A Christmas Party Conversation

Once a year I run into Todd at an annual Christmas party. Todd was the head clown with the Ringling Bros. Circus.

I asked: "What is Tom doing these days?" (His friend Tom was also a Ringling Clown) 

Todd responded: "He's working for the Lego company making large Lego displays."

Me: "Oh, that's interesting. In all honesty, I never understood all the adult interest in Legos."

Todd: "You're one to talk - Model rocket man."

Touché Todd!

Girls Launch Rockets Too!

After years of seeing this guy in the instructions - 

The girls are represented counting down and launching a rocket!

At least she's looking at the rocket. In the older instructions, the guy above is looking away from the action.

From the new Great Goblin kit instructions: CLICK HERE

I'll be blog building a Great Goblin when Estes gets the next run of kits. The initial shipment sold out!

Estes Leaper Reader

Posted by KenECoyote on the Rocketry Forum:

Balsa Grain Direction?

Eugenio Cebollero posted this on the Scratch Built Rocketry and Rocket Repairs Facebook page: 

"When scratch building and making ones own fins from balsa stock one must always remember to pay close attention to wood grain direction. I stole this from a woodworking group and this illustration perfectly explains the importance of grain direction as it correlates to strength."

My response: "That grain is gonna be hard to fill." 

Eugenio responded: "Nah, that's what the dip is for!"

What's For Sale?

This has to be the greatest ad for white paint ad I've ever seen.

Posted by ERockets on Facebook.

 

Funny Picture

This sort of reminds me of my Mother saying:

"Who took the good scissors?"

I think every household had three pairs of scissors. 

One set was tight and sharp - the "good" scissors.

The two other pair were dull and had a set screw that wouldn't stay tightened.

Our household had at least three X-Acto knives, all with dull blades.

One Expensive Rocket!

I looked up the new Star Hopper rocket on the Estes website.

 

Either that's a typo - or one expensive BT-20 based model!

Funny TRF Post - "CRUNCHIES"

75Grandville wrote on TRF:

"I remember having a Mosquito as a kid (40 years ago). These days I usually classify them as "crunchies." I wonder where my rocket landed? CRUNCH! Ooops - there it is (was)!"

We've all been there - done that!

The Definition of a Build Pile

Posted by Les on YORF -

"Did someone say build pile? This is from 2016 - and it has grown since then . . ."

If your wife ever says: "Don't you have enough rockets?"
You can respond: "Don't you have enough shoes?" Or . . . show her this picture. 
And I thought I had a stash of un-built kits.

Mosquito Spamming?

When you have a blog, there is always somebody trying to sneak in SPAM ads in the comments.

Here's a shot of the original post, where I drew up some Estes Mini Brute decals for the Mega Mosquito build.

This was in the comments:
Jason RoyApril 17, 2020 at 10:49 AM

"They might also assume that sleeping inside this net can be uncomfortable. Truth is mosquito nets can still be very fashionable, depending on how you choose to install the net. mosquito net tent"

I found it funny - it's a mosquito reference, right? 
It was immediately deleted.

Who Is Hoarding Toilet Paper?

If you run out - 
Once in an emergency I used this treated toilet paper for it's original intended purpose.

If you use recovery wadding for toilet paper you won't get super powers - but for an hour your hind end will be flameproof!

Ebay - You Are Psychic!

Check out the fourth email from Ebay - 
"Like Beer and Rocketry? Check out these popular fin . . .
End your weekend with a bang . . .

Beer, Rockets and a Bang? How could they know?

Gee, I Wonder Where These Were Made?

For a while Quest BP engines were made in other countries and imported.

I've gone through quite a few, but never saw one like the engine on the left. The ejection charge cap is usually white like on the right side.

Well, I've Never Seen This Before!

Isn't it a "Right Of Passage?"
We've all cut our fingers with a hobby knife. Practice makes close! The more experience you have, the less we cut our fingers.

Years back at the Print Shop I heard a paste-up artist let out a yell. An X-Acto knife had rolled down the angled drawing board and stuck in her thigh! These Kevlar finger cots can't help a fast rolling knife.

I've been using an X-Acto knife since I was five years old. But then again our 1960s based toys involved unsupervised toy making hot plates and wood burning sets.

This product obviously comes from China. I like the photo: "Let's see if they work by dragging a sharp knife over a protected finger!"
I don't quite understand why the F, S, P and Ts are highlighted in yellow.
Before somebody corrects me, I have seen finger protection used in wood carving.

To see the Ebay listing: CLICK HERE

Love Is In The Air . . .

It's Love Bug season again in Florida, they are especially bad this year.

On the upper left is two Love Bugs, doing what they do. At the lower right is the loneliest bug in town.

I spray my rocket models in my patio area. The eight foot high walls help keep the winds low.

I was spraying a model two days back. Something in the spray paint propellant attracted hundreds of Love Bugs in less than a minute!

Enlarge the picture - those black dots aren't dust on the camera lens, those are swarming Love Bugs!

AAAAAAGH!

Does this happen to anyone else?

These are the parachute shroud lines from one of the Black Brant kits. For all the newbies, years ago you had to assemble kit parachutes. The shroud lines were rolled and held together with a piece of tape.

I was careful when removing the tape - this is what I ended up with! After 10 minutes of untangling I finally had one long usable shroud line.

Model Rockets? . . . I Don't think So -

These were listed on Ebay as:
"Pair of Vintage Model Rocket yellow plastic bodies w/ multi color tassels USA"

I don't think so!
These are bicycle handle bar grips. 
Sure they might have little fins on the backs, but the molded finger grips and trailing tassels were the giveaway.

If you are falling for the rocket hype and like to make a bid: CLICK HERE

So It Is "Rocketeer"

Do you think Estes reads this blog?

Correction made!

Ooops!

Dave Combs posted this on the NAR Facebook page:

"And this is why Estes hires a new proofreader."
This is from the new Saturn V instructions. It's a little hard to read but there are some misplaced names here.

You're a Model What?

I did a search for the Estes Nose Cone Reference to find some lengths of the BNC-50Y and BNC-20B.
Of course, a link to the Estes website came up:
Enlarge to read - 

I guess a "Model" Racketeer sets a good example for all the shysters.