Hi Charles, Yeah, sort of like that. Although, unlike the fireworks you can take some enjoyment out of building the model rocket and there is some enjoyment of being the guy who launches the rocket. Of course as a kid I found other ways to amuse myself too.
Not sure if I shared this on list before, but one of the things I liked doing is capturing frogs, toads, and other little animals and sending them up in the rockets. Sometimes they survived the experience but most of the time I scared them to death or smashed them flat due to the g-forces. Lol! The funniest case I can remember is this time my dad and I built this large model rocket, it was almost three feet tall, and I wanted to add a toad to it as a passenger. So my dad and I padded the inside of the cockpit with cotton, stuck the little guy in there, and prepared to launch him into space. Now, keep in mind here this rocket had a D engine, that's a two-stage engine, with a heck a lot of thrust, and could do a couple thousand feet easy. Basically, this poor toad was going where no toad had gone before. :D Anyway, I launched the rocket, the first stage burned out, and the rocket was way up in the sky at I'd say a thousand feet. Unfortunately, the engine must have been defective because it didn't kick in right away, and the rocket began falling out of the sky. So here it comes, a huge nose dive straight towards the ground, at maybe 250 feet, when the second stage finally kicks in, driving it straight into the ground at several hundred miles per hour. It hit the ground and blows apart on impact. Of course, the chute pops out after it hits the ground, but by then the poor toad's days were numbered. Not that the chute would have done any good with the second stage engine adding that much thrust to the descent. My dad and I went over and looked at the wreckage, and what to our wondering eyes should we see is the toad totally squished flat, his eyes were bugged out, and he looked like he was scared crapless. We laughed so hard I think our sides were going to burst open. That's the kind of devious and demented uses I put some of the model rockets to. Cheers!! On 12/24/11, Charles Rivard <[email protected]> wrote: > Sort of like going to a Fourth of July fireworks show, huh? The best part > about them is the explosions, if there are decent ones. The model rockets > wouldn't have that part, darnit. Probably just a hiss or whoosh, sort of > like a bottle rocket, and that's about it. Bummer. They do look cool, > though. > > --- > Shepherds are the best beasts, but Labs are a close second. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Thomas Ward" <[email protected]> > To: "Gamers Discussion list" <[email protected]> > Sent: Saturday, December 24, 2011 7:43 AM > Subject: Re: [Audyssey] Model Aircraft and Radio Controlled Vehicles > > >> Hi Charles, >> >> Well, keep in mind I still had sight when I was into model rockets, >> but the kits usually weren't that difficult to build. Of course, how >> difficult the kit was to build depended on the kit. They ranged from >> beginner models for kids to very advanced models for adults. The >> models I built were mostly the beginner models as I was only 9 or 10 >> years old at the time and the instructions were not that difficult. >> >> However, I do remember my dad and I did buy one of the more advanced >> kits, the Apollo 11, and that one required my dad's help because it >> was a fairly detailed replication of the Saturn 5 rocket and Apollo 11 >> command module.It had to be painted, glued together, and there were >> several detailed decals to add to it. I suppose I could have done >> that one myself, as I was sighted at the time, but couldn't have done >> that one blind as we wanted it to look as close as possible to the >> real thing. >> >> As far as the fuel goes the model rockets use a solid rocket engine >> meaning that it uses a special propellant that comes with the engine >> you buy from the toy store. The fuel and oxidizer are mixed together >> into a propellant that is packed into a solid cylinder which comes >> inside the model rocket engine itself. You use an electric ignition to >> light the engine, and launch the model rocket into the air. Once you >> use the engine you have to replace it before relaunching the model >> rocket as there is no way to refuel it. That's why model rocket >> engines generally come three to a pack as you can only use them once >> before throwing them away and buying a new one. >> >> The reason why modern model rockets use solid propellant rather than >> liquid fuels like gas is for safety reasons. Apparently, back in the >> 60's when model rockets first became really popular kids had a habit >> of blowing their hands and arms off messing with liquid fuels like >> gas. So modern model rocket engines use the same type of solid >> propellant the shuttle uses in its solid rocket boosters but only on a >> smaller scale of course. You just install the engine, set your rocket >> on the launch pad, connect the electric ignition and blast off. There >> isn't any handling flammable materials, poisonous chemicals, or >> anything too dangerous for a kid to get hurt with. Just remember to >> stand back before igniting the engine as you could get toasted if you >> are too close. >> >> As far as a blind person building and flying model rockets I think >> the blindness issue takes a lot of the fun out of it. The most fun I >> had with them was launching them and watching them reach maximum >> altitude, say 1,000 feet, and then descend back to the earth. Not >> being able to watch them fly takes most if not all of the fun out of >> it. At least for me that's been the reason I haven't gotten back into >> it. >> >> For example, back around Easter time my in-laws had a couple of model >> rockets they decided to launch after dinner and everyone sat outside >> watching the rockets go up one after another. I felt really left out >> of the experience because I could hear them take off, and had to >> listen to people ooh and ah as they flew overhead. One even crash >> landed right in the middle of the pond and we couldn't get it until >> summer when someone finally went swimming and retrieved it out of the >> mud. By that time it was pretty much hosed. In any case I didn't >> really feel connected to the fun of watching them. Being told a rocket >> just torpedoed straight into the middle of the pond isn't quite as fun >> as watching it hit, break apart, and sink. >> >> Cheers! >> >> >> On 12/24/11, Charles Rivard <[email protected]> wrote: >>> Model rocketry has always fascinated me. How difficult are they to >>> build? >>> How detailed are they? What fuel is used? This could be a thread loaded >>> with questions for experienced rocketeers, and I don't know how blind >>> friendly the model rocketry would be, but I like the subject, so there ya >>> go. >>> >>> --- >>> Shepherds are the best beasts, but Labs are a close second. >> >> --- >> Gamers mailing list __ [email protected] >> If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to >> [email protected]. >> You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at >> http://mail.audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. >> All messages are archived and can be searched and read at >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]. >> If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the >> list, >> please send E-mail to [email protected]. > > > --- > Gamers mailing list __ [email protected] > If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to > [email protected]. > You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at > http://mail.audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. > All messages are archived and can be searched and read at > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]. > If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, > please send E-mail to [email protected]. > --- Gamers mailing list __ [email protected] If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to [email protected]. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://mail.audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to [email protected].
