Moe's Rocketry Photos

(All photos by Moe unless I'm in the photo, or otherwise noted, either in the text or mouse-over)

The Estes plant in Penrose 1976. Photo: Mom

As of January 2009, I've been involved in Rocketry on and off since 1975. In that year I became reaquainted with Marc Nafts, a friend from a couple of years earlier. Marc had a small model rocket in his room called the Estes Mark II. He explained to me what it was and though he'd never launched it, I soon decided that I was going to try model rocketry for myself.

My mom and I soon moved into a home that overlooked a large field...seemingly a perfect place for launching and recovering model rockets. As it turned out, most launches occured from the lawn immediately in front of the parking lot and recovery usually took place out in the field...sometimes WAY out in the field.

My first visit to a hobby shop to search for model rockets netted the purchase of an Alpha III starter set. Being just 10 years old but with a reasonable amount of plastic modelling skills, I quickly assembled the kit. I don't know the exact date of purchase, nor do I remember the actual first flight of that rocket but I knew I was hooked. I'd browse through the 1975 Estes catalog constantly admiring all the rockets, becoming familiar with specifications of all the different kits. I really began to admire the space boosters in that catalog, especially Saturn V, Saturn 1B, and Mercury Redstone (there weren't many more than that in that catalog anyway, were there?)

Moe, Marc, Soyuz and Beanie 1975

Painting Red Max 1975

Red Max ready to launch Jun 15, 1975

My second rocket was the der Red Max. In fact one of the first photos of me with a model rocket is with my friend Kenny and I taking a break while painting it. I do remember my spray painting skills were pretty crude then, and I know I had some runs on that rocket. And sanding sealer? Didn't know what the stuff was (despite the instructions recommending its use!)

During the course of 1975 I acquired a few more Estes kits and was launching them into the field, probably with mixed success. I found a couple of other kids in the complex (and through school) who were also interested in rockets and we'd launch together. I don't have anything near a complete record of the rockets I built during this time, but I built a lot of what was in the catalog. I think my first scale model I was able to pick up was the 1/43 Mercury Redstone. Once I saw those redwood dowels to make the escape tower I became immediately intimidated and shelved the tower construction. I'm quite sure I made the basic fins and launched her...without the tower. I recently picked one up off eBay and I may try to do the tower...someday.

Here's some photos of my Estes 1/100 Saturn V. Photos are dated on the back as Sep 1975...pretty big step for someone who has been involved in rocketry for less than 5 months!

Starting work on the Estes Saturn V. 1975

Saturn V night launch on a D12-3. 1975

Some big ones hanging from the ceiling

Boost gliders have always fascinated me, maybe because of my interest in aviation. At a hobby shop I found an Estes Nighthawk and built it. First launch I lost it in the field. Can't remember how well the boost went, but I didn't find either piece. Present day 2007, I've got two Nighthawk clones I built in 1999 but I haven't flown either of them. I'm just waiting to find the time to hit a park with some green grass so I can trim them for flight. Same goes for my two Spaceplane clones, my Quest Flat Cat, my Estes Falcon clone (which flew last summer, but not very well), my Estes Invader clone...you get the picture. I like building boost gliders...I just haven't flown many of them at this point.

Moe, Vickie, and O.C. the puppy.

Goblin

Prepping Scrambler w/24mm D engine 1975

Scrambler launch w/24mm D engine 1975

Mars Lander launch Feb 1976

1976 saw the introduction of the Estes 1/162 Space Shuttle and I eagerly built one of those. Can't remember exactly how well the orbiter glided back, but the launch was a success. By this time I'd already built and flown an Estes 1/100 Saturn V, Maxi Honest John and Pershing 1A, and 1/70 Saturn 1B to name a few. As for the 1B, again, that tower construction really intimidated me. Still wanting to include the escape tower rocket motor assembly to a degree, I opted for a cheap solution. I used a spent 18mm engine casing as my "tower", cut to a length closely matching the tower. Sure it looked rather unsightly but with the bits above the tower lattice glued on top of the motor casing, it was good enough for this eleven year old. I also chose to rig it with a single 24mm motor mount for Estes 'D' engines and the 1B performed really well.

Here are a few more photos from back in the day. I visited California in December 1976 and took some rocket stuff with me. The 2nd & 3rd photos are from that trip. The others are back home.

Moe with Mars Snooper 2

Moe with a scratch- build on the pad

Moe with his brother and future sister-in-law. I'd forgotten about that green rocket I'm holding

I think the Farside flew successfully

Estes Nike Ajax

At some point I discovered Centuri rockets. I remember their catalogs of the day...newspaper style. I thought they were kind of cheesy compared with the glossy Estes catalogs but there were some neat looking rockets in those pages. Again, the space boosters caught my eye and soon I was the proud owner of a 1/100 Saturn 1B, 1/45 Little Joe II (what a great kit...even found a photo of it launching), and the 1/35 Mercury Redstone. I know I picked up a few of their other kits, but many of the basic 3FNC (3 fins and a nose cone) kits seemed inferior to the Estes offerings. Fiber (thick paper) fins just didn't seem right to me.
I know I'm pissing off some hard core Centuri fans out there...if so I'm sorry for having an opinion that differs from yours.

Estes 1/70 Saturn 1B launches on a 'D' engine

Moe launching Estes Interceptor. 1977

Centuri 1/45 Little Joe II launches on a 'D' engine

By late 1977 I was already into some other hobbies and with a move in Feb 1978 the rocket launching field became a thing of the past. I moved away in June 1978 and that's the last I saw of any of my rocket stuff from that era...except one small item (more on that later.)

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Below are some photos I took at a High School launch...very likely in 1979, since this was my first time using a 35mm SLR to take rocketry photos. I didn't participate in this event other than taking these photos. Only in Jan 2009 did I get these negatives out of storage and scan them for the very first time. They've held up pretty good over the last 29 or so years.

