California Trip, Part 2

I took second place at the Musical Saw festival.

The first place winner was a great player with a real flair.

I also won funniest saw joke and farthest traveled!  

That's my High School friend Ron, his mother taught me the accordion.

He's sitting on a redwood stump. The festival was held next to the Henry Crowell Redwoods state park. 

Build posts will resume on Thursday - tomorrow I travel back to Orlando.

California Trip, August 9 - 13, 2025

I might miss a few days of build posts - 

I'm off to California to compete in the International Festival Of The Musical Saw! 

In 2022 I won a saw competition held in Barberville, FL. That's me on the right, holding the saw.

This upcoming Saw Fest is held in the shade of the Redwoods at Roaring Camp in Felton, Ca. It's known as the big, original saw competition. Felton is close by to my hometown of Watsonville, CA. 

In nearby Santa Cruz is a statue of Tom Scribner, who played Saw on Pacific Avenue.

In the late 1970s, I entertained at Roaring Camp. Banjo, Guitar, Harmonica and Musial Saw serenaded guests in the BBQ area. 

We had many Japanese tourists brought in by the busload. They were fascinated by cowboys and would often request: "Play Bonanza! Play Bonanza!"

Builds On Display!

While the epoxy dries on the Mega Initiators -

Around a year and a half back, I donated ten display builds to Colonial Hobby in Orlando, Florida.

I checked back last December and the models were still in a cardboard box, sitting on top of a file cabinet.

I let them know if they weren't going to display the builds, I'd rather have them back. They took the hint and finally put them on display!

Most all these are my builds, from left to right - 

The Andromeda, Long Tom, Sprint XL, Alien Invader, Laser Lance, Scram Jet, Bullpup, Goblin, QCC Explorer, Little Honest John. I don't know who built the others.

They did honor my one request - keep them out of reach! They are up on a shelf at the back of the store, to the right of the rocket kits.

Best Laid Plans?

The plan - Go camping!

I woke up yesterday with lower back pain.

Hitching up the small camper, the two hour drive and setting up a campsite - put a damper on plans. 

I might have been able to drive and set things up, 

but had no guarantee I could wake up in two days and break it all down. 

Trip cancelled!

If you've been through this, you know!

I'm still at home, having trouble getting up and down from a seated position.

I'll get back to the blog when I can get back to building!

Camping - for the next few days

I'm camping for the next few days.

The Florida state parks have water and electric - 

but no internet.

No build posts until Friday - 

This is a small camper, only 4' x 8'. It's impossible to stand up in it, but it has a bed, small TV and A/C.

Easy to tow. My chance to get away for a few days! 
 

In My Other Previous Life-

While I wait for the Insignia White spray paint to arrive, 

I may have to fill with other blog posts - 

"All rockets and no play makes Jack a very dull boy" 

What you find when you clean out the garage -

I inlayed this banjo neck 25 years ago but never bound or mounted it.

It's an old, seldom seen Gibson pattern.

 

Rocket Limericks, Part 2

 ROCKET LIMERICKS

Newbies ask with some caution,

What glue is best for construction,

There’s CA, white and wood glues,

So many that I could choose,

How ‘bout following instructions!

On the rocket he spent much cash,

The finish had sheen and flash,

The chute did open up

On gravel it ended up,

His shiny work now has road rash.

The forecasts say low winds are like-ly,

But at launches the breezes seem dic-ey.

High up winds can shift,

Your rocket will drift,

To the limbs of that single oak tree.

Rocket Limericks, Part 1

I'm in the middle of multiple builds, 

Duplicates take more time than a single build. I might be falling behind in daily posts.

Before anyone knocks my bad poetry - 

Limericks are supposed to be a bit tacky.

ROCKET LIMERICKS

That new Rocketeer was quite green, 

To a club launch he’d never been, 

His family all goaded, 

Biggest motor loaded 

After launch no rocket was seen.

He’d taken his time in construction,

Carefully chose spray painting options,

He sprayed with gusto,

A new can of Rusto,

Gloss finish was not in the outcome.

Splatter Paint?

Anytime I've done drywall repair I use this texture paint.

It sprays with random splatters and helps to hide uneven drywall patches.

Mentioned in earlier rocket builds - flat paint can help hide rough surfaces.

It always reminds me of a bad can of Rusto 2X Gloss White. Note the can says "orange peel". 

Not recommended as a model rocket finish.  

Why would I bring this up on a rocket building blog?

Building model rockets has given me confidence, taught me project planning and patience. Filling, sanding to surface, priming and paint. 

I would think hobbyists can read a ruler better than most!

