New here, not new to the hobby.
You know the story, boy gets into rockets, builds a few cool things, learns disappointment with builds going CATO (new term for me, I think I am using it right!). Then, boy learns about cars and girls, and life puts the rocket hobby aside. I have been working for the last 40+ years and hoping to retire within the next couple years.
What brought me back to the hobby? I was describing what rocketry was to a British friend (BTW, I don’t think they do Rocketry in the UK, he had no clue about it) and to help explain, I googled for an Estes engine image. Along with the image, Amazon pitched a rocket kit and F size motor combo. That’s where they got me. As a kid, I justified flying mostly rockets with mini motors because I was able to launch 4 rockets per pack of engines, versus 3 for standard sizes. I never flew the large D size stuff because frankly, I couldn’t afford it. Things have changed and I have been hooked on building non-mini stuff now!
The first kit was the Black Brant V (picture below), and I quickly followed it up with the Super Chief 2. I am currently working on the Doorknob and the Majestic, and in the queue is the Mega and Big Der Red Max plus a few more. Maybe one day, I might even launch one! At the moment, I am enjoying taking my time to build them nicely. As a kid, I was just trying to get them together and in the air!
I live in San Diego and hoping to connect with a group in this area in hopes to eventually head out to the desert to try my hand at Level 1 Cert at some point. I see there is an event this weekend (July 29th) on Fiesta Island, I will probably head on down and check it out!
Well, that’s my story. Glad to find some like minded hobbyists!
BTW, my classic favorites were the Orbital Transport, Space Shuttle, and Scissor Wing. My two stages rockets never seemed to go too well, I think the 1st stages were always too tight in the main tube! CATO? Well, I hope I fix that for my Super Chief BEFORE all that work is gone!
You know the story, boy gets into rockets, builds a few cool things, learns disappointment with builds going CATO (new term for me, I think I am using it right!). Then, boy learns about cars and girls, and life puts the rocket hobby aside. I have been working for the last 40+ years and hoping to retire within the next couple years.
What brought me back to the hobby? I was describing what rocketry was to a British friend (BTW, I don’t think they do Rocketry in the UK, he had no clue about it) and to help explain, I googled for an Estes engine image. Along with the image, Amazon pitched a rocket kit and F size motor combo. That’s where they got me. As a kid, I justified flying mostly rockets with mini motors because I was able to launch 4 rockets per pack of engines, versus 3 for standard sizes. I never flew the large D size stuff because frankly, I couldn’t afford it. Things have changed and I have been hooked on building non-mini stuff now!
The first kit was the Black Brant V (picture below), and I quickly followed it up with the Super Chief 2. I am currently working on the Doorknob and the Majestic, and in the queue is the Mega and Big Der Red Max plus a few more. Maybe one day, I might even launch one! At the moment, I am enjoying taking my time to build them nicely. As a kid, I was just trying to get them together and in the air!
I live in San Diego and hoping to connect with a group in this area in hopes to eventually head out to the desert to try my hand at Level 1 Cert at some point. I see there is an event this weekend (July 29th) on Fiesta Island, I will probably head on down and check it out!
Well, that’s my story. Glad to find some like minded hobbyists!
BTW, my classic favorites were the Orbital Transport, Space Shuttle, and Scissor Wing. My two stages rockets never seemed to go too well, I think the 1st stages were always too tight in the main tube! CATO? Well, I hope I fix that for my Super Chief BEFORE all that work is gone!
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