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1981-1982(Phase II)

In 1980 I moved again. I know I built 2 rockets during this time. First was the Estes Bat...that black 3FNC with bat style decals and forward-swept fins shaped similar to the flying rodent. It was a school science project and I remember some of the kids ribbing me for gluing the fins on "backwards." It was obvious THEY were the ones with very little rocket experience under their belts. The other kit was another Estes 1/70 Saturn 1B. I found one in a hobby shop near home and for some reason just couldn't pass it up. I built it (again, sans escape tower lattice) but opted to paint it in a patriotic red/white/blue scheme (why, I'll never know.) Not sure if it ever flew with the single 24mm mount I'm sure I installed but it didn't last too long after that either.

Another Estes Saturn 1B. I slaughtered this one with a funky paint job...ouch.

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1983 (Phase III)

Back to basics in Lompoc California. Jun 83

While stationed at Vandenberg AFB, California in 1983 one of my work mates expressed an interest in rocketry. Oh, did I mention my first USAF duty station was Vandenberg AFB, CA...home of the Western Space and Missile Command and (at the time,) the future west coast launch site for the Space Shuttle...THAT Vandenberg AFB? What a cool assignment. When I received orders to VAFB in Oct 1982 I had no idea what kind of base it was. Didn't take me long to sort that one out though and I was elated. Anyway, my workmate Roger had an Estes Maxi Honest John he wanted to launch. For some reason I still had an FSI "F" single use motor that someone my mom knew gave me back in the 70s...the "one small item" I kept as noted in that last paragraph from the 70s above (and check the above photo of the 1977 fleet...that's the F motor in my hand.) Don't ask why I still had it but I did. Anyway, armed with a launcher and some of the basic Estes kits I'd recently picked up we found a secluded place to launch. Well, something must've been wrong with that F motor because it suffered a CATO and pretty much destroyed Rogers prized Honest John. Interestingly the same thing happened to me with a D12-3 in my first Maxi Honest John and Estes came through with replacements at the time. I don't think Roger could make the same arguement with an old FSI F motor...

Also during this phase, I remember launching a rocket at dusk with a "light stick" attached to the shock cord. We recovered it and it was kinda cool to see the glow of the stick as she descended. Not sure what kit that was, but I do know I'd picked up an Estes Soaring Eagle and a couple of other basic 3FNCs. And that brings a close to Phase III.

By the way, I managed to get at least one actual launch photo worth sharing. This is the Atlas E that launched from Space Launch Complex 3W on March 28th, 1983. I deduced this from the date of Apr 83 on my original slide and information available publically on several websites. One such source is: Jonathan's Launch Log. Here is a link to his online Space Report homepage.

Atlas E launches from Vandenberg AFB SLC-3 on Mar 28, 1983. Time: 0852hrs local.

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1987

In early 1987 I paid a visit to my mom and stepdad. Lee had started building some model rockets and we took the opportunity to go to a field and launch his Der V3. Below are a few photos of that launch.

Lee launches his Der V3 while Del and Jennifer watch

Post recovery of Der V3

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1989 (Phase IV)

After spending 4 years overseas I was back in the states in early 1989. I'd just gotten married and was stationed at Williams AFB near Phoenix, Arizona. Mom, who was living in Sacramento at the time, was working in a Payless drug store. She took it upon herself to send me a few rocket kits. This present sparked an interest and I was soon back in the field launching model rockets. Because I'd just purchased my first video camera (full size VHS) I have some cool footage on tape but not a lot of photos. I've started transferring all those VHS tapes to DVD and in the process I've re-discovered a couple of launches I'd totally forgotten about. This phase lasted most of the 1989 summer but didn't progress much beyond that. I still have several of the rockets, including the Estes Shooting Star that was the first rocket I launched during this phase.

Prepping some rockets

Moe prepping Lee's Saturn V

Lee launching his nekked Saturn V

Prepping Saturn V

Moe and Pugsley

Launch of the "Stefanie"

5 Stager launched on 3 July 1989

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1992 (Phase V)

While still stationed at "Willie" in Arizona, I rekindled my rocketry interest a second time. A couple of the guys at work expressed an interest and they and their families joined me on several occasions for some field launches. I have some video and some photos from all these sessions. I also got interested in scratch-building some interesting experimental rockets. Some flew quite well, some not so well, and some were downright disastrous.

Estes Shooting Star with parasite glider

Estes Bailout with parasite glider

Quest Nike-K

6-motor two stager. A bit more weight in the nose and this one might've flown straight...and quite possibly, up.

Part of my 1992 fleet. The two on the left belonged to Rex. Mesa, Jul 1992.

Estes Mosquito Still part of my active fleet in 2007

24mm D engined two stager lost on inagural flight >:(

I didn't spend a lot of effort painting many of those rockets, but at least I did go through a fair amount of balsa sanding sealer. Some of the kits I bought were a couple of the Estes Saturn V, an Estes 1/100 Saturn 1B (ex-Centuri,) Star Trek Enterprise (commemorative edition), various kits that seemed like good deals to use as spare parts, a Designers Special or two, etc etc. I spent a good deal of time scratchbuilding some conventional designs, as well as some rather unconventional departures from the 3FNC motif. Getting brave, I modified an unpainted Saturn V to accept an additional D engine holder within the lower fuselage. This booster consisted of a spool-like gadget with a 12" parachute attached. Taking the staging a step further, I fabricated a 2nd booster that would friction mount to the bottom of the spool but remain outside the Saturn's lower body. I added fins to this one, and while totally unprototypical, I had several successful launches of my 3-stage, D-powered, unpainted Saturn V. I may have first launched it on two motors to make sure the spool booster theory worked out...I'm not quite sure. I do have video of at least two, possibly three, of the 3-stage launches. Without paint and exterior details, it was a fairly light rocket and the bottom D12-0 provided plenty of power to get the whole contraption off the pad. Watching any 3-stager is pretty awesome but I have to admit, a Saturn V, even unpainted, looks pretty cool staging through 3 motors. With the help of my trusty recovery crew, I always got all the parts back. I really want to create a .mov or .avi file of a launch and post it here.

