Here is a video of my flights this weekend... some success, some failure... how rocketeers learn. Thanks for advice as always kzfaq.info/get/bejne/jsimlamSnbuyook.html

Dr. Dave... I was wondering... the rocket I plan to make will be about 4' high with a body thickness of 2.5", the question I have is can my parachute be too big? I plan to use a totes style umbrella for the chute material... is there a formula for the parachutes relative to the bodies that is ideal? I know in the case of most rockets you have made go between a 12-18 inch parachute... I figure that the size of the umbrella is prob a bit more than that..... thank you

I wish this had TTW fins.

Dr Dave, i have a couple of more construction questions...i am planning to make a parachute for a rocket I'm designing out of umbrella material like you did in a video... is there a ratio i need to use for the shroud lines....i.e. the lines should be 3 times the diameter of the parachute or what not.... btw I'm making a windsock out of umbrella material and a dowel rod to assess field conditions.... second question.... i see you assemble most parachute kits with shroud lines being tied to adjacent corners.... but in pre assembled parachutes they tie the shrouds two adjacent corners on the outer corners and across the middle of the chute material for the center shroud line... is there any difference in your educated opinion? Thank you

That cable, crimping and shrink tubing is dubious at best? Why not just braided kevlar, it be lighter? Plus that whole huge elastic shock cord also. Is that really needed?

That's a very interesting rocket. Congratulations on it's construction. Can't wait to see it fly!

I just discovered your channel today. Instant subscribe. I started flying way back in the mid 70s when the biggest engine you could get was the D12-7.

When I first started the biggest engine you could get was a D12-7.

What engine does this use?

My rocketry career started with the Alpha 3. This was way back in the mid 70s. I remember having to cut each fin out of the die cast balsa sheets and having to cut the shroud lines from a single length of string. On the balsa fins I remember using sanding sealer and trying to shape each fin to a perfect airfoil shape.

I built this one in the late 70s. It was always an attention grabber. It was a great rainy day project.

The kit reminds me of the Alpha 3 but with 4 fins.. I started flying in the days of having to cut out the fins from a die cut balsa sheet and aligning the fins with a pencil line on the body tube.

Nice launches

NCR sells a really nice set of Fin Airfoil Assistants that work very well. If you get a chance take a look at them.

If i have a shock cord that snaps... is there a rule of thumb if i choose to tie a length of kevlar to the remaining cord? I know you said kevlar was 3x the overall length but not sure if adding more... or could i even tie an extra elastic shock cord where the break happened or would that be bad? Thanks as always dr Dave

Dr dave... crazy question... i am trying to scratch build a rocket as i said before... cant find a coupler big enough... would it work if i took a tube i wanted to use and glued more paper on to it in layers to beef it up? Or would that not be ok structurally? And if i can would that be bad to use as a baffle assembly if i have to beef it up like i want to for the coupler?

Dr dave if i want to make a baffle for a scratch rocket is that possible? Or if i use wadding is there a rule of thumb for how much? Thanks Sir

Dr dave i watched your franken rocket video... i plan to make a model rocket using two of those long candy/bank tubes and a 3d printed nose... i am wondering is there a rule of thumb for motor mount tubes as i am designing the rocket in open rocket and not sure how big a motor to install i know once i know for sure the centering rings will design for me in a way based on the body tubes, also in a larger rocket which is better a launch lug, or a rail system?

Just a question... when you make your parachutes from kits... why a pencil and not just grabbing a hole punch? May be easier.

One question, how tall do they reach?

Can you set the cam focus to infinity? Makes it blurry less than 10ft but not an issue.

What cute are you using on these models

Nice video work. Thanks for sharing.

Some good tips.

Great flights and video.

Great launch. Really nice variety of rockets. Excellent videography of launches and landings. Thanks for sharing!

Great video and heads up on some unforseen complexities with the build.

This helped with my son 4H project thank you👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

junk

I assume you glue the baffle inside the rocket tube? You didn't mention that in the video. My first time using a baffle.

Cool, I am guessing you may be doing a launch of this on or around Father's Day.

dr. Dave, I am building a rocket from scrap materials from another kit, I designed it in open rocket and the simulation looks good... the only questions I have are thusly 1) with a baffle system, which I grabbed from the rocketarium chief ii kit, do I need vent holes for the rocket? 2) with the baffle system, and the fact that I am giving it a kevlar shock cord, I don't need to pack any wadding in the rocket for launching right? thanks your videos are very informative.

Dr Dave... what was the shock cord ratio if you replace elastic with kevlar again as i dont remember which video it was but scarcely thought it was that the kevlar needed to be 4x the elastic length. Ty

Should just make the Leviathan out of the Big Daddy pieces

Interesting intro….

Just got into rocketry with my son. We just successfully launched an Estes Alpha.

Can you find me a link for the real paper instructions for it? I lost them.

Your centering ring is in backwards

If you ever do merch should have a t shirt that says "I will do .... off camera" lol

Love that pastel yellow! What paint did you use on the body and nose?

Just ordered my first model rocket kit! excited to start building

Dr dave what is your thoughts on powder? Dad used to put powder in his rocket bodies to make the recovery system pop out easier? Is this a thing or a waste of time? Thanks as always

I’m about half way through my build. Your videos are great. Thank you for the excellent work. I have to agree with the one comment, the music during the fast forwarding could be eliminated.

Boy Scouts, anyone?

I’ve really come to appreciate Rocketarium. Excellent products.

Great build video. The Estes Hi-Flyer XL deserves up powering to 29mm, through tube fins, a rail guide for minimal diameter performance, ejection baffle and add nose weight. Enjoy the conical exhaust contrail approaching the speed of sound on a budget.❤

One question? What size is the Kevlar shock cord? I keep buying reels of kevlar but they are too thin... thank you

Dr dave i made a fin system for applying sanding sealer you can try if you like... i took a small square of wood, about 5"x5" and glued clothes pins around the wood facing up to use as clamps for the pins... worked well for me.

Cool rocket. I just built the Apogee TTV. It is also a medium powered rocket that has an avionics bay. But it is for timed staging. Katana Jr may be my next rocket. Thanks for the detailed assembly videos.

I had Estes rockets, with my brother, about 50 years ago. Brings back memories! Our Big Bertha, yes we had one, had a balsa nose cone with a screw hook to attach the chute.