Tips on Homemade Model Rockets : 9 Steps

Model rockets can be difficult and frustrating but it can be interesting and once you get a successful flight you will be proud of you work! There simple and cheap if you know what your doing. Here is what I have learned from building and testing these rockets!

Step 1: Launching Pads

The most easiest pad is just an Estes model rocket pad. They are quite common and are very durable. If you treat them with care they can last a long time! Just note that rocket engines spew out entremly hot flames so, the plastic on the pad can catch on fire.

Step 2: Launching Sites

You need a good place to launch your rocket. Any place thats fairly cleared out, flat, and clear of people is a good place. If there are trees they can get stuck on top of them if they go up high enough. Flatness is ver good because if the rocket is at an angle it will go at that angle and fly way away from you. You don't want to do this in public because people can be hit of burnt because of this.

Step 3: Choosing the Engine

I take off the stick of a bottle rocket and stick it up in the rocket chamber and thats that. You want a rocket powerful enough to get the rocket in the air but if you get to powerful of a rocket it may be pushing the limits of the rocket and may rip it apart in the air.

Step 4: Fins

You want your fins to stick out in the wind because if the tucked up in the dip of a bottle no air will go over them and keep the rocket straight. You also don't want your fins and an angle on the rocket. If they are at an angle the rocket will spin.

Step 5: Mounting Engines

Mounting engines is a very important step in building one of these. They CANNOT be at an angle and they CANNOT be loose in the rocket chamber. My most succesful engine mount is tight in an aluminum tube so that the rocket cannot get out though, it does burn holes in the aluminum. The aluminum that is on my rocket is just from an aluminum can. Once you have your tube of alminum just stick it up in the drinking part of a small water bottle and make the engine fit in the aluminum but still let the aluminum fit in the mouth piece. Use hot glue to glue the aluminum piece in. DONT glue the engine in! Just try to fit the engine in tightly in the aluminum tube so it cant be removed.

Step 6: Damages...

Some damages can be repaired while others can't be. The original rocket I made was destroyed on the first flight. The engine had burnt the foam holding it in and the rocket went up inside the plastic part itself and burnt 2 holes in it. One small hole on the top and about a 5 inch hole on the side. Thats and example of what you cant fix unless your really good with plastic. Things you can fix something like the engine chamber falling out. Remember, hot glue is key.

Step 7: Be Safe!

Remember, the thing you may be building is explosive with may lead to mishap. Here are some of my rules:

1. Run when fuse is lit

2. Don't drop the engine

3. Inspect the rocket engine

Step 8: Enjoy Flying Your Rocket!

Enjoy your rocket as it is! Just remember don't get to angry if your rocket gets destroyed! Just think of NASA or other rocket building buisnesses! They risk millions of dollars on there rockets! They have blown up many expensive rockets! And please! Be safe with rockets!