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:
Rocket Gallery
Flight Log
Flight Statistics

2026-02-20

Estes Time Warp Build, #7321, Part 8, Scattered Steps

Blog
I'm always apprehensive about using pre-made parachute shroud lines. These broke with a good tug! I cut them off the chute and replaced them with #10 embroidery thread. Plastic nose cones and adapters take longer to dry between paint coats. I waited three days before spraying the yellow and the paint wrinkled! Sand smooth, wait four days and spray again! Here's the new Estes self-adhesive shock ... [More]

2026-02-19

Estes Time Warp Build, #7321, Part 7, Gluing & Filling The Fin Tips

Blog
The fin tips and fins had the balsa grain filled and sanded. Filler/primer and sanding followed. I used a small diamond file to slightly open up the slots to a friction fit over the fin tabs. The fin tips are glued on. There is now gaps around the fin tab joint. This joint required additional filling, first more CWF and sanding flat with a block. The backs of the shield tips are masked and the ... [More]

2026-02-18

Estes Time Warp Build, #7321, Part 6, Fin Fitting & Fill

Blog
The tube seams were filled with CWF and sanded to surface. The BT-55 had a definite seam, the heavy walled BT-50 was very tight. After the fin tips were glued together, I tried a test fit on the main fin. I wish the fin tabs (sticking into the smaller "shield" fin) were longer so you could sand them to surface after gluing them on. With the tabs slightly recessed there is more to fill. Laser ... [More]

2026-02-17

Estes Time Warp Build, #7321, Part 5, Upper Centering Ring

Blog
Here's the upper laminated centering ring, glued 1/2" from the bottom of the BT-5 tube cluster. The instructions say to add glue fillets down and between the three tubes. TIP: I wouldn't do this , it's a long, deep joint. When the glue dries you'll have bubbles and an uneven fillet. I used a few drops of glue to fill the small center gap. This will block any ejection charge escape. Years back we ... [More]

2026-02-16

Estes Time Warp Build, #7321, Part 4, Centering Ring Laminates

Blog
The center triangle of the centering rings will probably break off. There's not much to hold it in the center. I'll show how to block the hole (and the ejection charge) in the next post. When laminating the two sets of two rings, use one of the BT-5 tubes to check the alignment. Don't glue the tube to the rings (yet), use the tube to be sure all three holes are lined up. The instructions ... [More]

2026-02-15

Estes Time Warp Build, #7321, Part 3, Engine Blocks

Blog
Jim Flis (Fliskits) gets credit for this engine block setting idea calling it the "Block and Tackle.". TIP: The mini motors (friction fitted) extend 1/4" out the rear of the BT-5 tubes. A 1/4" strip of masking tape is wrapped around and even with the end of the yellow spacer tube. This tape ring stops when it hits the end of the tube. All three engine block will be at the same ... [More]

2026-02-14

Estes Time Warp Build, #7321, Part 2, Paint Plan & Engine Tubes Fill

Blog
Planning ahead! If you want to paint the rocket in the face card colors, paint the build in sections before gluing it all together. The BT-5 cluster tubes are yellow and would be difficult to paint if glued into the gray BT-55 tube. That yellow adapter could be painted before gluing into the white BT-50. Same goes for the gray nose cone. Paint them before gluing together and get instant "masks" ... [More]

2026-02-13

Estes Time Warp Build, #7321, Part 1, Parts

Blog
A new mini-motor cluster rocket! I recently picked up a bunch 13mm motors. This model would be a good way to burn through some black powder. The Estes Time Warp has three BT-5s motor mount tubes (left side, in yellow) joined to a BT-55 (gray tube). A 55/50 adapter joins to a heavy walled BT-50 (unusual) and finally the gray nose cone. The parts of interest: Mentioned earlier, a heavy wall ... [More]

2026-02-10

No Posts? I'm Camping!

Blog
Sorry, no posts for the next three days. I'm going camping with Dakota the Blue Merle Sheltie. A new build will start on Friday, February 13. [More]

2026-02-09

New Hole Punch

Blog
I just got a new hole punch. The punches get dull after a few years of use and it's hard to find replacement parts that fit. This is heavier duty and replacement hole punch tubes are included! Also in the box: A wrench to tighten or change the cutting tubes and a 6" long metal ruler. To see it, CLICK HERE For $13.99 it's probably the best available. Centering Rings: I use hole ... [More]

2025-12-20

Centuri Alien Encounter Flying Saucer 3/4 Size

Flight
Just as advertised, at apogee it turned over and "floated" down landing on the wire legs. - C5-3 - ROAR, Christmas, FL [More]

New Way Firecat 4

Flight
On dislodged fin at touch down - B6-4 - ROAR, Christmas, FL [More]

FlisKits M.A.C.M.E. Shrew MMX

Flight
It is stable - to about 40 feet. The short MMX ejection fired before apogee. The narrow streamer slowed descent. - 1/8A-1 - ROAR, Christmas, FL [More]

Quest Striker AGM

Flight
I reefed the chute for a faster descent which led to two fins broken off. The lower 2/3 of the fins didn't adhere well to the plastic tail cone. The smaller fairing fins were still securely glued to the body tube. - C6-5 [More]

2025-11-22

Estes LTV Scout

Flight
Boost was labored but true. Altitude was probably about 400'. I set the build up with two chutes instead of the single one in the kit. Both ejected and opened. At landing, two of the small fins popped off and were found nearby. - C6-5 - ROAR, Christmas, FL [More]

Centuri Skylab Clone

Flight
The model was rigged for horizontal recovery but the chute lines got tangled at ejection. One solar panel fin and one side booster broke off on landing. Looks like an easy, clean repair. - C5-3 - ROAR, Christmas, FL [More]

Semroc Excalibur

Flight
First launch of the Semroc/Centuri EXCALIBUR with a B6-4. Arrow straight (obviously due to the six fibre fins) to an estimated 400'. No damage when picked up. - E B6-4 - ROAR, Christmas, FL [More]

Fliskits Saturn V MMX

Flight
Unstable! Probably got to 8 feet in that loop. Ejection on the ground and closest to the pad. - 1/8A-1 - ROAR, Christmas, FL [More]

Excelsior Rocketry Honest Goon

Flight
It's a bulky, heavy bird but always comes through. With the C6-5 altitude was around 425'. Full chute and no damage. - C6-5 - ROAR, Christmas, FL [More]

2025-11-08

Odd'l X-15 Goony

Flight
Textbook flight with an easy recovery. I only had four launches and wanted to get my new dog cooled off! All recovered, no damages. - B6-4 [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]