Dick Stafford's Rocket Dungeon Blog 
Rocket Dungeon Posts
High power 10 years ago (2009-02-26)
As Feb. 2009 is slipping by, I found the Feb. 1999 issue of High Power Rocketry. So, what was going on in high power 10 years ago? Well, besides me getting into it. Impulse Aerospace started a ... [Read More]
Slow blogging, brief catch-up (2009-03-25)Blogging has been slow around the Dungeon. I got Roxio Creator and am copying old videos to DVD. My laptop was of average power two years ago but manipulating multi-gigabyte files eats its lunch. It ... [Read More]
Who's your Big Daddy? updated, already! (2009-04-24)Here is my mostly completed, 29mm Big Daddy. 'Mostly' because I won't install the nose cone bulkhead and any required weight until I lay hands on one of Quests new F12 BP motors . (see note below!) ... [Read More]
AeroTech announces the first three items in their new Karl E. Baumann Signature Product Line (2009-05-28)AeroTech Information Release 5/28/09 AeroTech Creates Karl E. Baumann Signature Product Line AeroTech is pleased to announce that it has created the Karl E. Baumann (KEB™) Signature L ... [Read More]
"N" power without epoxy? (2009-06-05)The typical Level-3 class rocket involves a lot of epoxy and fiberglass, Kevlar, or carbon fiber (or some combination thereof). I've heard of several examples. These are not well documented so I ... [Read More]
Video of my Level-2 flight (2009-06-09)I got my Level-2 at LDRS2000 outside Orangeburg, SC. My Great Googly Moogly flew on a J350 that was generously provided free by AeroTech. Recovery was controlled by a GWiz altimeter with motor ... [Read More]
Info on Dr. Rocket's modular aluminum rocket (2009-06-15)A while back, I posted about N-Power without epoxy? .One of the rockets I mentioned was Michael "Dr. Rocket" Reiner's modular aluminum rocket. I learned the following from Point 39 Productions video ... [Read More]
It's not 'research' but what is it? (2009-06-19)Last year, I ordered a 3-pack of F24 RMS loads that was missing a ton of parts including 2 of the 3 delay assemblies. I contacted AeroTech and, after emailing some evidence, they promptly replaced ... [Read More]
Saturday 06.20.2009 (2009-06-20)The NARAMS ECRM launch was on despite the threat of rain and afternoon thunderstorms. The weather reports looked like there might be breaks in the rain so I staged my stuff last night. This morning ... [Read More]
Manufacturer's Forum notes (2009-08-12)OK, I broke down and listed to the .mp3 of the Manufacturer's Forum. I skipped along so I could have missed a juicy tidbit... AT - no new news I hadn't heard ARA Press - ditto Balsa ... [Read More]
ALICE details (2009-08-28)I extracted some tidbits from: Tyler D. Wood, Mark A. Pfeil, Timothee L. Pourpoint, John Tsohas, and Steven F. Son of Purdue University and T.L. Connell, Jr, Grant A. Risha and Richard A. Yetter ... [Read More]
Direct staging APCP to BP motors (2009-09-30)TRF member rocket999 provided a link to the following interesting article: Direct Non-electronic Staging From Reloadable Composite Motors To Black Powder Motors , Jay Calvert, NAR # 71767 C Division, ... [Read More]
ROCKETS Magazine, October 2009 (2009-10-28)This month, Bob and Neil's editorial discusses the state of rocketry magazines. During the last 4 months or so, we have lost 50% of our rocket magazines - both LAUNCH and Extreme Rocketry succumbed ... [Read More]
Follow the bouncing launch pad (2010-04-29)Here's a video of a 2.6" 'throw-away' rocket made from unreinforced Blue Tube and flying on a 54mm Aerotech J1999 Warp 9 motor. As if the break-neck lift-off wasn't enough, wait for the slow motion ... [Read More]
PMRRF update (2010-05-25)The Paul Miller Recycled Rocket Fleet is complete...at least for the time being. I inspected, inventoried, and scavenged the entire box. There are lots of parts for future builds and ... [Read More]
AeroTech Cheetah scrap tube luck-out (2010-06-29)Yet another dead rocket that I inherited from the infamous Paul Miller is the motor section and nose cone from an Aerotech Cheetah. I found replacement 1.9" tubing on AeroTech's website but, ... [Read More]
How about an H reload for the 29/40-120 case!?! (2010-07-09)Via AeroTech's Facebook page: RMS-29/40-120 motor just tested at 150 N-sec with a 1.17 sec burn time...now to bump up the propellant to enter the 'H' power range! Sounds like Warp9 to ... [Read More]
New 29/40-120 details (2010-07-10)The Amateur Geek was right about the propellant used in the forthcoming high thrust load for the AeroTech 29/40-120 case. Again, via FB: "New Blue Thunder (the high solids, high Isp ... [Read More]
It's Tuesday and I am in a rocketry vacuum (2010-07-13)I have nothing on the bench (again), nothing interesting appeared on my feed reader this AM, the forums didn't have anything, EMRR hasn't updated in a month, and the photos that I submitted ... [Read More]
