Large event tips.
I was very impressed with the last big RocStock event a couple of weekends ago. The club has a very streamlined and straight forward process at the launch pads that worked very very well.
I wasn't too happy with them having to launch all of the LPR pads en masse since it got difficult to track my own rocket in the maze of smoke trails, but there were so many people launching that it just had to be done that way. 18 pads were loaded, names of the fliers and what rocket/motor was being launched were announced and .... 4,3,2,1, launch. It does look impressive.
The launch controllers were very nice. I recall that there were 3 identical selector boxes that could be slaved together to launch multiple pads with one button.
Cost of the event was collected through launch fees, raffles of vendor donated gear and swag (T-shirts, hats, etc). Unclaimed raffle prizes (you had to be present to collect) went into a goody bag for a special volunteer raffle.
This was my first launch at a ROC event and all of the people running the event were friendly, cheerful and having as good a time as I was. I don't think that they would hesitate to describe how they set up their events if someone got in touch (
https://www.rocstock.org). Never hurts to ask. There is some good documention on the web site.
I agree that long wait times suck. Hybrids seemed take the most time as an M is about 4 or 5 mins to tank up on NOS if everything goes well.
The RocStock site had enough room that LPR, MPR, and HPR could be loaded while one class was launching. The exception was exteme HPR where it was prudent to clear the whole range. Since these were few, it was no problem. It gave me plenty of time to run back to the car for my camera if I had put it away.
Launching went right across the line (except busy lpr periods). If a rocket didn't lift, the next in line was tried. A failed launch required the flier to remove their rocket from the launch pad when the range was opened and the next group loaded their rockets. One would retrieve their launch card, replace a burned ignitor, etc and resubmit for another attempt. While LPR was reloading, MPR launched in sequence. The idea was to keep rockets launching and spend as little time as possible fiddling at the pads.
Big events are a logistical challenge. It sounds as if the event went pretty well and people had fun. It will certainly get better as time goes on. There are too many good people in the hobby for it not to.
I haven't come across any club sized launch controllers online, but there must be some plans lurking somewhere on the web for a robust system that is still simple in the details (so it's easy to troubleshoot quickly in the field). I know that my local club doesn't seem to keep track of member's professions or outside interests in any organized manner. It certainly doesn't hurt to know who in a club is the goto person for particular parts or services that could come in handy (electrical parts, metal working, PA system, etc, etc). hmmmm.
dang, I was gonna browse the Fliskits site and see if TODAY I could make up my freakin' mind what I REALLY want to order. Too late and past my bed time.
Cheers
