Senior Space Cadet
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 23, 2020
- Messages
- 717
- Reaction score
- 310
What guy doesn't like things that go fast and shoot out flames? Other than that, my two goals, with rocketry, were to keep my mind active, now that I'm retired, and to make some new friends.
So I hadn't really intended to buy my own launch gear. I figured I'd be joining a club and using theirs.
Thing is, clubs aren't launching in Colorado. I don't see how fire danger is any higher this year than previous, but maybe they've just gotten more cautious. Not sure individuals can launch, legally, either. A couple years ago, a couple guys, out camping, started a forest fire that ended up killing some people. They got charged with murder. Burning down someone's house or, heaven forbid, causing someone's death, is something no one wants on their conscience.
What I'm hoping, what I'm thinking, is that after a good, overnight rain (rare in Colorado), the next morning might be a window of opportunity. I'm not sure whether to run the idea past the local law, who are going to be overly cautious, or just be sneaky about it. At the very least, the first snow will allow launching.
Anyway, I went ahead and ordered some launch gear. I figure it expands my options. I ordered a launch pad and electronics from Estes, but then it occurred to me that someone must surely make an adapter for camera tripods, which I have an abundance of, and sure enough, I found one at Apogee, so I'll be ordering that too. It only holds rods up to 3/16, so I'm still glad I ordered a pad with a 1/4 rod.
But now I'm thinking that, as my rockets get bigger and more powerful, I'm going to want to go to rails and buttons. I guess that's when I'll have to depend on a club.
So I hadn't really intended to buy my own launch gear. I figured I'd be joining a club and using theirs.
Thing is, clubs aren't launching in Colorado. I don't see how fire danger is any higher this year than previous, but maybe they've just gotten more cautious. Not sure individuals can launch, legally, either. A couple years ago, a couple guys, out camping, started a forest fire that ended up killing some people. They got charged with murder. Burning down someone's house or, heaven forbid, causing someone's death, is something no one wants on their conscience.
What I'm hoping, what I'm thinking, is that after a good, overnight rain (rare in Colorado), the next morning might be a window of opportunity. I'm not sure whether to run the idea past the local law, who are going to be overly cautious, or just be sneaky about it. At the very least, the first snow will allow launching.
Anyway, I went ahead and ordered some launch gear. I figure it expands my options. I ordered a launch pad and electronics from Estes, but then it occurred to me that someone must surely make an adapter for camera tripods, which I have an abundance of, and sure enough, I found one at Apogee, so I'll be ordering that too. It only holds rods up to 3/16, so I'm still glad I ordered a pad with a 1/4 rod.
But now I'm thinking that, as my rockets get bigger and more powerful, I'm going to want to go to rails and buttons. I guess that's when I'll have to depend on a club.