Dick Stafford's Page
AKA: rstaff3
Location: Rockville, MD
Certification Level: 2
Club Memberships: MDRA,NARHAMS
Favorite Rockets: Sweat Stained Clifton Tracking Station Hat of Death, most anything built from junk
Biography:
I started flying as a kid, quit (mostly) when I entered college, started back up when my son was young, quit again when he got bored, and then got into high power in 1999. I am a moderator for several Yahoo groups: microhybrids, MicroMaxRockets, night_launch, and OddRocs. I also am the volunteer product announcement compiler for ROCKETS Magazine.
Favorite Quote:
"Rockets are just another name for trouble. Either you just had trouble, you are having trouble, or you are going to have trouble." (Milt Rosen, Viking Program Director, White Sands Missile Test Range)
Personal Home Page: http://rocketdungeon.blogspot.com/
Club Home Page: http://www.mdrocketry.org/index.html
RocketReviews.com Pages:
2023-12-02
Estes Mega Mosquito
Flight
My big launch of the day was the MEGA MOSQUITO with a D12-3 motor manufactured in 1979. I was expecting a big boom but the engine gave a good boost. At ejection the elastic shock cord broke, the nose cone and chute drifted away. The tube end sufferer a good dent when it hit the grass ... [More]
2023-11-11
Estes Majestic
Flight
Great flight. Unfortunately I forgot to arm the chute release, Landed in the parking area but missed the cars. No damage. - F15-6 - NSL East Pence Indiana [More]
2018-06-16
Art Applewhite - Ring of Fire
Flight
Nice! - 2xE9-4 - MDRA - Centreville, MD [More]
AeroTech Cheetah
Flight
- F15-4 - MDRA - Centreville, MD [More]
Yarn Cone Nonami
Flight
Underpowered. It really lumbered off our longest rail. - E12-4 - MDRA - Centreville, MD [More]
Twice Removed From Yesterday
Flight
CR@300' - I357-10 - MDRA - Centreville, MD [More]
Sweat-Stained Clifton Tracking Station Hat of Death
Flight
- F10-0 - MDRA - Centreville, MD [More]
2018-04-27
Art Applewhite Rockets Ring of Fire (Kit)
Review
The Ring of Fire is Art's latest kit and, as Art states, is the "epitome of Minimalism." Since the beginning, Art has pioneered the use of simple, low tech components - plastic plates, foam board and cardstock. Who else provides a kit that has been printed on a computer? However, ... [More]
2018-04-21
Stink Bomb
Flight
late eject, needs a -3 - C6-5 - NARHAMS [More]
Estes Mini-Patriot
Flight
- A10-3 - NARHAMS [More]
Paper Kit - Little Joe I
Flight
- 1/2A3-2 - NARHAMS [More]
2011-11-18
MDRA Red Glare XI, day #1
Photograph
El Tubo Loco, carrot top variant
2011-09-18
MDRA ES-160
Photograph
PE Ultra Fatboy - Mini Mojo
2011-08-17
MDRA ESL-159
Photograph
A disturbing rocket
2011-07-17
MDRA ESL-158
Photograph
Longish flight line (for the Sod Farm)
2011-03-30
Semroc Little Joe II (Kit)
Review
This 1/70 scale Little Joe II is one of Semroc’s “Retro-Repro” line of kits. It includes a separately bagged Apollo capsule kit and is billed as a Skill Level-4 “Master” kit. The base rocket is probably a ‘3’ but in my book the capsule is a ... [More]
2011-03-24
Modification Hermes A-1 (Modification)
Review
This review explains how I converted a sport scale Semroc V-2 xKit to a Hermes A-1.
Components
The following parts are required:
One Semroc V-2 xKit, using the scale fin option
3/32” balsa stock
Thin Kevlar twine
Motor hook
Mylar sheath to hold the motor ... [More]
2011-03-22
Semroc V-2 to Hermes A1
Rocksim Design
[More]
2011-03-21
I Build Rockets Ballistic Chicken (Kit)
Review
The Ballistic Chicken is a basic 3FNC, 18mm-powered rocket...with a cool chicken-head nose cone. It is the first offering from Australia-based I Build Rockets. This was a beta test build, so the final kit may vary slightly. (I modified the shock cord attachment.) Thanks, Sascha, for ... [More]
2010-12-18
Too Rolling (Red)Stoned
Rocksim Design
[More]
2010-08-15
Heavenly Hobbies Resistor 224 (Kit)
Review
Brief: The Resistor 224 Planetary Defense
Weapon is the latest offering from Heavenly Hobbies. This futuristic, dual motor, 24mm design features their
‘Amaze’ ejection baffle, laser cut plywood fins, rings and baffles, thick wall tubes, and a single big decal.
It has two ... [More]
Modification Powered FLICS (Modification)
Review
The Lucky 13 is a copycat of Hans "Chris" Michielssen’s Powered FLICS . Mine uses the FLICS body and the remnants of a damaged 13mm 4FNC rocket that was missing its nose.
Modifications: I didn’t have any 13mm tubing so I dug through my box-o-dead rockets and found a suitable 13mm ... [More]
Scratch Spikor (Scratch)
Review
( Contributed - by Dick Stafford - 08/15/10)
Brief: This was a quick build featuring a mailing tube, recycled 29mm motor mount and fins, and a long
plastic garden spike.
Construction:
When I spotted the yellow plastic garden spikes at Home Depot, I couldn’t resist getting one of ... [More]
2010-08-01
Heavenly Hobbies H.H. Simit (Kit)
Review
( Contributed - by Dick Stafford - 08/01/10)
Brief: H. H. Simit is the simulation spreadsheet that Heavenly Hobbies distributes for free with their
kits. I thought I’d take the time to do a quick review even though it is not separately available.
Simit consists of an Excel ... [More]
Aerospace Speciality Products Tiny Tim Smoke (Kit)
Review
( Contributed - by Dick Stafford - 08/01/10)
Brief: This will be a short review and may not be of much use. The Tiny Tim Smoke is a rebuild of a
scavenged Tiny Tim Booster section from a staged WAC Corporal and I don't even know what kit it was. What this review
does show is how ... [More]
Modification Powered FLICS (Modification)
Review
When I read that Hans "Chris" Michielssen had converted a Quest FLICS rubber band powered rocket to MicroMaxx power, I immediately gave it a try. I too have had a stash of these freebies with no plans for what to do with them.
I wasn't going to review this...er...rocket but, when I saw his ... [More]
Scratch 12-Pack (Scratch)
Review
( Contributed - by Dick Stafford - 08/01/10)
Brief: Just your basic 3" rocket with twelve 18mm motor mounts. Made with mailing tube and an
Aqua-Pod water bottle as a nose cone.
Construction: The basic components are six 'stiffy' 18mm tubes from
Uncle Mike's , a 3" mailing
... [More]
2010-05-16
Odd'l Rockets Raise (Other Product)
Review
The Odd'l Raise is an adjustable standoff for 1/8" rods. One of them apparently dropped into the box when my Wedgie kit was shipped so I thought I'd add a short review. You can now put your clothes pins back on the line :)
The Raise is a merely a coil spring with a short piece if brass ... [More]
Odd'l Rockets Wedgie (Kit)
Review
( Contributed - by Dick Stafford - 05/16/10)
Brief: The Wedgie is a tetrahedron (3-sided pyramid) that flies on 18mm motors and recovers via a
rear-eject streamer. I want to thank Chris for letting me test out this cool oddroc kit. Mine is s/n #2!
Construction: The Wedgie comes ... [More]
