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

2026-01-07

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]

2026-01-02

Estes Semi-Scale Saturn V, Kit #K-39, Part 1, Parts

Blog
All the parts: The tubes are tight and strong, almost no seams! The longer, lower body is a BT-60, the upper tube is a BT-52. The 1/12" diameter dowels are used to make the tunnels and ullage motors. The printed wraps remind me of the old Estes Mercury Redstone capsule wrap. The cardstock shrouds, fairings and tube marking guide. The self adhesive "fins" are faded, almost gone! These will have ... [More]

2026-01-01

Estes Semi-Scale Saturn V, Kit #K-39, Background

Blog
Let's start the New Year off right! The "practical size" Estes semi-scale Saturn V was introduced in 1969 and available through 1979. I had assembled this model in the early 1970s, remembering some confusion about the clear plastic fins. This might have been the first kit to incorporate thru-the-wall fins! The catalog picture at the right doesn't mention or show clear fins. The engine mount ... [More]

2025-12-31

Top Ten Blog COUNTDOWN for 2025, Part 2

Blog
5 - Estes AMRAAM Downscale I've always like the Amraam with its forward fins. This was a downscale from a BT-55 to a heavy wall BT-50. 4 - Estes LTV SCOUT Another classic I never got around to in the 1970s. Small fins, blow molded transitions and some really crappy wood tunnels. Three feet tall! 3 - New Way BLADE RUNNER A standout design, different from anything else! A little ... [More]

2025-12-30

Top Ten Blog COUNTDOWN for 2025, Part 1

Blog
These are my favorite posts and builds from the past year. Some posts were great surprises or just good builds. Counting down from 10 to 1 - Click on the BLUE names to go to the build posts: 10 - Estes ADVANCED TARGET DRONE Cardstock intakes and white decals added to a good challenge. 9 - QUEST INTRUDER KITBASH The Quest sticker decals were ruined so I kit bashed it ... [More]

2025-12-29

Estes Monarch Build, #7214, Finished

Blog
The Optima is a great design, at any size. I'll worry about printing a name decal next time I make decals. That Rusto Metallic Black Night paint is a favorite. I didn't worry about the break line between the two body tubes. Normally I'd fill it. I didn't notice it until now - The Monarch face card art has the same trim style as the Optima! Different colors but the same idea - vertical shiny fin ... [More]

2025-04-05

Estes ATV (Advanced Target Drone) Clone

Flight
Textbook launch and recovery. Altitude estimated at 225'. - A8-3 - Orlando R.O.C.K. [More]

Odd'l Rockets Robot

Flight
First test flight of the ROBOT design. I was concerned about stability, but it was fine with a B6-4 motor. Rear eject worked, but - The winds took it into the trees! I chalked it up as a loss, there were a few others rockets caught in the high pines to the West side of the field. ... [More]

Estes Star Seeker Clone

Flight
First flight with an A3-4t engine. Vertical boost, reefed chute to about 250 feet. I expected to see a fin torn off at touchdown, there is a very short root edge on this one. No damage! - Estes A3-4t - Orlando R.O.C.K. [More]

Nike X Goon

Flight
This is it's seventh launch. An Estes B6-4 got it to 250 feet. The home print decals are starting to yellow - - B6-4 - Orlando R.O.C.K. [More]

Fliskits Saturn V MMX

Flight
Note the conical stability at the low end. No launch pic for this one, MMX are too fast to capture. I usually ask for extra eyes on these small builds as the launches are fast - This one is slower and the black cone on the back is easy to follow through boost. Altitude was probably 50' ... [More]

2025-02-23

Estes Star Seeker Clone

Flight
Fast and high for a 1/2A engine, probably reaching 225 feet. Good thing I added a streamer! You'll need one to find it as it falls. I was warned - a fin did break off when it hit the ground. - Estes 1/2A3-2t - ROAR, Christmas, FL [More]

New Way Alien Invader

Flight
One broken and separated fin on landing. - E B6-4 - ROAR, Christmas, FL [More]

Quest FLV

Flight
Estimated altitude was 500 feet. Stable, clean with touchdown close to the pad. - E B6-4 - R.O.A.R. Christmas, FL [More]

Odd'l Rockets F-18 Hornet Blue Angels

Flight
I should have used a B6-4, but had an anemic A8-3 loaded. The rocket launch was a "loft", maxing out at 200 feet. No damage on recovery. - E A8-3 - ROAR, Christmas, FL [More]

FlisKits Crayon MMX

Flight
It was a big hit with the kids. I would guess it got to 100'. It needed lots of eyes on it - 1/8A-1 - ROAR, Christmas, FL [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]