Giving Model Rocketry A Bad Name . . .

To witness the stupidity -

CLICK HERE

C'mon Toyota!

This showed up on Facebook today - An ad for a Toyota RAV4.

The quick video on the left shows a rear hatch opens to reveal a rocket already on the launcher. Who does that?

The clip on the right shows the rocket on the ground with a slow flame coming out of the engine.

The rocket is bent, the parachute deployed with the nose cone still in place.

Big Bang Rocket Episode

To show what a rocket nerd I am -
I'm watching a re-run of the Big Bang Theory, the episode was centered around model rockets. Howard found a storage box of rockets from when he was a kid, twenty years before.
I'm looking kit boxes and thinking: "That's not packaging from twenty years ago. That's the current package art.
Howard and Sheldon agree to build an Estes Saturn V from a kit. The very next day they try to launch it in the desert. The next day? You know those things can take 50 to 60 hours to build and paint!
The rocket blew up on the pad. My thought: "Rockets don't C.A.T.O. like that!"

I think I need a date.

THAT'S JUST WRONG!!! Misleading You Tube Videos, Part 2

Here's more WRONG video information:

Please learn the correct names of model rocket parts!

It’s a body tube, not a “pipe” or a cylinder.

A fin is not a wing! Wings produce aerodynamic lift. Fins provide no lift but create stability.

The launch lug is not a “straw” or a “pipe thing”.

It’s a shock cord tri-fold mount not a folded “tab”.

It’s called an engine block, not an “O-Ring.
Engines are expendable, not rechargeable”.

It’s a recovery streamer, not a “tape”.

You don’t “stuff” a parachute in the body tube, you pack a parachute.

More quotes:

“They have it (nose cone base) detached in shipping because they want you to tie the rubber band to it first.”

Huh? Not in my instructions. The base is glued on first, then the shock cord is tied on.

"Apply hot glue to the nose cone shoulder".

No - Apply the glue inside the nose cone so glue won’t be squeezed out when inserting the base.

If you can rub the excess (hot glue) off the model after the glue dries, the glue isn’t holding the rocket together.

“I used 100 grit to smooth the fin edges, but any sandpaper will do”.

100 grit on balsa wood? You'll be lucky if there is any wood left when you are done! Yeah, grab that 60 grit, that'll work even better!

“Most super glue brands will work to assemble your rocket.”
And your rocket will self destruct during boost after the CA glue gets brittle.
Super Glues have their place but not for assembling a model rocket. 

“Apply glue to the engine mount centering rings and slide the mount into the body tube.”

No . . . apply glue inside the body tube and slide the mount in. This is just another way to have an excess glue mess and an engine mount freezing up in the wrong place.

“Use Super Glue to attach the rubber shock cord to the tri-fold mount”.

No . . . super Glues will make the rubber shock cord brittle and it will break and fail.

Another video had you paint the rocket before gluing on the fins and launch lug.

Another reason fins come off during boost. Glue won’t stick to sealed wood and tubing. 

My favorite quote: 

"Nose cones roll, be careful with that!" (When a nose cone rolled off the work bench)

And the best new quote:

“You’ll want it straight, ‘cause if it is crooked you’ll have trouble getting off”.

No comment, too easy . . . 

Some popular misconceptions:

Carpenter’s Wood Filler does not seal the balsa fins. CWF is water based.

If fins are sealed, water cannot be absorbed into the wood.

Kevlar is flame resistant, not flame proof.

Ejection charges will break down Kevlar over time.

THAT'S JUST WRONG!!! Misleading You Tube Videos, Part 1

WRONG!!!

I use YouTube videos quite often. I've learned how to patch drywall, replace a faucet and even strum a Ukulele.

I have to give credit to anyone who takes the time to film, edit and post a good video.

Problem is, everybody has a phone or camera that shoots video. Too many instructional videos have mistakes! You've got to go through 10 videos to find someone who knows what they are talking about.

If you want to waste a few frustrating minutes, go to YouTube and do a search for: How To Build A Model Rocket. You'll find yourself wincing and saying "NO!" out loud.