Other experiments included staging two motors to two motors, clustering, upscaling the Estes Astron Trident concept, and just plain having fun. All my known launches (except for most of the 75-77 period) are uploaded to Essence's Model Rocketry Reviews website. I've had fun watching the various videos I have and entering the details in the Essence database.

I should mention that during a 6-week trip to Mississippi in summer 1995, I stopped by a hobby shop and purchased a couple of rockets. One was the Estes Mercury Atlas; the other was a couple examples of the Estes Trans-Wing glider. None have flown yet but I still have them. The Atlas is partially constructed...maybe I'll get around to finishing it.

Also during this time I remember stopping by a Las Vegas hobby shop and discovered Estes had re-released the former Centuri 1/100 Little Joe II. I picked up several of them to add to my stash, hoping I'd build and fly at least one of them some day.

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1999 (Phase VI)

Not quite sure exactly what spurred on Phase VI. I was living in Northern Califronia, and the internet was well established and many rocketry sites were prime for the browsing. Maybe finding JimZ's site with many of the classic Estes, Centuri, and other plans caused my interest in cloning and scratchbuilding to blossom. Of course BMS, Ninfinger, and many other sites out there were in my "favorites" folder. I made some purchases from BMS and Totally Tubular and started building. As I said before, I'm interested in boost gliders, and I built a couple of Estes Astron Night Hawks and an Astron Falcon among others. Since I had a couple of Estes (Centuri based) Mercury Redstones I had a capsule I could use atop a 1/35 Little Joe 1 based on Yitah Wu's plans. Those plans are still out there by the way at Ye Olde Rocket Forum.

During 1999 I discovered SARG: Sacramento Area Rocketry Group. During late 1999 I attended a couple of their monthly launches and flew some of my rockets: Dark Lander, Saturn V, Little Joe 1 to name a few. These launches were also my first exposure to mid-power launches in the E and F (and possibly G) range. Some folks had some upscale rockets...I remember a nice Cherokee D upscale. I also witnessed my first mid-power ballistic failure. Can't remember the rocket but it had a complete recovery system failure and came straight down from altitude and went through the roof of a self-storage facility near the launch site. The guy recovered the rocket and showed up with it the next month. I'll look for a slide I took of it and post it here.

Since I was living close to a lot of my family, several family members went with me to the few launches I attended. My grandma, my dad, and my Uncle Ron (who also had an interest in rockets) went to different launches with me. I have some video of at least one of the launches and this one photo of a guy with his Cherokee D and upscale Cherokee D...I was pretty impressed!

Cherokee-D's at a SARG launch in 1999.

I also took advantage of an awesome sale at one of the local toy stores and picked up some of the Star Wars-themed models at 3 for $5.00 as well as some other killer deals. RTF Mini Marz Landers were also a good deal at the local Wal-Mart and I bought six of them.

In early 2000 I moved to Illinois and the rockets remained boxed up for pretty much the next six years.

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2006 - present (Phase VII)

My most recent foray into model rocketry began in mid-2006. I'd moved back to Arizona in 2004 and the rockets remained safely packed. During the summer of 2006 I unpacked a couple of moving boxes (full of rockets) and one or two looks at the contents was all it took for me to become interested again. I researched a local rocketry club and decided to check it out. They were advertising monthly launches: model rockets up to C-engine at a local park during the hot summer months, and during the late summer and cooler months, model and High Power launches at an isolated site known as Rainbow Valley. And as a bonus I learned the annual NARAM was being held at Rainbow Valley during August. I was hooked and promptly joined after attending the first group social meeting.

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8 July 2006 - Phoenix Park Launch

Geoff and Gerald high-five after an upright landing.

Gerald and his Estes Rock-it.

Rock-it. The launch rocked!

Gerald flew his Porta-Pot Shot.

Moe's Estes Falcon clone.

Though I planned on attending the first Glendale park launch in early July 2006, I found out the night before it was cancelled. Two of the guys I'd met at the social (Geoff and Gerald) still wanted to launch so I packed up my gear and a few rockets and headed to the small park site they proposed. We all arrived around 8am and despite the climbing temperatures, we launched a group of rockets. I'd already purchased my 2x upscale Mars Lander from Tango Papa and brought it along to show my construction progress. I think they were suitably impressed with the quality of components and size of the project. Geoff Kerbel brought along a classic Estes Mars Lander to launch and I had my "Dark Lander" clone I'd built and flown in 1999. Both were successful launches but mine suffered an internal leg separation at the flexible joint. It's still flyable, but it has a slight limp.

Geoff comes up with some interesting rockets.

Saturn IV based on Pete Alway's plans.

Geoff kitbashed an Estes Gemini-DC into his 'Cediming Raider...'

...and it flew very, very nicely!

SSS members Will Triggs and son James, and a fella named Chris and his son also showed up for the park launch. Both brought along a selection of models to launch...accomplished to varying degrees of success. I also launched my Estes Trident-inspired upscale version on a C11-3 for a nice launch and recovery. I also launched my Estes Astron Falcon clone on a 1/2A6-2. Nice short boost but it arched over and nosed in...thankfully with no damage. Another rocket I launched was the Estes Shuttle Express...4FNC with 2 foam gliders attached. Rocket worked fine but those foamies leave a lot to be desired as gliders.