I removed a large mirror from my master bathroom. Because I work alone and it was heavy, the mirror was cut into thirds. Look close - that diamond wheel on my ancient Dremel tool is red hot!

Here's the nearly finished project - 

Drywall repair, measuring, leveling and centering

the mirrors. I still have to mask off the mirrors and paint the frames a light gray.

Masking - more modeling techniques!

Don't You Hate It When This Happens?

You'd think after all the years I've been masking models and baseboards, I wouldn't see this happen!

Don't you hate when a rip starts and you have to toss a few inches of tape?

Laser Cut Guitar Bracing

How did we ever get by before laser cut fins? 

I once thought laser cut parts only applied to rocket and wooden ship kits.

 

The picture shows the internal bracing of a new design guitar.

Fancy guitar inlays cavities (cutting a well-fitting recess) were once "gouged" out using a Dremel and a dental bit. Lasers now cut the ebony or rosewood fingerboards for inlays.

From a Martin guitar Facebook post:

Where legendary Martin tone and innovation meet. The new GPCE Inception features skeletonized scalloped bracing and sonic channels inside the body for increased resonance and superior tone. Go behind the design with the Martin team to learn more: CLICK HERE

Back Building!

I thought I had finished up the blog on June 30. I was going to build a few wooden ship models. 

Well, that didn't pan out - yet.

I'm back building a few rockets.

Did you ever sand off your fingertips? Ouch!

I found myself with more time on my hands than I wanted. I had plenty of time to practice Piano and Accordion but something was missing. I'm not one to sit on the couch and stare at the TV for hours and hours.

So - a compromise. I'll blog when a vendor kit is built. That'll still keep new products on the blog. Finished vendor models are sent back and won't fill my shelves with models that seldom fly!

After a build is completed, there may be a break until the next vendor build arrives.

I won't say what's coming up - yet. I am building something.

Posts over the next three days -

This is the rear of my little camper. 

Last weeks project was installing higher tail lights so the brakes and turn signals will be seen at eye level. 

I'm camping for the next three days in Hollywood Florida. I'm getting my Accordion tuned to a slight Musette. Yep, I fly rockets and play the Accordion. No wonder I couldn't get a date in High School.

So for the next few days Internet could be spotty. Blog posts should happen - I hope!

Scroll down for Post #4 of the Quasar build.

Home Improvement Using Rocket Building Skills

Why include this on a Rocket Building Blog? The skills learned building rockets can teach patience, build confidence and hone skills needed for home improvement.

When I moved into my Townhouse 17 years ago there were very few upgrades. All the fixtures were construction grade, the cheapest available. The toilet paper holders and towel bars were white porcelain looking like something out of the 1950s!

Little by little I've been replacing them with modern chrome or brushed nickel faucets, handles and hardware.  

The old toilet paper holder and wallpaper. 

This old T.P. holder is inset in a square cut into the drywall. It had to be chipped out! 

The T.P. is a bit wet, I was just starting a damp test to soak and remove the old wallpaper.

Wallpaper was removed and the wall joints caulked.

Rocket skills: New caulking - finger smoothed fillets. 

The rough cut out hole was cleaned up for a better fit of the patch. This style of drywall cut is called a "California Patch." Score the back and crack leaving the paper overlap lip.

Rocket skills: Measuring, a few passes using a sharp knife and straight edge.

Apply drywall compound around the edges, flip over the patch and press into the hole. Burnish to smooth out the sides for a feathered in edge.

Rocket skills: Filling and sanding, repeat until smooth.

This wall texture product sprays like a bad can of Rusto 2X Gloss White paint. 

It purposely spatters and gives you a rough texture to match the existing pebbled finish. Using this texture paint is the fun part of drywall patching. A textured, flat finish surface covers imperfections. 

Rocket skills: Flat finish paint can cover rough areas. Gloss paint shows everything!

Old and new, side by side. Before screwing in the new T.P. holder the wall was primed and painted.

Rocket skills: Priming, masking and brush painting.

Much better!

Knoxville Camping Trip

I spent the last week to and from Knoxville, Tennessee. My Sister was showing one of her champion Bulldogs at a specialty Bulldog Show at the Marriott Hotel.

Here's my leetle rig at the Forsythe, Georgia KOA after the first leg of 400 miles traveled.

At the welcome center in Tennessee I spotted a Manatee in the window condensation. If others see the Virgin Mary in a bank window, I can see a Manatee in cold glass.

Here's my Sister showing her Bulldog, Rooster.

This was a big show with 35 dogs in this single class. She didn't make the cut.

