New member seeking for some advice

[EACC27]

Hello, I'm new to this forum & model rocketry in general.

For a bit of back story, I'm currently in my 3rd year of my BEng in Electrical Power Engineering, but I do electronics & Arduino on side as a hobby.

My university has started a new rocket club, which I joined. However, we have quite an electrical bias in the team, so I'm thinking about trying my hand in the more mechanical side of rocketry. For example, the actual design of the rocket, meaning I would need to know about mechanics, aerodynamics etc.

I was hoping people with a bit more experience could point me in the right direction on: What topics I would need to learn, any books/youtube channels/other media that is good to learn from, & anything else you guys think I would need to know to take this up as a hobby.

Thank you!

 

[neil_w]

1) Welcome to the forum!
2) Here are some good starter references: https://openrocket.info/tutorials/resources.html
3) Download a copy of OpenRocket and play. https://openrocket.info/downloads.html?vers=23.09 Look at the example designs (File -> Open Example).

I'm sure others will have plenty of other good suggestions.

 

[David Schwantz]

Nothing wrong with the above suggestions. I started as a kid, paper route paid for stuff. I never read a book, I just went out and built stuff and tried it out. I suggest getting your hands dirty and jumping in feet first. Hobby lobby sell kits, buy some, build them, then try different fins designs, BT lengths, motors sizes. I believe experience is the best form of learning.
Sorry, just saw you are in Scotland, don't know if they have Hobby Lobby. But internet is everywhere. I think.

 

[tsmith1315]

I totally agree with the idea of building a kit to get a few flights under your belt.

It will help you understand the launch process, give y’all some ideas and spark interest by getting a rocket in the air quickly. Then modify or rebuild.

I don’t know if there are any larger clubs in your area. If so, they would have launch equipment, a flying field and the legalities covered for you.

Here’s a place to start checking:
http://www.ukra.org.uk/

 

[MarsLander]

https://archive.org/details/handboo...ok of model rocketry 7th edn/page/16/mode/2up
https://ohio4h.org/sites/ohio4h/files/imce/Designing Your Own Model Rocket.pdf
https://courses.washington.edu/engr100/All_Sections/Rocket/HTML Handouts/02_hnd_building_rocket.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/@apogeerockets

 

[smstachwick]

Hello, I'm new to this forum & model rocketry in general.

For a bit of back story, I'm currently in my 3rd year of my BEng in Electrical Power Engineering, but I do electronics & Arduino on side as a hobby.

My university has started a new rocket club, which I joined. However, we have quite an electrical bias in the team, so I'm thinking about trying my hand in the more mechanical side of rocketry. For example, the actual design of the rocket, meaning I would need to know about mechanics, aerodynamics etc.

I was hoping people with a bit more experience could point me in the right direction on: What topics I would need to learn, any books/youtube channels/other media that is good to learn from, & anything else you guys think I would need to know to take this up as a hobby.

Thank you!

I’d agree with the suggestion of G. Harry Stine’s Handbook of Model Rocketry. The last edition came out 20 years ago but many of the fundamentals covered in the first four or five chapters are still relevant. That covers the design, construction, and operation of the airframe and model rocket motor.

There are also chapters on predicting and measuring both stability and altitude performance. Understanding the theory will help you with simulation programs like OpenRocket.

Try your hand at a few kits in a few different size and power ranges. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.

https://estesrockets.com/products/luna-bug
https://estesrockets.com/products/boosted-bertha
https://estesrockets.com/products/tazz
https://www.apogeerockets.com/Rocket-Kits/Skill-Level-3-Model-Rocket-Kits/Slo-Mo
https://www.apogeerockets.com/Rocket-Kits/Skill-Level-2-Model-Rocket-Kits/Rising-Star
https://www.apogeerockets.com/Rocket-Kits/Skill-Level-2-Model-Rocket-Kits/Aspire
https://www.apogeerockets.com/Rocket-Kits/Skill-Level-4-Model-Rocket-Kits/EggStorminator
That’ll cover your low- and mid-power range with ease.

 

[Hobie1dog]

 

[Tech 68]

Hello, I'm new to this forum & model rocketry in general.

For a bit of back story, I'm currently in my 3rd year of my BEng in Electrical Power Engineering, but I do electronics & Arduino on side as a hobby.

My university has started a new rocket club, which I joined. However, we have quite an electrical bias in the team, so I'm thinking about trying my hand in the more mechanical side of rocketry. For example, the actual design of the rocket, meaning I would need to know about mechanics, aerodynamics etc.

I was hoping people with a bit more experience could point me in the right direction on: What topics I would need to learn, any books/youtube channels/other media that is good to learn from, & anything else you guys think I would need to know to take this up as a hobby.

Thank you!

