Merry Christmas 2019

Reprinted from 2010 -

OH, ROCKET - TREE
Space Modeling Parody of Oh, Christmas Tree
Oh, Rocket-tree Oh, Rocket-tree,
How lovely is thy smoke trail,
Oh, Rocket-tree Oh, Rocket-tree,
Fly Vertically without fail.

With C6-3, we’ll rubberneck,
At peak of flight, a rear eject,

Oh, Rocket-tree Oh, Rocket-tree
It landed close - oh whoo-o-pee.

"But I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight,
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good flight."

"Say, little Bobby, Did you get a Wedgie for Christmas?"

The Wedgie is an OOP Odd'l Rockets kit that had available skins to fit the triangle sides.

Upscale Squatty Body

From TRF -
Gary 7 made an upscale Odd'l Squatty Body!





















"Started the Rocksim design phase early August. Got this done in time for Midwest Power. Flown on K535."

BT-20H (Heavy Wall) Tubing Now In Odd'l Rockets Kits!

The new Heavy Walled BT-20H tubes are being added to the Odd'l Rockets Kit lineup!
You'll see these tubes added to the 18mm engine mounts of kits being produced from this day forward.

There are still some recently produced kits with the standard thinner wall tubing out there. Keep an eye out, you'll notice the difference when you come across one of the new tubes!

The Heavy Walled 20 sized tubes are as thick as an Estes BT-55 or BT-60 tube. Stronger engine mounts for all general use including the new 18mm Quest composite C and D engines.

The normal Estes style BT-20 tube is on the left, the BT-20H (Heavy wall) tube is on the right. 

Frank Baeyens New Rockets -

Frank Baeyens posted on the Facebook Model Rocket Fanatics page - 
"New members of the fleet. Next week (weather permitting) they get baptized."

Kit and Accessory Pricing?

On TRF there was a debate where a post complained about the price of an Odd'l Rockets accessory.
I stayed out of the current conversation but finally had to add my two cents.
______________________________________________________________________

This post is not meant in any disrespect for anyone in this thread. But, I feel I should say something. For those who have used the Adeptor with good results, thank you!

I'm the guy that designed and produces the Odd'l Rocket Adeptors. I also write the modelrocketbuilding.blogspot.com blog.
I watch the prices of rocket kits and engines. If I see something I feel is unreasonable, I simply pass up the purchase. It's always your choice.

I sell kits and accessories to vendors at a wholesale cost. While I have a suggested retail price, the vendor sets a final price to make a profit.

The amount of time it takes to make an Adeptor is more than you'd think. I am very picky about quality and fit.
To produce this product, investments included a vise, drill press, metal drills, metal taps, tap handle and fine files  Most kitchen table builders probably wouldn't have these tools at hand.
So far, this doesn't include the price of the Adeptor materials and my time. I didn't buy the parts at Home Depot, they don't carry what I require. Who knows? I may have missed them in the fastener aisle. I have bought the large washers at Home Depot.

To Ez2cDave, the product you showed from Lowe's is not what I use. It may have a hole in the side, but it isn't tapped for the thumb screw. That nut may not fit the bolt on a camera tripod.
You'd still need the vise, drills, tap and handle. If you have the tools, time and skills, have at it. But don't forget where you got the inspiration. I give full credit to that picture from the Enerjet News, January 1973.

I'm fortunate to produce (draw, typeset and print) my own instructions. If I had to pay an outside
graphic artist to draw up instructions the retail price might be a little higher.
Add to that, I usually have to pay postage to get the products to vendors.

There is more to small scale product production than the average hobby consumer realizes.
After you've sold a few thousand kits you understand and look differently at domestically produced, small vendor pricing. Where Estes may produce thousands of a single kit design, I produce 25 kits at one time.When you buy in bulk (thousands) and bag kits overseas your wholesale price will be much lower.

The first time I used the prototype Adeptor for a camera tripod launch it saved my sore knees and enhanced my rocketry experience. If I was not the producer, I'd buy one myself.

NEW! Heavy Duty Engine Mounts

HDEM - Heavy Duty Engine Mounts

are now available from Odd'l Rocket vendors!

Now at JonRocket.com - at more vendors soon!

Features:

Extended Length Spring Steel Engine Hook

        3" long engine hook allows engine block to be positioned under the top bend

        of the hook. No more worn or loose engine hooks!

Replaceable Kevlar Line Design

        Kevlar tie is looped under lower centering ring.

        Small guide tube along the side of the mount allows you to check the 

        condition of the Kevlar and replace if needed.

Heavy Wall BT-20H Engine Tube

        Stronger BT-20 tube for long life

        Works great with the new, more powerful 18mm Quest Composite engines

        and general model rocket use. 

Now at JonRocket.com - at more vendors soon!