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Rocketing is an exciting hobby and a good, no great plan is always appreciated. I started with experimental rocketry in 2006 and have since done some cool stuff. It wasn' t my major hobby at the time, but I quickly fell in love with it. There are a lot of plans on the internet on how to build a rocket, but why not one more. So I have designed a fully detailed plan of how to make your very own model rocket. Note: I use my own terms, some may be real and the others is how I understand them.
This rocket is really great, you can use almost anything you can find. I mean anything, go diving in the dumpster if you think you can get your materials there. The only thing you will need to spend some money on is the fuel.
To prepare yourself for disappointment you will have keep in mind that you don't always get everything right the first time. From failure you learn something. Now enjoy making your very one model rocket.
REMEMBER: YOU ARE WORKING WITH PROPELLANT/EXPLOSIVES. IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO YOU WHILE BUILDING THE PROJECT, I DON'T TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. WHAT YOU DO FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY IS UP TO YOU, I CAN ONLY TELL ABOUT THE SAFETY MEASURES.
This rocket is really great, you can use almost anything you can find. I mean anything, go diving in the dumpster if you think you can get your materials there. The only thing you will need to spend some money on is the fuel.
To prepare yourself for disappointment you will have keep in mind that you don't always get everything right the first time. From failure you learn something. Now enjoy making your very one model rocket.
REMEMBER: YOU ARE WORKING WITH PROPELLANT/EXPLOSIVES. IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO YOU WHILE BUILDING THE PROJECT, I DON'T TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. WHAT YOU DO FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY IS UP TO YOU, I CAN ONLY TELL ABOUT THE SAFETY MEASURES.
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Signing UpStep 1Materials
There aren't much materials, but you do need all of them.
List
1) Cardboard - for the body and engine wall. It can almost be anything, as long as it is about 2x
thicker as paper. You can try paper, but working with something that is stronger is much better.
You can even take the cover of a school exercise book.
2) Shotgun shell - This will be the engine. Just make sure that the shell is not loaded and still
contains the primer. Refer to picture named 'The Shell 1'
3) Masking tape and some electrical tape(insulation tape) and a straw
4) Some sand or cement powder - the sand is for the stop at the top of the engine. Or you can use
the stop shown in the picture below.
5) Cardboard - this will be for the fins. Cardboard that is about 1mm thick works just fine. Just
make sure that it is light. I use cardboard that is made out of lairs. Check the pic.
6) Fuel - This is the most important. I use a solid fuel that I developed myself after much trial and
error. I do not recommend trying to make your own, rather buy some. It is very important to
wear safety glasses and gloves when working with the rocket fuel.
Safety glasses should actually be used everywhere. If you really want to make your own fuel,
do some research. When you test your fuel just test small amounts at a time because you
can't predict how the fuel will behave. Tip: grind your mixture to a fine powder, be careful, it
could ignite. If you want to make your own fuel, but need some help, be on the lookout for my
Instructable. I may be making one real soon.
7) Find a round piece of wood. This will be the nose cone. You can also use anything else that is
the shape of a cone and will fit.
8) Fuse. You can order some at this site: http://www.experilab.co.za
9) A piece of wire. About 3mm thick and 2,5 feet in length.
Anything that you do not understand, just contact me.
List
1) Cardboard - for the body and engine wall. It can almost be anything, as long as it is about 2x
thicker as paper. You can try paper, but working with something that is stronger is much better.
You can even take the cover of a school exercise book.
2) Shotgun shell - This will be the engine. Just make sure that the shell is not loaded and still
contains the primer. Refer to picture named 'The Shell 1'
3) Masking tape and some electrical tape(insulation tape) and a straw
4) Some sand or cement powder - the sand is for the stop at the top of the engine. Or you can use
the stop shown in the picture below.
5) Cardboard - this will be for the fins. Cardboard that is about 1mm thick works just fine. Just
make sure that it is light. I use cardboard that is made out of lairs. Check the pic.
6) Fuel - This is the most important. I use a solid fuel that I developed myself after much trial and
error. I do not recommend trying to make your own, rather buy some. It is very important to
wear safety glasses and gloves when working with the rocket fuel.
Safety glasses should actually be used everywhere. If you really want to make your own fuel,
do some research. When you test your fuel just test small amounts at a time because you
can't predict how the fuel will behave. Tip: grind your mixture to a fine powder, be careful, it
could ignite. If you want to make your own fuel, but need some help, be on the lookout for my
Instructable. I may be making one real soon.
7) Find a round piece of wood. This will be the nose cone. You can also use anything else that is
the shape of a cone and will fit.
8) Fuse. You can order some at this site: http://www.experilab.co.za
9) A piece of wire. About 3mm thick and 2,5 feet in length.
Anything that you do not understand, just contact me.
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Well laid out and very understandable. You've got to post some of the other stuff you've done - even if it's only in a slide show!
When I've got a bit of time I am so going to do this!