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3 August 2006 - Rainbow Valley

My first launch experience at Rainbow Valley was in August 2006. NARAM 48 was well under way and I decided to check out the action on the Thursday morning. I packed up some rockets and headed out. I'd just finished my LOC IV (LOC 4) rocket, which is designed to take mid- and high-power motors in the F-H range. I also had a 1/35 Estes Mercury Redstone (built with 24mm motor mount) ready to go. I arrived amidst the competition flying and started clicking photos of various launches. Since my first exposure to mid-power rockets in 1999 at a SARG (Sacramento Area Rocketry Group) launch, I'd been impressed by the power displayed by these high-flying rockets, and I enjoyed trying to photograph some of them. Thanks to my trusty Digital SLR I was, and have been since, pretty successful in getting some decent launch and recovery photos.

Model rocket pads were set up a short distance from the competition pads and sport launches were taking place as well. I set up my Mercury Redstone and launched it on a D12-3. Nice straight boost to apogee followed by a successful recovery. It did suffer a displaced fin but I repaired it once I got home. The Semroc guys were on hand vending their wares and I managed to get the last of the newly-released Mars Lander "Retro-Repro" kits they had on hand. They also sold me a "Centuri The Point and Laser-X upscale kits. To top it off, they threw in a commemorative NARAM 'The Point.' Another nice gesture by Bruce (from Semroc) was donating an H128 motor reload for my upcoming Level 1 certification attempt. At the same time I purchased an H180 reload. Since I had absolutely no experience with reloads of any kind, I watched Goeff prep the H180 for a pre-certification test launch of the Loc IV. He got the motor built as I taped the process and I finally had the rocket prepped just as the bell rang for last flight of the day. We toted the rocket to the pad, secured the igniter and let 'er rip. It was a great sight seeing a "large" rocket that'd I'd constructed rip off the pad and recover successfully. I was confident I was ready for the certification attempt at the next months launch. Thanks Geoff!!

Moe's modified Estes 1/35 Mercury Redstone ready for launch on a D12-3. Aug 3, 2006

Safe recovery of the Mercury Redstone. Aug 3, 2006

Geoff carries Moe's LOC IV to the pad. Aug 3, 2006

Safe recovery of the LOC IV after launch on an AT H180 Aug 3, 2006. This was not my certification flight...that waited until next month.

Since the Arizona weather was cooling off for the winter, all the next launches I've attended have been at Rainbow Valley. Lots of model, mid- and high-power stuff going up and most of them were recovered successfully. I witnessed quite a few certification flights at the Level 1, Level 2, and even Gerald Meux's Level 3 flight.

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9 September 2006 - Rainbow Valley

Gerald quickly certified to Level 1, 2 and 3. At the September launch he treated us to his Level 2 (J, K or L motor) Magnum launching on a 54mm "Skidmark" motor. Skidmarks are known for their shower of sparks at liftoff and during climb. In the photos below we see him prepping the Magnum and a then a couple of cool launch photos. September is also the month I successfully certified to NAR Level 1. I launched my nekked LOC IV on an Aerotech H128 and successfully recovered her intact. Thanks to Gerald, Geoff, and Terry for their guidance leading to my certification flight.

Moe's LOC IV on an AT H128 Sep 9, 2006

Gerald prepping his LOC Magnum Sep 9, 2006

Ignition of the Skidmark motor Sep 9, 2006

Skidmark motor at full pressure spewing sparks Sep 9, 2006

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24 September 2006 - Peoria field launch

September 24th I invited my friend Steve P. out for some model rocket launches. I chose a field where some construction was going on but it was a weekend morning so there was no one around. I launched six rockets that day and recovered five of them. My Alpha clone zipped off the pad and drifted into the BNSF maintenance yard near the tracks. Been doing rockets 31 years and that was my first standard Alpha...I'd only built an Alpha III till now. Another minor disappointment was my Flyin' Stovepipe. Using plans available from JimZ, this little boost glider was an Estes Design of the Month from WAY back in the day. It features a "Scout" style booster with a tube glider made from BT-101. Mine didn't work so well and I ended up cracking a fin on the booster. Easily repairable, but I gotta work on motor retention, as the tube glides just fine.

I lost my Alpha on its first flight >:(

Liftoff of Bertha

Steve returns with Big Bertha

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28 October 2006 - Rainbow Valley

Gerald built a very large (by my standards) Nike Smoke he painted to resemble the Arizona state flag. The Nike is so large they had to transport it to the farthest pad in a truck. After much anticipation the crowd watched Gerald's Nike punch a hole in the sky and recover for his successful Level 3 certification. I have to admit, rocketry and rocketry photography was getting pretty damned exciting for me.

Gerald and his Level 3 Nike Smoke and 'M' motor casing

Liftoff of the Nike Smoke Oct 28, 2006

Nike Smoke climbing out Oct 28, 2006

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November 2006 - Rainbow Valley

I didn't attend the launch.

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December 2006 - Rainbow Valley

I didn't attend the launch.

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January 2007 Rainbow Valley

I didn't attend the Jan 2007 launch...not sure exactly why. Probably out chasing trains or planes. The SSS newsletter says it was the coldest SSS launch in history. The Arizona desert can get downright freezing cold in the winter...as was the case that January morning.

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February 2007 Rainbow Valley

The February launch was pretty exciting. I launched a few model rockets including my trusty 1/35 Mercury Redstone on an Estes D12-5. I also launched my first Estes E motor, an E9-6 in an Estes Eliminator...that purple and yellow 4FNC quick build kit. It screamed off the pad for a nice straight boost and perfect parachute recovery not too far from the pads. Second launch of my "Flyin' Stovepipe" on an A8-3 was not so successful. Still no separation of the booster and tube glider...gotta work on that.

