 Hobby Rocketry
by Mario Perdue The Hobby Rocketry BLOG is a place for me to voice my opinions about everything related to hobby rocketry. Over time I'll cover topics from low to high power and everything in between. Sometime you'll agree with me - other times you won't. You may find yourself irritated or amused by something I write. Hopefully I'll help us look at our hobby with a critical eye. If I can provoke a positive thought or two, I will have accomplished something good. My BLOG allows registered readers to comment on what I’ve written and I invite you to do so, but please keep it civil or I’ll be forced to edit or remove your post. Foul language and name calling will not be tolerated. Also, please limit your comments to the subject of the BLOG entry. Please remember that the opinions I express here are mine alone and do not represent the official position of LAUNCH Magazine or any of its employees.
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Musings from a Dirty Workbench - July, 2008 |
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 The July/August issue is out so you can read my article on the hardware from the movie, 2001: A Space Odyssey. Unfortunately, due to space constraints, you won't be reading my other article on building a model of the One Man EVA Pod from the same movie. This was a very fun build for a couple of reasons; 1) 2001 is my favorite movie of all time, 2) The resin kit that I worked with was made by Scott Alexander of Atomic City Models - a very talented model maker, and 3) The lighted interior was basically built from scratch. I was very pleased with the final model pictured here. Perhaps there will be room to run the article in a future issue or maybe it will be made available here on the web site.
But for now I'm off to my next project - one that flies. |
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Musings from a Dirty Workbench - June, 2008 |
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I just finished my latest build article and I've got to say that this one has been the most enjoyable project I've done to date. Without going into the particulars, this model is from my favorite movie so I was really psyched when the oportunity came up. I wish I'd have had a few more days to work on it but, deadlines being what they are, that was not to be. Still, Im happy with the way the model turned out and I hope everyone will like it. Now it's time to turn my attention to the next project. This one also promises to be a fun build and, unlike the one I just finished, it will be a flying project. |
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Musings from a Dirty Workbench - March, 2008 |
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I'm currently working on the Ares models that I mentioned in my last BLOG entry. I'm making pretty good progress but I've noticed that the design keeps changing. It's extraordinarily difficult to build a model of something when the design keeps changing. And if I'm having this much difficulty, what do you think it's like for the poor people who have to build the real article? How can they possibly think they'll get this spacecraft into orbit before the given deadline if they haven't even settled on some the major design elements? But I digress... The design for my models is now set - no more changes for me. I'm sure there are differences between what I am building and the current version of the launch vehicles but if I keep making design changes, I'll never build the rockets. The current plans for my models put the Ares I at about 55" tall and the Ares V at 61". Both models will be able to be flown with mid-power motors but smaller high-power motors would also work. As I had hoped, the models should be sized properly for the Launch Utility Tower that I built in my Saturn V article so expect to see the tower again. Beyond that, I have a big pile of personal projects backing up in my work area: |
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Musings from a Dirty Workbench - February, 2008 |
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This BLOG entry is a random collection of thoughts about the stuff that I do for LAUNCH Magazine. First, I want to take care of a pet peve - I want to define my use of the term model rocket. To me, any model of a rocket is a model rocket – it doesn’t have to fly. I know that there are some people in the model rocket community who will have a problem with that – they’ll just have to deal with it. For the purposes of my BLOG the term model rocket will apply to any kind of rocket model. Since starting to write for LAUNCH I’ve gone to a few launches outside my normal stomping grounds. I’ve gotten to meet a lot of rocketeers from around the country and when they find out that I write for LAUNCH many of them have questions. Some questions get asked a lot… |
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I returned to hobby rocketry in 1996 when I heard about a high power launch at the Academy of Model Aeronautics’ in Muncie, Indiana. This launch was one of the SMURFF launches held there by the Summit City Aerospace Modelers in Ft. Wayne and it was my introduction to High Power. It was a well attended event that started me searching the internet for more information about the current state of the hobby. |
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