Rick Holt's Annual Baby Bertha Build!

An email from Rick Holt -

Chris,

It’s that time of year for the annual family picnic.  Once again, many thanks for your assistance and hints.  As you know, this is the only time of the year that I build rockets.  This year I built 14 (all Estes).  Twelve Baby Berthas, one Big Daddy and one Executioner.  The Baby Berthas are for the kids.  Six for grandchildren.  They get to select the colors.  Six for any of the other extended family kids who may show up.  This year there were three.  My wife puts their names on with stickers.  We use Baby Berthas because just before we launch, the kids add whatever additional stickers they want and the Baby Bertha diameter offers more space for the stickers.

Thanks again.

Rick Holt

A follow up - 

Hey Chris,

 I took my time with the rockets.  As you might imagine, it can be mind numbing.  

A little each day for two months.  About 100 hours.

The picnic and launch was yesterday.  Launched 11 of the 14 rockets.  

Successful recovery of all of the kid’s launches.  

The family rocket (Big Daddy) failed to deploy chute, landed nose cone point first.  

May be repairable for next year.  Kids had a blast.

Like last years Holt family picnic launch, this is a great idea. All the kids pick the colors, apply stickers and launch their rockets. 14 Baby Bertha builds? Whoo!

Great work Rick and congrats on a memorable family tradition.