Mercury Redstone on a D12-5

Eliminator an an E9-6

Flyin' Stovepipe

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10 March 2007 Rainbow Valley

Since I'd been diligently working on getting my 2x Mars Lander ready for the March Launch I was pretty excited about this one. I'd also been working on getting a couple of Estes Outlanders which I'd modified for D engines ready to go. One of them I built and completely finished in record time...just about a week. Those are not simple kits to put together. Despite my efforts I didn't even launch the 18mm RMS D powered bird...hopefully the April launch.

Anyway, I showed up Saturday morning at 0800 and started setting up. I parked right next to Gerald so we started babbling about rocketry stuff. I pulled the 2x Mars Lander out of the cab of my truck and set it up on the back of my truck. Through the day, my modest collection of landers drew a lot of attention and I got some nice remarks about them from the crowd. Geoff kindly lent me a 38mm casing to use for this launch. For $38 I purchased an Aerotech I211 reload with medium delay, drilled out a smidgen to shorten the delay a few seconds and finished building the motor. I finished prepping the rocket, ensuring the parachutes were properly installed, and after the cursory inspection by the RSO, I loaded it up on a far pad. When launch time for that baby came no one was more nervous than I. The LCO announced it and I reiterated this was a 'heads up' launch...partly because I wanted everybody watching, but also because of the potential for marginal stability. I handed the controller to a youngin' to perform the actual launch so I could photograph it. With an audible "5-4-3-2-1-Launch" my 2x blasted off the pad and straight into my history books. It was a beautiful launch and recovery and except for some minor damage due to slightly early ejection, and she floated gently back to earth on twin 36" parachutes, landing upright on the three remaining legs. One leg was removed, quite violently, by the recovery shock cord (due to the premature ejection) and it fluttered harmlessly to earth. The nose cone suffered some minor dents but everything seems to be repairable. I've started making repairs and I hope to launch again in April 2007. Click here to view my review of the rocket at the EMRR site.

Moe and his 2x upscale Tango Papa Mars Lander Mar 10, 2007 Photo: Dave Maggiano

Most of my Lander fleet Mar 10, 2007

Liftoff off 2x Mars Lander Aerotech I211W-M Mar 10, 2007 Photo: Dave Maggiano

Ignition of Aerotech I211W	Business end of I211W	Climbing out on I211W
Early deployment... note missing leg	Early deployment... note leg near chutes	3-legged upright landing... 'chutes are still airborne

I also launched one of my Outlanders - the one with the 24mm mount. I hooked up the D12-3 and announced another heads-up launch, again because of the possibility of marginal stability. People have tried launching this heavy little rocket on the recommended B and C motors, mostly with disastrous results. Best thing to do is build it with a 24mm D-engine mount or plan on using 18mm Aerotech D-engine reloadable motors, and build the mount accordingly. Anyway, I got it set up and again let a youngin' launch it. She boosted straight up, with perfect parachute deployment. Because I'd not put a spill hole in the 'chute, the Outlander kind of circled in and toppled over upon landing. One fin housing was slightly cracked but it's easily repairable. I definitely hope to launch it again.

Postscript: After getting home I found out several of the leg hinges inside the Outlander are broken and not easily repairable. Gonna have to retire this one to the display shelf. >:(

Click here to view several reviews and flight logs of the Estes Outlander at the EMRR site.

Outlander liftoff on D12-3

Outlander ejection

Outlander recovery

My final launch of the day was another Mars Lander. This time up was the Semroc "Retro-Repro" Mars Lander I'd picked up at NARAM-48. I'd taken my time building it and it sat unpainted for months. Like the 2x upscale, I worked diligently in the couple of weeks leading up to launch day to get it fully painted and decalled. It is a great looking little rocket and nearly duplicates the original Estes Mars Lander. I took her out to the pad and again let someone else push the button so I could photograph. Perfect flight and because I'd cut a spillhole in the Estes 18" chute, she landed perfectly and remained upright...another "stuck" landing...what a cool sight! One construction SNAFU I ran into was not getting the shrouds aligned properly, resulting in the embossed detail not lining up properly. In the larger version of the launch photo, you can see this by looking at the square black outline decals and notice they cover part of the detail. I'll get it right on the 2nd Semroc Mars Lander I'm currently building (late March 2007.)

Click here to view Chan Stevens review and several flight logs of the Semroc Mars Lander at the EMRR site.

Semroc Mars Lander liftoff on C6-3

Ejection at apogee

Nice upright landing!

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14/15 April 2007 - Rainbow Valley "SpringBlast"

SpringBlast is the Superstition Spacemodeling Society weekend campout at Rainbow Valley. I attended both days but didn't spend the night. Many folks arrived Friday to set up camp and stayed until Sunday lunchtime when the range was closed due to high winds.

Many rockets were launched over the course of the weekend ranging from 1/4A's to Gerald Meux's M1939 in his Arizona Nike Ajax. We even had Tomas and Tomas Jr show up with a fairly large R/C helicopter rigged with a Canon 35mm Digital SLR under the chin. Their goal was to shoot some aerial photos of the launches while hovering above the launch site. Despite the stiff winds on Sunday, he and his son managed some great photos. I spoke with Tomas for a while on Sunday and he showed me a portfolio of his work...he does some awesome panoramic work of various sites. I learned his son operates the camera remotely from a laptop setup while dad flies the helicopter.

As I said, many rockets were launched, and most were recovered though there were some heartbreaking moments. Several rocketeers certified to Level 1 or 2, including Gerald's girlfriend Charlene, "Wild" Bill, and George. Some of the casualties of the weekend were: Gerald's M-powered Nike managed to find the only power lines for miles around; My 2x Mars Lander on an I211 broke the shock cord at deployment and free fell to earth; Gerald's "Uglier Betty" disintegrated mid-flight on a K-motor; and the list goes on.