AeroTech reports test results for the 29/40-120 H motor (2010-07-15)Via Facebook: We fired four motors in two slightly different configurations, total impulse ranged from 162 to 166 N-sec. Burn times were 1.05 to 1.1 seconds. Measured delay was about 14 seconds. ... [Read More]
Launch Report 2010-8 (2010-07-18)Location: Central Sod Farm, Centreville, MD ( MDRA ESL-146) Weather: low 90's, clear, wind ~5-10 mph Total flights: Today - 9; YTD - 68 Total motors: Today - 18; YTD - 91 Another great day...good ... [Read More]
AeroTech G138 has been certified (2010-07-31)I've been waiting for this ever since I bought my 29/40-120 case: Aerotech: (HP)G138-14A 29mm x 124mm 157.1 Newton-seconds Total Impulse [note that's 2.9 N from an 'H'!] 190.1 Newtons Peak Thrust ... [Read More]
Laser ignition of APCP propellants (2010-11-04)AeroTech recently posted the attached video to FaceBook . It shows the ignition of various AT propellants using a 1.1W hand held Survival Laser . Gary mentions the possibility of head-end ... [Read More]
The price of MPR - then and now (2010-12-01)I bought my first mid-power rocket, the NCR Big Brute, in 1990 or 91. The other day, I was looking at the catalog that I ordered from and lamented the fact that I didn't buy a lifetime supply ... [Read More]
Mega-Review: Art Applewhite Standard Flying Saucers (VERY LONG) (2010-12-15)Because of their similarity, I decided to conglomerate all my reviews of Art Applewhite's 'standard' flying saucers is one easy-to-reference location. These are the ones that have an opening ... [Read More]
Review - Great Googly Moogly (2010-12-19)The Great Googly Moogly is a 8" x 75" scratch built rocket that I used for my TRA Level 2 certification at LDRS 19 in Orangeburg, SC. However, I began building it almost a year earlier, before even ... [Read More]
Mega-Review: Art Applewhite Delta Flying Saucers (2010-12-20)At the time of this posting, Art Applewhite is offering no less than 10 versions of his Delta Saucer design, two of which are free downloads. This is a cluster of reviews covering three of ... [Read More]
Comparison of Art Applewhite's 24mm Saucers (2010-12-20)Now that I have captured some of my old reviews, I decided to see if Blogger could handle the table used in the original comparison article. The first row includes links to the posts that present the ... [Read More]
Review - Art Applewhite 18", 38mm and 54mm Delta Flying Saucer (2010-12-21)This is a review of a pre-production version of Art Applewhite's 18", 38mm and 54mm Delta Flying Saucer . Its construction varied somewhat from the production model. Nonetheless, it is ... [Read More]
Review: Goonball XL5 (2010-12-24)This 'goony' version of the Fireball XL5 sci-fi spacecraft is based on the Estes SpaceShipOne kit. That rocket is now my favorite kits to bash. The modifications included replacing the stock ... [Read More]
Review: Twice Removed From Yesterday (2011-01-02)Twice Removed from Yesterday is a 4" diameter, 38mm rocket (as well as a song by Robin Trower). The main thing that is different about its construction (at least in my fleet) is the motor mount. The ... [Read More]
Mega Review: Vintage Estes (2011-01-14)This post covers the following out-of-production Estes kits: Helio*Copter (Kit #1995) Sizzler (Kit #1906) Starter Set Skinny Mini (Kit #0880) Space Shuttle (Kit #1284) ... [Read More]
Review: Art Applewhite Qubits (2011-01-18)The Qubit is another saucer-like object from Art Applewhite's lab . Once built, the Qubit resembles a cube that flies with one of its corners facing upward. I say the Qubit resembles a cube because ... [Read More]
Reviews: Micro Viking and Micro Titan III-C MOL (2011-01-21)This post presents a review of semi-scale Micro Viking and Micro Titan III-C MOL models. Micro Viking This is an easy to build, semi-scale model of the Viking sounding rocket for MMX-II ... [Read More]
Mega Review: Motors (2011-01-24)Here are my motor reviews from EMRR. AeroTech G77R (updated!) AeroTech G79W (updated!) Quest D5-0 Plugged Ellis Mountain SU J110 (out-of-production) Ellis Mountain SU J228 (out-of-production) ... [Read More]
Review: Loki 38mm Motor System (2011-01-28)This is a review of Loki 's 38mm line, circa mid-2005. Loki Research has been manufacturing EX hardware since 2001 and has had a hand in some of the largest projects flown over the past few years. ... [Read More]
Review: Killer Bee (2011-01-30)The Killer Bee is a 3" diameter rocket that I built around a set of Aerospace Composite fins from Giant Leap Rocketry. It sports a 29mm motor mount and zipperless construction. Construction: The ... [Read More]
Note from Performance Hobbies (2011-02-02)Since I've seen this email cross-posted to an open forum at Kenny's request, I thought I'd post it here also. Hey Gang, Great news! I'm selling Aerotech 29mm through 98mm reloads 25% off and you ... [Read More]