We were right on the edge of the 1982 World's Fair property.

The Sun Sphere was the symbol of that Fair.

In the Marriott was this "designer" Christmas tree. 

My Sister thought it looked like the Blob from the 1958 SciFi movie. She's being attacked!

I thought it looked more like a vertical Jello mold.

This was my only purchase on the trip.

After my first night in Georgia, I bought a small heater at WalMart. 

Temperatures were near freezing in Georgia and Tennessee.

After two cold nights I slept better in a warm camper.

Tomorrow I start the build of the new Estes

BLUE ORIGIN / NEW SHEPARD.

Camping Update

I'm at the KOA just North of Knoxville, Tennessee

I have Internet at the Campsite! Spotty, but I have Internet.

Whoo it's cold! Last night below freezing.

I have to find a small ceramic heater today.

Camping Trip - Nov. 21 - 26

I'm driving to - then camping in Knoxville, Tennessee. The farthest I've been in the Leetle Camper, shown here.

I'll be visiting my Sister. She is showing two of her FIVE Bulldogs. (Yep, Five Bulldogs!)

So, Blog posts might be spotty. I've got plenty of posts in draft form. If I find Wi-Fi, I'll send them out!

Barberville, FL, International Festival of the Musical Saw

No Internet and or build posts this weekend - I was in Barberville, Florida for the 1st International Festival of the Musical Saw.

That's me holding my Musical Saw to the right side of Tim Martin who coordinated the event. In my pocket are some Rattle Bones. One vendor was selling wood bones. I gave introductory lessons to those who bought a set.

I was very surprised (actually shocked) to win the "Professional" division. First prize was a saw sculpture and $500! 

Some played classical music and melodies that nobody knew. I handled it like a short show. My selections were recognizable and talked between songs with (hopefully) funny introductions. My opening line was: "You ready for some heavy metal music?"

 

Here's one you don't see everyday, the "Holy Grail" of Musical Saws. a Deluxe Mussehl and Westphal from the 1930s. Gold plated with rhinestones set around the screw handle washers. A valuable saw in the original wood case. 

This is Yolanda who traveled all the way from Poland to compete!

She plays a thin piece of sheet metal and uses a handle for the left hand grip. Saw snobs call the handle a "cheater".  

Others traveled from Hungary, Finland, Canada, California, Massachusetts, Georgia, Arkansas and six others from Florida.

While all other played long trapezoidal sheet metal, I was the only competitor that played something that looked like a hand saw. I didn't use a cheater handle, the "S" bend is traditionally made with just the fingertips.

 Here's some of the competitors for a group shot.  

I'm in the back row wearing my Estes cap.

Some people did recognize the Estes logo and we talked rockets for a few minutes.

Posts Over This Weekend?

I probably won't have Internet this weekend - I'm goin' Camping!

I may not be able to do blog posts until Monday.

That's my "rig" above. At 4' X 8' it's not big, just room for a bed and TV.

Storage bins under the bed hold cooking supplies and clothes.

I'm going to the International Festival of the Musical Saw in Barberville, FL. over Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Wish me luck in the Saw playing competition - there are some players flying in from overseas! Yikes!

Models On Display?

I have a LOT of finished rockets in the rocket room. There's that old line: "When I die, my Wife is going to have a big Garage Sale!" I'm divorced. When I go, I can imagine the rockets going in the trash. My daughters don't have an interest in the hobby.

   

I've shopped at Colonial Photo & Hobby since I moved to the Orlando area in the early 1980s. It's one of the few remaining brick and mortar hobby shops in the area. They carry a good selection of Estes rockets and some accessories. At one time they had a broken up Estes Phoenix build on display.

I approached the owner and asked if he would be interested in some display models to go along with the balsa and tissue plane models hanging from the ceiling. He asked: "Are you a good builder?" I explained I've built show models for Estes and Quest/Aerotech. 

He followed: "How much would you ask for the models?" He liked my answer: "No charge!"

I've picked out ten un-flown models, big and small, new and classic designs for them to choose from. 

All I asked was that the models would be out of reach!

Next week I'll drive downtown and drop off some rockets.

On rare occasions I've given away a few finished models at club launches. "First time" kids are excited to get a rocket. With no experience handling a delicate tube and balsa model, they swing them around, toss them like javelins, dent tubes and break the fins. 

I once sold finished models on Ebay. You build a show quality model, carefully pack and cross your fingers only to get an email saying the model arrived damaged! 

Donating models to the store will hopefully raise interest in the hobby.

The ten models removed from the rocket room made a small dent in the inventory.