Rocketeers in Ventura Ca. ??

[SteveNeill]

I am a member of the ROC as of recent. I'm about to join the NRA. I'm also AMA, FAC, NFFS, and lets not forget, FAA. That being said 6 years ago I left the LA valley. I lived there for 40 years I working in motion picture visual effects. My late wife passed from cancer in 2013. I left LA and moved to Ventura by the sea. I opened up and studio-shop here and it's been open for 6 years now. www.steveneillsgarage.com

I build model free flight planes, RC planes, RC subs, and other models and last but not least model Rockets. I have done everything from ghosts for Ghost Busters to Spock's ears, movie models and CGI effects.

6 Years later now that the dust has settled from the worse experience in my life I'm back to my hobbies I have always had a deep passion for. Especially rockets and space craft. After all I was glued to the screen in 61-69 from the moment I heard of the Alan Shepard's prayer. I watched Neil walk on the moon and played hooky from school for the whole mission. I have always been a rocket man.

But I am far behind the times and being 67(and out of the scene for a decade) I'm got a lot of spring in my step and want to work my way up those levels. Right now my sites are on L1 but I'm nearly a complete dummy and need to learn to walk again before I can run.

I just ordered from Tim a Zephyr, it should be here in a few days. I can build it just fine I have built thousands of models in my time and nearly all from scratch and or my own designs. So I'm good there. But I want to learn as much as I can.

So after telling you this long drawn out story what always helps is getting together with other people in rocketry. Are there any Rocketeers here from Ventura? If so I love to have you over to the studio and talk shop. You can sit in Kirk's chair and see a huge model of the Enterprise I built, props, masks, creatures and more.

I'm heading to Roctober on the 12 in my motor home to meet and fly with the ROC but I have to get my old rockets ready again and build this Zephyr before then.

I should have done this new guy check in post earlier.

Thanks guys,
Steve

 

[Billys2001]

Hi Steve, I'm in Ventura. I got back in Rocketry recently after showing my 5 year daughter some actual launches (either watching from home the launches out of VAFB or on Youtube) and mentioning we could build models. I had a bunch old LPR kits I built when I was in college (about 20 years ago) in one of the closets. We built a couple new kits, and went done to the SCRA launches at Santa Fe Dam Park a couple times and plan on heading again at the end of September.

Thanks
Billy

 

[SteveNeill]

Hi Billy. Thanks for popping in. If you have the time you should come by the studio. It's off of Telephone and McGraft. Currently I'm building a redstone and a Little Joe 1 both from Estes. Got to get them both done before the Zephyr gets here.

 

[Billys2001]

Cool, Not far from where I live, near the mall (not that Ventura is that big anyways).

 

[SteveNeill]

That's not far at all. Tomorrow I'm starting the Apogee Zephyr. Can't wait.

 

[SteveNeill]

Amazing, from RC sailplane, planes, jets ,Free Flight, Rockets, RC submarines and boats Ventura seems to be a dead zone for hobbies. Oh I forgot to mention Astronomy and slot cars. Yes I have too many toys and hobbies but then again he who dies with the most toys wins?