"I have a question for the masses. What keeps rocketeers in the low power side of the lobby? Money, nostalgia, etc? I personally love to see all the old classic models, and I have a few, but I find myself drawn to bigger and bigger rockets."
For me, plenty of reasons.
- First up - I love watching mid and high power launches. I have great respect for the guys who successfully fly the big models.
- It seems the larger the rocket, the simpler the design. (Not all, but most.) Most mid and high power rockets seem to be 3FNC designs. I like doing detail work on the smaller models.
- Money is a consideration. I can fly five models at a club launch for $15.00, instead of my entire budget going to just one flight.
- I don't have the storage area for 4" diameter rockets.
- I don't care to use epoxy or learn fiber glassing.
- BP Dual deploy seems a bit daunting. I do like the Jolly Logic Chute Deploy, though.
- And last (I'll catch some flack for this) - my BT-50 model with a C engine looks about the same at apogee as a larger mid power model.
I agree with every bullet point.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first got back in last year, I immediately felt the lure of the larger stuff, but it's already fading. I'm sure I'll still build an MPR or two (or three :)), but I'm quite happy sticking with LPR for now, even if I do gravitate towards the larger end of it.
I became interested in the hobby through modelling. I love making models, mostly airplanes. But what do you do after building a model? set it on a shelf?
ReplyDeleteRocketry draws a fine line between making something look good, and engineering something that can survive a flight and landing. What fun!
Also, with LPR rocketry, it is possible to go to the park with some friends and neighbors on a whim. If the weather is good -- go fly some rockets. Let some kids in the neighborhood launch a few.
I love the convenience and accessibility of LPR.
Mike Ruf
LPR enthusiast
Hi Anonymous,
DeleteWhen I was 13 years old I had a LOT of plastic models that just sat there. That was one of the things that attracted me to the hobby - they were functional, flying models.
That and the price in 1969. I was amazed I could actually get a two stage model (Estes Midget) for $1.25!
And rocketry is still - relatively - an inexpensive hobby. And an accessible one too. I spent many frustrating hours trying to get my model RR to even run reliably, much less build anything even close to the awesome stuff in the model train mags. Even with my klutzy skills and lousy eyesight I can build some pretty neat rockets - that fly!
DeletePlenty of reasons to stick with LPR - money,time, and - primarily - places to launch. The other day, after a day of yard work and chores around the house, I realized the wind was practically nonexsistent and the sky was crystal clear - 5 minutes later I was in the local park and launched 4 different LPR rockets a total of 6 times. Then a stop for milkshakes on the way home - total elapsed time - hour and a half. Great fun! Tough to that in ex-urban north central Ohio...
ReplyDeleteHi Openroad,
DeleteI agree! If I can get up early enough (before the wind comes up) I'll walk over to the schoolyard soccer field and fly a few.
I wish it was that easy. I live in S.California where flying rockets is an act of terrorism.
DeleteHi David,
DeleteHard to believe, but flying model rockets in California back in 1969 was probably harder than it is now. We had to have the Asst. State Fire Marshall drive to Watsonville from Sacramento to grant us an engine buying permit. Florida might be easier, until somebody tells me I can't launch at school yard anymore. I carry my NAR brochure in my range box if anybody ever asks insurance questions.
...flying HPR or experimental stuff. Got distracted and forgot to finish my thought. Getting old!
ReplyDeleteI only build LPR, I wish Sport Rocketry Magazine had more LPR articles.
ReplyDeleteHi David,
DeleteI would also like to see more LPR articles in the Sport Rocketry magazine. The NAR relies on article submissions from members. If people sent in more articles on low power you might see more of that content.
I like LPR due to the lack of fields big enough for bigger stuff. The cost is also a consideration. Also none of the hobby shops in my area ever have the right composite motors in stock, usually just the ones with high delays. Besides using the Estes black powder 29mm motors I have built and launched several large rockets. I love those motors. I used to build clusters to get the necessary power, but the big Estes motors work fine by themselves.
ReplyDeleteven though I am going bigger and more powerful all the time, I still do LPR, too.
ReplyDeleteAs Chris said, the modelling aspect of the hobby is rarely present in MPR and HPR, with the exception of some fine, and generally expensive, scale models.
LPR is is where my family is right now, although wife and daughter are moving up, too.
Anything higher than LPR is asking for lost rockets at the ROCK launches.
And finally, it's something to do between HPR launches at NEFAR launches. :)