed by school, homework or family outings. I didn't have a regular job to fund my hobby, but I learned early that Estes had a Design of the Month contest that paid $75 in merchandise for the winning design. I have a creative streak (artist mom) and I was pretty handy with mechanical drawing (engineering dad). Dad supplied me with quality drafting paper and drawings tools. I bought the NAR Handbook of Model Rocketry, and I learned how to test for stability. I entered five designs (mostly deep space concept ideas) from '77 to '79, two won Design of the Month and three won honorable mentions--$25 in merchandise for each I think. Those paid for kits, motors, and launching equipment until I started working and preparing for a college degree in Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering.
The hobby took a back seat during my time at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana from 1981 to 1985. I donated a lot of what I had accumulated to a local school before graduation, but kept my original designs and a few of my favorite kit builds. And it continued to sit while I worked for the Air Force in information technology, found the love of my life and married her, and started a family.
My first return to rocketry began with my oldest son in 1997 when he was six. I also had a friend with young boys who was also getting into it. We had some great fun, and a passion for rocket gliders and piggy-back gliders. But, 1998 called me to a job in Germany that included the family, so I entrusted my entire rocketry collection to my friend and his boys until my return in 2003.
In late 2003 my friend returned everything, a little worn and beat up, but with some new additions based on their explorations while I was gone. I tried to drum up interest among family friends, but it never caught on, so I set it aside.
My second return to rocketry began a few days ago when I learned my oldest grandson (now 3) from my first born son, has taken an interest in rockets. Trains are so yesterday now! So once again I am taking up the mantel and preparing for their visit this Thanksgiving. I'll keep it simple. I have a few kits, and I could make lots of repairs to existing models. But I'd really like to pursue a boost glider design I have that I've never executed. And I'd like to restore my Estes Bomarc IM-99 Citation. It had a fast level glide in a wide circle that took people's breath away.
I look forward to interacting with some of you in this forum, to help those with any knowledge and experience that I have, but also to learn and be helped by you. Here's wishing you no prangs!
Steve
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