rharshberger
Well-Known Member
Last night the TCR community outreach team did a build night with a local middle school group of 15 or so students. Per one of our kit recommendations their instructor purchased a number of BMS school Rocket kits and the optional parachutes. Having never built this kit and knowing only a little about it I was very pleased with how well done the kit is. Many times on build nights the Mentors spend a fair amount of time, marking airframes, motor mounts and other little projects. The BMS SR is extremely well thought out, with concise, step by step pictorial instructions. The airframe tubes are laser slotted, and the launch lug location is laser etched on the tube. The motor mount laser slotted for the motor hook, and where the kevlar shock cord ties in, centering ring locations are etched around the mmt, and the ply centering rings are slotted for the motor hook. Nosecone is a balsa (go figure) nosecone that uses reasonably beefy screw eye, that mounts in the nosecone using a 1/4" hardwood dowel. The only items needed for assembly are a Sharpie (putting name on mylar streamer), glue, optional toothpicks for glue placement, and a stapler for the streamer, though packing tape works just fine.
All in all this was an easy build for middleschoolers and due to the TTW construction would be a great kit for Cub Scout build night ( or any other group build) as the fins are much easier for unskilled fingers to get properly positioned. Great little kit and big kudo's to Bill Saindon (and his wife Mary iirc) at BMS for their great service and a great well thought out little kit.
All in all this was an easy build for middleschoolers and due to the TTW construction would be a great kit for Cub Scout build night ( or any other group build) as the fins are much easier for unskilled fingers to get properly positioned. Great little kit and big kudo's to Bill Saindon (and his wife Mary iirc) at BMS for their great service and a great well thought out little kit.