Tips, Tricks and Research

I have been learning about this hobby furiously (I've only been back into it since December 1997). There is a huge amount of information online (see my links page), but as with every other subject, it is fragmentary, scattered and shows the wide divergence of opinion. I have researched several aspects of rocketry and written the information down here for others. Hopefully this will save someone some time.

If you haven't found it yet, you must check out Rocketry Online's INFOcentral.

Quick Tips Quick construction tips and tricks

Hypertek hybrids Info on Hypertek hybrid motors

ThrustCurve.org Motor info and simulator files on-line

Perfect fin slots Cutting perfect fin slots with a router table

Kitchen bagging Vacuum bagging without the huge investment

Honeycomb Tubes Making your own tubes with honeycomb core

Custom Decals Make your own decals using an Alps printer

Fin Beveling Make consistent 10° bevels on your fins

ProRail Base Make a suitable base for your ProRail

"Kevlar®* Sock" A simple and seamless (literally) lamination product

Tip-to-tip Jig Tip-to-tip fin can reinforcement

Epoxy Testing Testing the strength of epoxies in rocketry

Kit Building Good practices for building an HPR kit

Tube Saw A jig for cutting large tubes using a tile saw

In progress:

Bulkheads Testing home-made composite bulkheads

Ultimate Launcher The ultimate club launch control system

Forward Ignition Head-end ignition for commercial motors

* KEVLAR® is a trademark of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company.