On Saturday I launched five rockets with varying degrees of success:

Upscale Estes Star Blazer on C6-5

One of the first rockets I started building in my recent phase was a BT-55 (1.325") upscale of the classic Estes Star Blazer. Using plans obtained from JimZ's website, I upscaled the fin pattern, carved my own balsa cockpit, and eventually painted it in a red/white/blue scheme based on the original. I had a successful launch and recovery using a C6-5 and 18" 'chute.

1.8x upscale Estes Star Blazer

2x Mars Lander on I211W

Following the "mostly-successful" first launch of this beast in March 2007 I made the necessary repairs and flight-prepped her the morning of the launch. Gerald partially supervised the motor building while Terry helped adjust the delay element by taking a couple seconds off the medium delay. I loaded her up on a very sturdy far pad with 1/4" rod and let her rip. After a carbon copy of the March boost phase, the delay took over, and like the Energizer bunny, it kept going and going for what seemed an eternity. Finally the ejection charge blew while the lander was in a rapid descent. I was tracking the rocket in my camera viewfinder and from within the crowd I heard the most-dreaded word: "separation!" I reaquired the lander with the camera and caught a couple pix of it in free fall while the nose cone drifted gently down on the two large 'chutes. The lander wasn't so lucky as she plummeted to earth and struck the desert playa. OUCH!! Upon reaching the crash site, I found my lander mostly intact but with irrepairable damage to the body. After gathering up the chutes and cone, I put it back together and sheepishly made my way back to the spectator area, knowing my lander would never fly again, but also knowing I gave the crowd a good thrill with yet another launch gone bad. No one likes to see the destruction of a prized rocket, but ya gotta admit it is pretty cool as long as no one gets hurt. Maybe the pride gets a taste of humility in the process, but it's part of the game in high-power rocketry.
>:/

I211 ignition

Blastoff!!

Six pounds under free-fall

Uh-oh...

Ouch!!

My po' Lander...

Estes Outlander on D13-4W

I expected a better performance from this one, but it was another experiment gone bad. First thing Saturday morning I loaded up an Aerotech 18mm casing with a D13-4 reload. Only my fourth ever reload attempt, but it worked fine. The problem was the stability of this little beast. Last month, my 24mm conversion flew perfectly, even if it did suffer damage on landing. With this one, the thing was unstable off the pad and looped around several times, probably never reaching more than 15 or 20 feet in altitude. Ejection occured after impacting the ground, and surprisingly, only 2 fin housings were cracked in the crash. It's probably repairable, and with the heavier nose cone from the 24mm motor Outlander, this one should be stable next time...we'll have to wait and see. Just got served another piece of humble pie...

Estes Outlander launches on 18mm D13 reload

Estes Eliminator on E9-8

Ok...how can you go wrong with a basic 4FNC rocket? (4 fins and a nose cone...and everything in between of course.) I'd flown this baby twice before on the E9-6 and this time I loaded it up with an Estes E9-8 to (hopefully) save a bit of drift distance. Launched from a 1/4" rod, the Eliminator shot off the pad and kept going and going. Perfect deployment...maybe a bit over the top...but a successful launch and recovery. I had a little bit of a walk to recover it but I wanted my purple and yellow rocket back to fly another day. Great flight.

Estes Eliminator on an E9-8

Estes Mini Marz Lander on A10-3T

My final launch of the day was an Estes Ready-to-Fly (RTF) Mini Marz Lander. It still had the motor in from last month when I planned to launch so I just rechecked the chute and put her on a close pad. Again, I enlisted a youngin' to push the button so I could photograph. This heavy, mostly plastic, baby version of the Mars Lander (painted and decalled to resemble it's big brothers) got off the pad but only went about 20-30 feet up, if that. 'Chute deployment occured back on the ground (yes, a bit late) but it landed upright...so who's complaining. No apparent damage so maybe it'll fly again next month. Decals are available from Tango Papa Decals.

Mini Marz Lander on A10-3T

On Sunday I launched only one rocket (because of the winds) and spent the rest of the time socializing and photographing some of the launches. I loaded a D12-5 in my 1/35 Estes Mercury Redstone and launched it from Geoff's 3/16" pad. Very nice boost and perfect deployment at apogee. The wind carried it a fair distance but the spillhole in the 'chute helped keep it within a 5-minute walk. No major damage but it did suffer a couple of cracked fins (the glue joints of the fin halves) and a broken aerospike at the top of the escape tower...I can deal with both.

Tomas' R/C helo photo platform with Canon DSLR mounted under chin

One of the final launches of the day was Gerald Meux's much anticipated Arizona Nike Smoke on an M1939. Gerald was hoping to break 10,000 feet altitude with this 10" diameter version and safely recover her. Depsite the brisk winds Gerald took the plunge and carted everything out to the farthest pad. Mike and I strolled out for a group photo of Gerald and his friends with the Nike and hiked back to the safety line. Once we saw Gerald sprinting back from the pad we knew launch was imminent so we readied cameras and video. Gerald uses a remote control device to perform wireless launches and as soon as the LCO started the 10-count we got ready. Gerald ended up pushing the launch button at the "two" in the countdown but I'd anticipated the launch and started firing photos. The Nike roared off the pad in typical (read: spectacular!) fashion and boosted straight up as we snapped away. It was a real crowd pleaser and soon we spotted the parachute. Because of the altitude, the Nike settled into a nice long descent but the winds were carrying it to the east. I found the rocket with my video camera and started following it down. It neared the ground several minutes later with the Estrella Mountains in the background. As I watched through the viewfinder the 'chute stopped moving and was seemingly suspended in mid-air. Uh-oh...within the viewfinder I noticed a high-tension tower just to the left of the 'chute and I yelled out "it bleep-ing powerlined!!" Sure enough, the beautiful Nike managed to find the only power lines within miles of the launch site. Long story short: the 1" tubular nylon shock cord broke after a couple of hours of the whole thing whipping around in the wind, sending the lower body/motor/fin can to an early death while the 'chute, attached to the nose cone, apparently went sailing away another mile or so, eventually landing in the scrub. Luckily, a couple of folks from the launch were able to recover the rocket and notified Gerald they had it. Whew!!! The rocket was destroyed but hopefully the expensive motor casing, electronics, and parachute are salvagable. More to come on that one...

