Hans "Chris" Michielssen's Page

AKA: hcmbanjo
Location: Orlando, FL
Club Memberships: NAR
Favorite Rockets: Estes Goblin
Personal Home Page: www.oddlrockets.com
Club Home Page: www.R-O-C-K.org
RocketReviews.com Pages:
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2026-01-12

Estes Semi-Scale Saturn V, Kit #K-39, Part 10, Forming The Fairings

Blog
Start the cone form by rolling the fairing in the heel of your hand. Roll the dowel in an arc putting a slight curve into the cardstock. You'll have to take it slow or creases could form in the fairing cardstock. Continue tightening the arc curve over steam, then roll over the sharpened dowel again. Put some water over medium heat. Let the cardstock absorb some of the water vapor. Pinch ... [More]

2026-01-11

Estes Semi-Scale Saturn V, Kit #K-39, Part 9, Forming The Fairings

Blog
The instructions say to form the fin fairings by rolling them around a sharpened pencil. I sharpened a larger 5/8" dowel. I would think the pencil would be too narrow. I tried to "roll" a first test fairing (I printed extras) around the sharpened dowel. This is going to require some extra step for a smooth cone shape - folding the glue tabs first. The glue tabs are narrow. Trying to crease ... [More]

2026-01-10

Estes Semi-Scale Saturn V, Kit #K-39, Part 8, Prepping The Tunnel Dowels

Blog
The back side of the WD-2 dowels need to be sanded flat to glue onto the body tube. This can be difficult, the dowel will want to roll. Mark a straight line down the length of the dowel using the side of the pencil point. Facing up, this will be your straight line reference as you sand off then re-draw the pencil line until the dowel length is half. Using 220 grit on a block - As you sand ... [More]

2026-01-09

Estes Semi-Scale Saturn V, Kit #K-39, Part 7, Cutting Out The Fins

Blog
The fin pattern is taped down, face up on the cutting board. The clear fin material is taped on top. Using a straightedge and sharp knife - Cut and score the clear material about 1/2 the way through. Flex the material back and forth at the cut lines. The cut line should crack. I used small, smooth faced pliers on some lines that weren't wide enough to grasp with my fingers. Run a sanding ... [More]

2026-01-08

Estes Semi-Scale Saturn V, Kit #K-39, Part 6, Shroud Formers

Blog
The crescent shaped piece is the shroud former pattern. Set the inside edge on the card the 20/60 rings came from. Trace with pencil. Cut with a sharp new blade. The area between the "A" marks is scraped for better adhesion. On the right, the shroud former is glued onto the edge. I used my sanding block to even up the face of the former and tube edge. Here's the four shroud formers in place, ... [More]

2026-01-07

Estes Semi-Scale Saturn V, Kit #K-39, Part 5, Cutting The Fin Slots

Blog
I used a new blade and my aluminum angle to cut the fin slots. The masking tape wraps made it easier to see the start and stop points. After the initial scoring the cuts were about half way through the tube walls. I thought I was cutting on the lines. The slots ended up too wide. The fin root fit was too loose for me. I got another BT-60 tube out of my spare parts. This new tube needed seam ... [More]

2026-01-06

Estes Semi-Scale Saturn V, Kit #K-39, Part 4, Marking The Fin Slots

Blog
The instructions have you glue in the engine mount then cut the fin slots. You are warned to "cut lightly" because the clear tube is underneath. I decided to cut the slots before gluing in the engine mount. It takes some pressure to cut fin slots. Here's how the kit marking guide fit the tube. GOTCHA: The ends did not fully meet. Notice the faint pencil lines above the cardstock mount. After ... [More]

2026-01-05

Estes Semi-Scale Saturn V, Kit #K-39, Part 3, Engine Mount

Blog
Cutting the coupler a little oversize allows you to sand to fit. On the left, one side of the coupler cut size is sanded on a block with 220 grit. On the right, clear tape holds the ends together with a good, slip fit. Here's the finished engine mount. The clear coupler is held in place between the upper two centering rings. There is no glue holding the clear coupler to the rings. The kit ... [More]

