My First Foray into the Fun Fray of Rocketry

[ping111]

Salutations!

In approximately 1 hour\'s time, I will arrive in my local science store for my birthday gift.

Being the space-obsessed 12-year-old I am, I immediately set my eyes on the rockets.

I will keep you posted on my purchases. My goals are to launch by May 14, and for the rocket to reach approximately 230 feet. Please comment on this thread with your good-luck wishes, tips, or anecdotes from your first flight.

Cheers!

[Mynorus]

Good luck!

[ping111]

Thanks!

About to take off for the store. See you soon, with a rocket in my hands!

[Radion]

Good luck!

Tip #1 - The neighbor\'s cat is not a viable target

Tip #2 - Recreating KSP in real life has VERY bad consequences for the people around you.

[ping111]

Good luck!

Tip #1 - The neighbor\'s cat is not a viable target

Tip #2 - Recreating KSP in real life has VERY bad consequences for the people around you.

Lol, parents. Not leaving for some time.

#1 - It\'s funny, my neighbour does have a cat, but he\'s never outside.

#2 - You don\'t say? Well, I\'m gonna add a little Jeb sticker if nothing else.

[Mynorus]

Tip #3: Symmetry is your friend.

[NIN3]

tip#4) If you press the lanch button, and nothing happens, dont let your freinds go charging up to help you. (mine did. told them not to. and it blew up in there faces)

[Luigibro606]

Heh... g\'luck Ping.

[Ydoow]

Ooooh post back with all the details: Setup, planning, math, design, pre-launch, countdown, launch, jumping for cover, how long the ambulance takes to arrive, etc etc.

[Radion]

Tip #5 - Do not shoot across Lake Ontario or the US Army will be at your door asking for a reason as to why you shot a mini-ICBM into American territory.

[ping111]

Tip #5 - Do not shoot across Lake Ontario or the US Army will be at your door asking for a reason as to why you shot a mini-ICBM into American territory.

Lucky I don\'t live near Lake Ontario However, maybe one day I\'ll go on a Skywalk (walking on top of the CN Tower) and smuggle a rocket in. DEATH TO THE BLUE JAYS! 8)

[ping111]

Well, I\'m back. This will have to be a triple-post, because the files are too large.

First up, The Estes Alpha III rocket.

Comes with rocket, launchpad, motors, the works.

Photos attached:

1: The front.

2: The back, with stats and the like.

Statistics:

Length: 12.3' (31.2cm)

Diameter: 0.98' (25mm)

Weight: 1.2 oz. (34g)

Recovery: Parachute with streamer.

[ping111]

And the other one - yes, another one.

Sorry about the name, Nova. It\'s the Estes Big Bertha.

This 2-foot beast is a Level 1. Here are the notes that are blurred out:

• 
  [li]Flies Up to 169m (550\')[/li]
  [li]Our Largest Beginner Level ROcket[/li]
  [li]Slow, Realistic Take-Offs[/li]
  

Statistics:

Length: 24' (2\') (610mm) (61cm)

Diameter: 1.637' (41.6mm) (4.16cm)

Weight: 3 oz. (95g)

Recovery: Parachute

Now, I need ADVICE! I\'m a BEGINNER, so I need all the help I can get! Launching, weather, building, ANYTHING!

[Guest]

Im currently trying to recreate KSP IRL 8)

[hpearson]

awesome, a fellow model rocket enthusiast!

be safe! lol I had a few close calls before

[Millst0ne MK II]

Happy birthday! Make sure there are no annoying retards in the vicinity, because they really mess things up. Really.

[Feragorn]

Really, there\'s no advice to be given other than go into a very large field with no heavy traffic and no really heavy winds.

It\'s quite simple. I\'ve got a few old kits from when I did that, and ended up building a few from scratch. Once you get experience with the level 1 kits, go up to level 2. You\'re a bit young for 3 and up, but that\'ll pass in time.

[NovaSilisko]

I have an Alpha III of my own, actually. The parachute was melted after the padding caught on fire, so now it\'s a rocket propelled lawn dart.

[Mynorus]

Nice, nova. Louanne, the damn kids are shooting those rocket-propelled monstrosities on my lawn again!

[Feragorn]

I have an Alpha III of my own, actually. The parachute was melted after the padding caught on fire, so now it\'s a rocket propelled lawn dart.

I had a Gnome actually burst into flames at apogee. Old motor, too strong. Not my best moment. As far as I know, the parachute melting thing is pretty common if you don\'t pack the wadding well enough. Had two or three rockets crumple that way.

[Guest GroundHOG-2010]

I really should start doing something with rockets other than KSP.

[bandit4910]

Tip#6 Wear a helmet.

Tip#7 Press the launch button indoors.

Tip#8 Wear fire retardant clothing.

Tip#9 Call 911 if a fire breaks out.(Or whatever your emergency help line is...)

Other than that have fun!

[SteevyT]

NEVER try to turn a plastic cup into a rocket.

As far as that rocket goes. Make sure the joints are strong, but don\'t put a ton of glue on it. Do not use an engine larger than recommended.

[move]FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS[/move]

[Polecat Industries]

Ooh, the Big Bertha! Nice! I have a Sky twister, and a Vector force meself. Also, do you know Canada\'s laws regarding model rocketry?

[ping111]

Ooh, the Big Bertha! Nice! I have a Sky twister, and a Vector force meself. Also, do you know Canada\'s laws regarding model rocketry?

Oh god... No. What is it? Well, seeing how a major store sells them, I can assume they\'re okay.