| Model rockets should never be built with materials | | | | can find 'educator' sets. |
| such as PVC tubing and rocket engines should not be | | | | They would include a starter kit and 12 skills level one |
| attached to anything that is not designed to be | | | | rocket. Usually 'Yankees', another good starter rocket |
| powered by them. This is extremely dangerous. The | | | | and should be about $4 a rocket. The last thought |
| materials should be something that will disintegrate if | | | | that comes to mind is your local hobby store. Tell |
| it impacts something. Paper, balsawood or thin | | | | them what you are doing and most 'mom and pop' |
| plastics. | | | | hobby stores should give you a pretty good price. |
| I also don't think attaching motors to your RC truck | | | | Este's rockets I think are the best kits for beginners. |
| would do much if anything, but be dangerous. If your | | | | They seem to have a better fit and finish to them. |
| RC truck weighs anywhere near what my sons does | | | | Remember the skill level one rockets are going to |
| the engine might not even move it. Again, it is very | | | | need glue (both white and model glue), paint, and |
| dangerous and you shouldn't attempt it. | | | | maybe sand paper. |
| I know these are not the answers you are hoping | | | | I would think it would be reliable. Just as any staged |
| for, but there is a reason they require 'adult | | | | rocket, the distance from one engine to the next |
| supervision' when launching rockets. They can be | | | | would be the biggest variable that would affect 'light |
| dangerous if they are not used as they are designed. | | | | off'. But, I do not have a lot of experience with |
| Model rocket kits have been design to be safe. | | | | staged rockets. My launch sites are not big enough |
| Checking the CB/CP and many other things. Putting | | | | for safe recovery. My only experiences with staged |
| things on any rocket that is not design for it could | | | | rockets are with C engines. I have never had a failure |
| cause serious injures. | | | | with one stage lighting the next. |
| Rocket bodies are very difficult to make. I have only | | | | These have been Este's kits; I have not designed |
| heard of one person successfully making one. What | | | | one myself. On the other hand, Estes does not make |
| he had done was to grease a stick that he wanted | | | | and E' engine booster, that I know of. There might |
| as an inside diameter of the tube. Then wrapped that | | | | be a reason for that. Might be an altitude issue, |
| stick with brown craft paper soaked in white glue. | | | | maybe a light off issue or a weight to thrust issue? |
| Let it set for a few days and slid the stick out. Nose | | | | Model rockets have an ejection charge that will push |
| cones are hard if you don't have a lathe. Trying to | | | | the nose cone and parachute or streamer out. In a |
| get them symmetrical would be difficult. The nose | | | | tumble recovery rocket, the ejection charge will push |
| cone and fins are usually made out of balsa wood or | | | | the engine casing out the back of the rocket making |
| plastic. Larger rockets will use plywood for the fins. | | | | the rocket unstable and it will tumble back to the |
| Body tubes are always some form of a paper | | | | ground. This ejection charge is timed from the end of |
| cardboard tube. | | | | the propulsion phase, which is what shoots the |
| Depending on how you want to run your launches. If | | | | rocket upwards. |
| you are only going to need one or two launch pads | | | | If you look at the numbers on a model rocket engine |
| and launch controls, Wal-Mart is your best bet for | | | | like an Estes A8-3. The A8 tells you how much |
| 'Starter' kits ($20). They will include everything you | | | | impulse power it has and how long it will burn. The '3' |
| need for your first launch but batteries. Usually the | | | | tells you that 3 seconds after it finishes burning the |
| rockets in the starter kits are pre built or need very | | | | propulsion phase, it will pop the ejection charge. The |
| little assembly. If you want the campers to build their | | | | reason it doesn't pop right after it's done burning the |
| rockets, look for skill level one kits. | | | | propulsion phase is the rocket can be traveling at |
| The 'Alpha' has been around for 30+ years is simple | | | | 300mph and the little plastic parachute would rip off. |
| to build and is very stable. It used to be the rocket | | | | Also the rocket continues to fly higher because of |
| everyone started with. If you are in need for a lot of | | | | momentum. |
| kits try EBay. EBay seems to be the only place you | | | | |