2026-01-04

Launch! Orlando R.O.C.K., January 3, 2025

Blog
Some days are good, this wasn't the best! My Estes TWIN FACTOR was launched with a A10-0t booster to an A3-4t sustainer. As all my two stagers seem to fly - First stage is vertical, Second stage turns to 45 degrees! I got both stages back, there were some burn holes in the booster tube and the rear engine block was gone. This one is probably retired, the booster anyway. The BT-50 based ... [More]

2026-01-03

Estes Semi-Scale Saturn V, Kit #K-39, Part 2, Engine Mount

Blog
About 3/16" of the inside of the motor mount tube got a wipe of CA glue applied with a Q-tip. Never apply CA glue where a wood glue joint will go later. Wood glue needs to soak into the surface. CA glue seals the area where it is applied. The instructions say to cut a 1/8" square notch in a centering ring. I used my rotary punch to cut a half circle for engine hook movement relief. The upper ... [More]

2025-06-07

New Way Letter Go

Flight
An older Chinese Quest B6-4 had a noisy boost with an altitude guess at 325 feet. The 12" parachute was large enough for recovery on the newly mowed field. - Quest Chinese B6-4 - Orlando R.O.C.K. [More]

Odd'l Rockets Robot

Flight
Boost was stable with a B6-4 motor, but at ejection the head popped off! The rear ejection worked fine, and the main body found. But, the head was lost. No C6-5 second launch today. - B6-4 - Orlando R.O.C.K. [More]

ASP MMX Hawk

Flight
I asked for extra eyes to follow the descent but with the shiny streamer it was easy to track. - 1/8A-1 - Orlando R.O.C.K. [More]

Centuri Alien Encounter Flying Saucer 3/4 Size

Flight
It performed as advertised, turning over at apogee and landing on the spring wire legs. Space X has nothing on this 1976s kit! Boost was labored but straight up with a C6-3 in the tail. - C6-3 - Orlando R.O.C.K. [More]

2025-05-17

Estes Sky Tracer Clone

Flight
One of the trailing engine assemblies broke off, they are the first thing to hit under a parachute. I looked, but couldn't find all the pieces. These were a complex assembly, this rocket might be retired. - A8-3 - ROAR, Christmas, FL [More]

Odd'l Robot

Flight
The Robot arms are set to induce some spin stability. The spin was evident as the model slowed down on the C6-5 boost. This second test build also had .25 oz. of clay weight in the head. - C6-5 - ROAR, Christmas, FL [More]

Odd'l Robot

Flight
The new Odd'l Rockets ROBOT prototype had two more test flights. The first with another B6-4 to 275', The Robot arms are set to induce some spin stability. The spin was evident as the model slowed down on the C6-5 boost. This second test build also had .25 oz. of clay weight in the ... [More]

FlisKits Sky Raider

Flight
I couldn't get a boost shot so here's the ejection. That's only an 8" parachute, easy to pack in what little area is left inside. No damage at recovery. - C6-3 - ROAR, Christmas, FL [More]

Quest Intertruder

Flight
Some reviews say the boost can be squirrelly. Mine was straight and true to an estimated 350'. For half of the descent, the chute was caught up on on wing. It released and opened a hundred feet up. I was expecting some damage but it touched down with the fin dowels and toothpicks intact. - E B6-4 ... [More]

Semroc MMX Blue Bird Zero

Flight
I got lucky with the burst feature and caught the launch . MMX launches are quick! You can easily see a size difference when loaded next to other models on the rack. Boost was a loft to 50'. Streamer recovery with no damage. - 1/8A-1 [More]

2015-04-19

Rockets By Style / Kit-Bash/Modified

Photograph

Hans "Chris" Michielssen's Orange (Q Cobalt Kitbash)

2014-11-09

Rockets By Style / Kit-Bash/Modified

Photograph

MX-774 Kitbash on an Estes A8-3. Bunnell Blast, November 8, 2014

2012-09-22

Saturn Press Saturn V - Step 17

Build Entry
The outside curved lines of the Engine Fairing Shrouds were cut from the cardstock with scissors. The interior Fin Slots were cut with a knife and straight-edge. [More]

Saturn Press Saturn V - Step 16

Build Entry
The A Frames and Fins were pressed together. The C Frames are pressed into the A Frames and Fins. Be careful handling the Fin paint while assembling. Silver or metallic paints are easy to dull with fingerprints. After all were assembled dry (no glue) I applied white glue to all the joints with ... [More]