After you watch a few videos you realize why first timers have problems with a successful first flight and recovery at a club launch. Chances are, these kids have built a rocket after watching a YouTube video! Wrong information can lead to frustration and too many giving up on the hobby.

______________________________________________________________________

The first line of copy is something seen or said on the how-to video.

The statements in Italic are my snarky responses.

One video used Gorilla Glue in assembly. 

Oh yeah! That'll make it stronger! Don’t use an expanding glue (like Gorilla Glue) to build a model rocket. Use white or yellow glue for LPR model rocket assembly.

Another video showed using Elmer's white glue to attach the plastic nose cone shoulder base. (See above picture)

That might explain separations and lost nose cones at club launches.

Videos show the use a pen to mark fin and launch lug locations.

Ink will bleed through any sprayed finish. Use a pencil, pencil lines are covered by paint.

Like the video shows, use your teeth to tear open the small parts bag.

That's how a rocket scientist would do it.

“Just punch the wings out from the sheet.”

Trust me, use a knife so the card stock won’t tear and the balsa won’t chip.

“Tie the rubber band to the nose cone with a double knot.”

Unless it is a square knot (or other type of locking or cinching knot) double knot ties will slip. Connection to the nose cone can be a square knot, not a “Granny”.

“They have it (nose cone base) detached in shipping because they want you to tie the rubber band to it first.”

Whaaat? Not in any instructions I've seen. The NC base is glued in first, then the shock cord is tied on.

Put the glue on the body tube instead of the root edge of the fin. 

Sure, that'll give you more control over glue runs.

Some quotes:

"Blow on the glue, that’ll make it dry faster."

"Use a hot glue gun to attach the fins."

“You gotta’ use hot glue.(from a glue gun) If you use any other kind of glue it’s just not gonna’ work.”
“Be generous with the glue”. (More glue, the better the rocket!)

More coming in the next post - 

Did I Just Cram A Few Ounces Of Clay?

This struck me as pretty funny - 
On the Facebook Model Rocket Fanatics page, Mark Geidel posted -

To see the video clip, CLICK HERE

The Understanding Spouse

From Facebook and "The Grumpy Old Scale Modeler's Group" comes this video.

The scale model nerd tries to explain to his wife why he really needs this new kit. Be sure and watch to the end . . . 
CLICK HERE

Revell / Estes Air Rocket

Here's your rocket escape video for the day.
Kixi (I assume that's her name) assembles and "launches" a Revell / Estes Air rocket.

CLICK HERE

It's not English, but that almost makes it funnier. The real action starts at 6:00 in.

This Revell branded product is the same as the Estes Rocket-Star Air Rocket Starter Set. Somehow the rocket sitting on the table isn't quite the bulbous diameter of the rocket on the box.

I doubt this video did much for sales.

Video Of The Day - Water Rocket

Check out the Giant Water Rocket video - HERE

You can fast forward up to 1:15 for the action.
Up to that point it's just a LOT of bicycle pumping and comments like: "He's really brave!"

Luckily no one got hurt!

The ROCKET GUY shows how to open the bag!

"Hey!", A ROCKET GUY video!

"And as we all know, opening the package can be tough because of how scissors work and how packaging comes in today's environment."
I don't think Rocket Guy should be trusted with scissors.

And of course my favorite:
"Nose cones roll, be careful with that!"
He gives you that little "this is inside information" look at :51 in.

I LOL'd when he starts to open the "sub-package" with scissors, gives up and says:
"I'm just going to tear it."
(I hate the acronym LOL but for this video it just felt right.)

"Verify the contents of your package are correct in accordance with the instructions."
Yes, always verify and stay in accordance."

One of the YouTube comments:
"Package" drinking game!
I counted 11 packages.

Hat's off to you ROCKET GUY!
(Just don't expect me to hang out with you at the next launch.)

Funny Underwater LPR Launch Video

Looking for a quick laugh?

You can find it on YouTube HERE

It looks like an Estes Alpha III that's been waterproofed.
Listen to the launch sound at about :58 seconds in.

One of the comments said it: "Sounds like farting in the bathtub!"

A Little Too Much Up Elevator?

Mr. Urban sent me this YouTube video link:

For the YouTube video, click HERE
It's worth a watch or two or three.