Stine's Handbook of Model Rocketry and this one are the two I always suggest...
https://www.alibris.com/Modern-High-Power-Rocketry-2-Mark-Canepa/book/27006081

 

[EACC27]

Stine's Handbook of Model Rocketry and this one are the two I always suggest...
https://www.alibris.com/Modern-High-Power-Rocketry-2-Mark-Canepa/book/27006081

I bought Canepa's book & I am going to buy Stine's, thank you!

 

[EACC27]

I’d agree with the suggestion of G. Harry Stine’s Handbook of Model Rocketry. The last edition came out 20 years ago but many of the fundamentals covered in the first four or five chapters are still relevant. That covers the design, construction, and operation of the airframe and model rocket motor.

There are also chapters on predicting and measuring both stability and altitude performance. Understanding the theory will help you with simulation programs like OpenRocket.

Try your hand at a few kits in a few different size and power ranges. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.

https://estesrockets.com/products/luna-bug
https://estesrockets.com/products/boosted-bertha
https://estesrockets.com/products/tazz
https://www.apogeerockets.com/Rocket-Kits/Skill-Level-3-Model-Rocket-Kits/Slo-Mo
https://www.apogeerockets.com/Rocket-Kits/Skill-Level-2-Model-Rocket-Kits/Rising-Star
https://www.apogeerockets.com/Rocket-Kits/Skill-Level-2-Model-Rocket-Kits/Aspire
https://www.apogeerockets.com/Rocket-Kits/Skill-Level-4-Model-Rocket-Kits/EggStorminator
That’ll cover your low- and mid-power range with ease.

Thank you, I will look into buying one!

 

[EACC27]

https://archive.org/details/handboo...ok of model rocketry 7th edn/page/16/mode/2up
https://ohio4h.org/sites/ohio4h/files/imce/Designing Your Own Model Rocket.pdf
https://courses.washington.edu/engr100/All_Sections/Rocket/HTML Handouts/02_hnd_building_rocket.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/@apogeerockets

Thank you for the book recommendation, I intend on buying this.

Would you be okay with me sharing the PDFs to my colleagues in the rocket group?

 

[EACC27]

I totally agree with the idea of building a kit to get a few flights under your belt.

It will help you understand the launch process, give y’all some ideas and spark interest by getting a rocket in the air quickly. Then modify or rebuild.

I don’t know if there are any larger clubs in your area. If so, they would have launch equipment, a flying field and the legalities covered for you.

Here’s a place to start checking:
http://www.ukra.org.uk/

I believe there is a local Rocketry club in my city. There are definitely ones in Scotland & will get into contact with them.

 

[EACC27]

Nothing wrong with the above suggestions. I started as a kid, paper route paid for stuff. I never read a book, I just went out and built stuff and tried it out. I suggest getting your hands dirty and jumping in feet first. Hobby lobby sell kits, buy some, build them, then try different fins designs, BT lengths, motors sizes. I believe experience is the best form of learning.
Sorry, just saw you are in Scotland, don't know if they have Hobby Lobby. But internet is everywhere. I think.

I have some extra money I've saved so I could afford to buy a model & build it. Fortunately have a decent amount of tools because I do DIY already.

Thank you!

 

[EACC27]

1) Welcome to the forum!
2) Here are some good starter references: https://openrocket.info/tutorials/resources.html
3) Download a copy of OpenRocket and play. https://openrocket.info/downloads.html?vers=23.09 Look at the example designs (File -> Open Example).

I'm sure others will have plenty of other good suggestions.

Thanks for this. I already have OpenRocket downloaded, and have yet to look at the tutorials for it. Just need to find time from my other studies.

Thank you

 

[MarsLander]

Thank you for the book recommendation, I intend on buying this.

Would you be okay with me sharing the PDFs to my colleagues in the rocket group?

Internet Archive is open source...do what you want with it!

 

[Wrightme43]

I have learned the most from reading build threads on here, and asking questions. Almost everyone here is incredibly helpful and kind. Just ask and people will answer.

 

[b.wieting]

Hello, I'm new to this forum & model rocketry in general.

For a bit of back story, I'm currently in my 3rd year of my BEng in Electrical Power Engineering, but I do electronics & Arduino on side as a hobby.

My university has started a new rocket club, which I joined. However, we have quite an electrical bias in the team, so I'm thinking about trying my hand in the more mechanical side of rocketry. For example, the actual design of the rocket, meaning I would need to know about mechanics, aerodynamics etc.

I was hoping people with a bit more experience could point me in the right direction on: What topics I would need to learn, any books/youtube channels/other media that is good to learn from, & anything else you guys think I would need to know to take this up as a hobby.

Thank you!

https://www.jcrocket.com/

 

[OzHybrid]

Contact SARA (Scottish Aeronautics and Rocketry Association)
http://www.sara.rocketry.org.uk/
[email protected]