Couldn't Pass This One Up....

 "Out here in Colarady, we're dern serious 'bout our rocketry!"

Back To "Square" One

 During the past couple of years, I have been flying a scratch-built replica of the Mark II Rock-A-Chute model rocket, which most of you are aware, is the design that set the standard for the hobby as we know it today.

To date, the model has flown ten times, all being recovered on a square red plastic parachute to keep things historically authentic.

To my delight, I have found that the square 'para-sheets' have performed very well, despite being so simple.  Along with the Mark II, I have taken to using them in other small, light LPR birds in the fleet, notably the Astron Alpha clone.

Once deployed and filled with air, they descend just as slowly (and sometimes even more so) as hexagonal or round parachutes of the same surface area.

On one particular Alpha flight, I was even able to run under the descending bird and easily catch it before it reached the ground. And that's not an easy feat at my age!

Recently, I have been on a kick of building a bunch of new parachutes, as my inventory of them had become somewhat depleted.

On this go around, I've decided to construct square chutes on anything twelve inches and smaller.  

A whole slew of 6, 8, 10, and 12 inch square chutes ready for assembly.

Since constructing chutes is one of my least favorite aspects of the rocket building process, it is a delight to knock these babies out in quantity.  They are easy to lay out and cut to size and require the attachment of only four shroud lines.

A square 12-incher, veteran of eight rocket flights.

Elegant simplicity!

2022 Binge Build, Part 1 - The Adventure Starts Here...

 Yes, Boys and Girls, it's time to turn on the lights in the BlastFromThePast Secret La-BOR-atory, roll up the sleeves, don the tin-foil helmet, open up a case of Mountain Dew, and execute a few celebratory arm-pit farts!

 Well, maybe not the latter item. I do have my dignity to maintain, after all,...

Anyway, it's the great 2022 LPR Binge Build!

This year's roster consist of nine models (so far) that I hope to complete by EOY.

The 2022 Binge Build will be somewhat top-heavy on scale models, or should I say, sport scale models, followed by some boost/gliders, a sci-fi bird, and a couple of 'old-fleet-favorites' re-builds. Here's the list:

1. Viking 4 sport scale. This one has been on my build wish-list for quite some time, so it's high time to get started.

2. Nike Apache - the Estes kit which I bought several years ago. but has been neglected.

3. Nike Smoke - another long awaited Estes kit.

4. Mercury Redstone -Estes again.

5. A.R.V. Condor - an OOP Estes kit that was given to me by Mike Goss a little over a year ago.  Dual gliders. Right up my alley.

6.  Deltie Airshow. What's better than two gliders on one model? Three, of course! Ever since I saw the plans on JimZ for this kit from Edmonds Aerospace, I've been intrigued.

7. Rascal Rocket/Glider.  This is an old Paul C. Conner design published in The Model Rocketeer way back in 1974. I built one back in the day and recall how much fun it was to fly.

8. Mountaineer IV. This is actually an Estes Omega. I had Mountaineers I through III back in the old fleet, two of which were built and sent to me by Herb Desind, for whom I flew numerous Cineroc flights.

9. Black Hole Space Probe. This will be a clone of an old Estes Sci-Fi kit. It uses a PNC-50BB Nose cone (think Black Brant III), one of which I happen to have hanging around in the parts box.

There may be one or two additional models that will get added to the list if I happen to get motivated or inspired enough.

Again, this new blog series won't be a blow-by-blow build thread, rather a string of progress posts. Any unique or unusual build techniques or challenges along the way might get greater detailed treatment.

Oh, and I promise not to use the goofy alliterative post titles like I did in the 2021 Binge Build.

This is a serious blog, by gosh!

I am still on the fence, though,  about the arm-pit farts...

Cheers!

Another Random Rocket Part Find....

 While I am out shopping, I constantly keep an eye peeled for any item that could possibly be useful in model rocketry.

This morning, I happened to be in the paper plate/napkin aisle at the neighborhood Wal-Mart when I espied these:

Non-plastic bio-degradable drinking straws. 

Why not?   I picked up a box for $3.66 and hauled them home.

These straws are very sturdy and smooth.  No spiral seams to worry about.  The great thing is that they are identical in diameter to standard 3/16" launch lugs, as well as being 7-1/2" in length.

Besides launch lugs, I can see other uses in model rocketry such as detailing for Sci-Fi models, conduits, etc. 

I will definitely make use of the straws in the near future and let you all know how well they work and if they take paints and glues well.

Cheers! 

July 13th update:

After playing around with these straws in the shop, I learned that they are made from a recycled plastic compound. White glue will not adhere to them, though they work fine with CA and epoxy.