A few more photos of various rockets launched over the weekend:

Awesome Skidmark motor launch	Wild Bill's I-powered Skeeter... it CATO'd destructively.	FlisKits A.C.M.E. Spitfire	Gerald's Estes Maxi Honest John	Terry's Fat Pappy on a J350W
Gerald's Ugly Betty...it CATO'd on a K1275R	Charlene's LOC Graduator on H128W...Level 1 Cert	FlisKits Deuces Wild	Cool Black Jack motor	Apogee Saturn 1B...very cool on F20-4.

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29 April 2007 - El Mirage Field Launch

On April 29th my nephew Jeff and I got together for a launch in a nearby field. The night before I'd picked up an Estes Metalizer quick-build E2X kit for Jeff to put together before we headed out to launch. Together, we launched nine A and B motors (with corresponding rockets) under somewhat breezy conditions. We chose the lower-power motors due to the wind and the size of the field. All launches resulted in successful recoveries fairly close to the pad.

First off the pad was Jeff's Metalizer on a B4-2. Next up was my Estes Heatseeker on an A8-3, followed by Jeff's Metalizer, this time on a B6-4. For the next launch I prepped my 17-year old Estes Shooting Star. This relative oldie last blasted off in June of 1989 and thankfully the original Estes rubber shock cord survived once again. I've already removed that cord and will replace it with a sturdier cord before I fly it again.

The next rocket was my odd-ball so-called Schputnik - basically a 3" styrofoam ball with three dowels for legs/fins and an 18mm engine mount stuffed into it. I used an A8-3 for the first flight and it flew surprisingly well, ejecting the engine at apogee and "nose-diving" in with no serious damage. It'll fly again :)

My nekked Big Bertha clone took next flight honors, going up on a B6-2, followed by my gold series Estes Chrome Dome on an A8-3. Bertha's little sister "Baby Bertha" soared off the pad next, making the journey skyward on a B6-2. Final flight of the day was a stock Mini Marz Lander on an A10-3T. Gotta develop a fool-proof method for 'chute deployment for these little guys as they don't get that high and the chute almost always stays stuffed up in the nose cone. Depsite free-falling to earth, the Lander suffered no apparent damage.

Jeff prepping his Metalizer	Metalizer on B4-2	Heatseeker on A8-3	Shooting Star on B6-4	Chrome Dome on A8-3
Baby Bertha on B6-2	Big Bertha on B6-2	Jeff prepping Schputnik	Schputnik on A8-3	Jeff takes a short break

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May 2007 - Rainbow Valley

The May 2007 launch at Rainbow Valley started a bit later for me because I overslept until almost 8am. I'd planned on leaving by 7am and arriving an hour later but it didn't work out that way. As it turned out, I only launched 3 rockets - one of them twice. I'd built several clones during the previous month and managed to get one of them painted and decalled. The nekked E-powered Cherokee-D clone was first on the pad with an E9-8. It was a great launch though one shroud line on the Estes plastic 18 inch 'chute came loose. No damage upon landing and it actually came down quite close to my truck. The through-the-wall basswood fins held up superbly as did the rest of the rocket. Second launch was my painted Cherokee-D clone on a D12-5. I used a 16 inch nylon 'chute in this one and the flight and recovery were perfect. Third on the pad was my Estes Drifter clone, launched on an A8-5 and 12 inch chute for a perfect flight. Final launch of the day for me was the second for my Cherokee-E. Refitted with the 16 inch nylon chute and again launched on an E9-8, the bird flew and recovered flawlessly.

E-powered Cherokee-D clone

Landed just feet from my truck

Cherokee-D clone

Estes Drifter clone

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9 June 2007 - Phoenix La Pradera Park Launch

Several members of the Superstition Spacemodeling Society met at a park in Phoenix for the June launch. Regular fliers Geoffrey Kerbel, Gerald Meux, Will and James Triggs and a couple of other folks set up 'camp' early Saturday morning for a few hours of launching model rockets. I wasted no time in getting the first rocket up: my newly-constructed Estes Alpha III. This was my first launch of an Alpha III in over 32 years when I launched my first model rocket. I launched a total of 15 or 16 that day...below are some photos of a few of them.

Alpha III	Alpha 5...a stretched Alpha III	Nekked Alpha clone	Sprint clone	Sputnik type odd-roc
BT-60 Mosquito "Skeeter"	Fin-less design	BT-55 Starblazer	Semroc Mars Lander

Below are photos of some of the other launches

Geoff Kerbel and his Mini Marz Lander	Geoff's little UFO	Geoff's purple thing	Geoff's Gyroc
Gerald Meux and his Estes Oracle	Gerald drag races his Oracle and Liquidator	Gerald always flies the crap out of his Porta Pot Shot	Fat Boy drag race
Engine went right through the plate!	Awaiting Image	Awaiting Image	Awaiting Image

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August 2007 - Rainbow Valley

I was unable to attend the August 2007 launch at Rainbow Valley.

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8 September 2007 - Rainbow Valley

The September 2007 launch at Rainbow Valley was a hot day. It was also full of rocket launches. I had a lot of fun photographing various rocket launches, including four of my own.

This rocket is a scratch-built design I call the DEcadence. The DE are purposely capitalized because it is a two stager... designed for a 24mm D12-0 to a 24mm E9-8. This was it's inagural flight and it flew beautifully, recovering via bright pink streamers.

This is another scratch-built design based on the old 13mm-powered Centuri design named Fireflash. Nice boost on an E9-6 but a faulty snap swivel caused 'chute separation and the rocket free-fell to an early death.

The Fireflash after impact. At least I don't have to paint it. Many of the parts are salvageable.

This is a two-stager (finless upper stage) called the Tao. Plans are available on JimZ's site. D12-0 booster to a B6-6 upper stage. Mine flew fairly well until staging... then it came apart in a manner inconsistent with proper staging.

Tao launching on the only flight of it's short life.

Inagural flight of my LOC Graduator on a G38-7FJ. Great launch and recovery.

I stumbled across this little guy out in the recovery area. It was about 6 inches long.

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27 October 2007 - Rainbow Valley

G. Harry Stine Memorial Launch

I attended the G.H.S. launch at Rainbow Valley on the Saturday. Photos soon.

Repaired the gimpy leg on my Dark Lander and it flew nicely on a C6-3. Great flight and I even stuck the landing!

Drag race with Geoff's original Mars Lander. He won on a C5-3 and we both stuck the landing!

Awaiting Image

Awaiting Image

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10 November 2007 - Rainbow Valley

The November 2007 launch at Rainbow Valley was great fun. I launched five rockets, including my LOC Onyx twice.

My BT-55 Honest John in primer. Great flight on E9-8.	LOC Onyx on an F20-4T.	Estes Eagle on a B6-2. Glider needs trimmed.	Cherokee D clone on an E30-7 Great first flight.
3" LOC Caliber ISP on an I154J-M. Great first flight.	Awaiting Image	Awaiting Image	Awaiting Image

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Turkey Shoot 2007 - Geoffrey's Neighborhood

Three of us SSS members had an unofficial park launch before Thanksgiving dinner at Geoff's house. We had clear weather and a slight breeze in which to launch some low power Estes motors and we had a great time.

For my first flight I selected a rocket my Uncle Ron launched in late 1999 at Folsom, California...the Estes Manta. He lost it at that launch but the next month I got it back as someone had found it and placed it on the RSO table. I couldn't give it back to Ron at the time and I've had it all this time. I had to re-glue the engine mount the morning of Turkey Shoot 2007 but otherwise it was fine. Loaded with an A8-3, at launch the motor clip caught on the small collar on Geoff's launch rod and the whole "flight" took place without going anywhere...it was quite comical.

Oops...we have "rod lock."	Parachute snap back.	At least it didn't get damaged.	The chute got skewered on the rod.
My Honest John (K-27) clone built in 1999 but not flown until today. 1/2A6-2	Wil launches my Skeeter on an A8-3	Wil launches my Nighthawk (K-34) clone on a 1/2A6-2. Again, built in 1999 but not flown until today.	The V32 launches on an A8-3.

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9 Decemburrr 2007 - Rainbow Valley

The Decemburrr 2007 launch at Rainbow Valley was great fun, albeit a bit cold and windy. The launch site was relatively dry considering we had valley-wide rain the day before. I was the first to show up on-site and while waiting for others to arrive I prepped some rockets and photographed this rainbow to the west. Light sprinkles were falling and despite the ominous clouds all around the forecast was promising.

Around 8am others started arriving. The launch was fairly informal although as always, safety was first priority. I launched a total of seven rockets ranging from Estes C motors, F and G composites and an I154 reload.

My 1st launch was my beefed-up Estes Maxi Honest John on an Aerotech G40-7W. Thanks go out to Matt Steele for having this motor on hand. Awesome flight.	LOC Aura on an F23-7J. No broken fins this time.	Scratch Little Joe 1 on a C6-5...hadn't flown since 1999. I gotta paint some of these rockets!!	Scratch Honest John on a C11-5...great second flight.
2.27x Andromeda on an I154J-M. Awesome boost on the smokey Black Jack propellent. This rocket was over 8 feet tall.	Nice arc into the stiff breeze but delay was a tad long...	She basically back slid and spun back to the launch site.	We can rebuild her...we have the technology.

See - it's already rebuilt and ready to fly. Oops...my bad. This is a before-launch photo. Thanks Bob for getting a pic of us. Photo: Bob Heninger, used with permission.

Below are photos of some of the other launches at Decemburrr 2007.

The Level 2 Dos Rios Rockets rocket eventually destined for the elementary school of the same name. Recovered safely after separation event and failed L2 Cert attempt.	Terry's LOC Tweed-B on a J420R.	Terry's Polecat V-2 on an I245G.	Geoffrey preps a spool rocket.
Matt Steele launched a two stager with a clustered booster. The rocket went haywire during the flight but eventually righted itself after staging.	Staging event.	Sustainer looped several times under power then became stable while pointed up.	Geoffrey reacts after the booster impacted not far from where he was standing.

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Boxing Day 2007 - El Mirage Field Launch

The day after Christmas, Geoffrey joined me on my side of town for some late afternoon model rocketry. We found a suitable field and proceeded to burn some black powder.

My upscale Trident clone - C11-5	Geoff's Estes Code Red - B6-4	My Alien Explorer clone - C6-5	My Nighthawk clone - B6-2	Geoff's Honest Goon - A8-3
My Red Max clone - B6-4	Geoff's der V-3 - C11-5	Geoff's Optigoon - B6-4	My big Trident clone - D12-5	Geoff's stretched Alpha III - A8-3

Geoff's Orion - B6-4

My Little Joe 1 - C5-3