In my dreams... (2011-02-16)Last night, I dremt about an MDRA launch. As usual, my memory of the dream wasn't very persistent. However, I remember the details of one flight. I was going to fly my RocketVision ... [Read More]
Review: Tarkus II (2011-03-21)The motivation for this 29mm, sci-fi-inspired rocket began with a container from a bottle of Highland Park single-malt scotch. The truncated oval tube screamed spaceship. From there, the rocket ... [Read More]
Estes to begin offering composite mid-power motors! (2011-05-10)There are two threads on YORF describing the new Estes products that were unveiled at the NRHSA hobby show in Las Vegas - NEW Estes Pro Series 2 kits !!!! and More new Estes stuff from the Las ... [Read More]
Sport Rocketry Magazine, May/June 2011 (2011-05-14)Now, THAT'S a Fat Boy! Love the AeroTech J500 Mojave Green. In this issue: Electronics: MAWD Telemetry and the Garmin Astro GPS. A awesome build article on an ASP, complete with launcher! How ... [Read More]
In praise of motor blocks (2011-07-11)I started with Estes rockets and, of course, they all had motor blocks and hooks. This was good because there was only one length motor in each motor class and they made life easy. When I ... [Read More]
Recap of How Hard Can It Be's "homemade rocket" episode (2011-10-26)This post is mostly real-time notes taken while watching....spoilers ahead! It was a fun show and I recommend you watch it. If you can't or already have, read on! The stated goal goal ... [Read More]
Hobby rocket motors used to boost satellite (2011-11-10)Credit: Aerospace Corp Rocketry Planet reports that the grains and nozzles from four AeroTech E28T RMS motors were installed to boost a picosat in orbit. The P ico S ... [Read More]
EMRR Combined Motor Totals Tool (2011-12-02)I didn't know about this until earlier this evening, but EMRR has a nifty motor totals tool . This tool lets you mix and match motors in clusters and allows for delayed ignition and staging. ... [Read More]
Feed reader stars and interesting links (2012-02-07)MIT`16 EA Tube Goes to Near Space - YouTube - A 16-year-old accepted into Massachusetts Institute of Technology launched her admissions letter 91,000 feet to the edge of space and ... [Read More]
What's new with Estes in 2012? (2012-02-22)This morning Model Rocket Building discussed the new Estes 2012 catalog (pdf) that just appeared on their site. Most of the new stuff that interested me has been discussed here and I'm sure ... [Read More]
Launch Report 2012-4 "Lucky 13" (2012-05-26)Location: Old National Pike Park, Mt. Airy, MD ( NARHAMS ) Weather: mostly sunny, hot (96 on the field!), wind 0-5 mph Total flights: Today - 13; YTD - 30 Total motors: Today - 13; YTD - 36 Motors ... [Read More]
Successful Carmack Prize 100k' AGL Flight (updated) (2012-09-14)Update: Someone correctly pointed out that the prize ain't won until John says its won. However, the fliers and launch organizers think that will be the case. Someone also pointed out that recovery ... [Read More]
Pro-SU: "When you just want to fly!" (updated) (2013-02-24)I can't resist this tidbit of news! At NARCON, Aerotech is releasing their new line of single use high power motors. Wow, that's a bast from the past. Unlike the older SU motors, however, these ... [Read More]
Launch Report 2013-01 (2013-04-13)Location: Higgs Farm, Price, MD - MDRA (Red Glare XIV) Weather: 50's, mostly sunny, wind 5-10 Total flights: Today - 5; YTD - 5 Total motors: Today - 5; YTD - 5 Motors by class ... [Read More]
Launch Report 2013-2 (2013-06-15)Location: Central Sod Farm, Centreville, MD MDRA ESL-181) Weather: Sunny, mid 80's, wind 0-10 (crossfield, away from the trees) Total flights: Today - 9; YTD - 14 Total motors: Today - 10; YTD - 15 ... [Read More]
The first RMS ad circa 1990 (2013-06-22)Note this is pre-AeroTech. [Read More]
RCS, Inc. (Aerotech) and Quest Aerospace, Inc. Announce Merger (2013-07-18)Wow, this is a surprise. Hopefully, it will lead to more motor selections in the low/mid power range. Or, will this kill future single use motors in that range (i.e. the ones from Quest via Klima ? ... [Read More]
Sport Rocketry, September/October 2013 (2013-09-06)As you see, this issue features NSL and TARC, along with the attendant eye-candy. Other items include an article on teaching rocketry in schools and a launch rack based on keyless drill chucks. ... [Read More]
My flyable fleet (2013-10-10)After seeing ~1/10 of Dave Bucher's huge fleet on Facebook, I thought I'd snapshot mine, which consists of a paltry 233 birds. First sort criteria is a column that's not showing, breaking the list ... [Read More]
The Dungeon's Top 10 of 2013 (2013-12-24)Here is my annual list of things (mostly rocket related) that made me happy and captured my imagination. As usual, in no particular order: 1. Estes released the 29mm E16 and F15 BP motors. ... [Read More]
New Aerotech Econo-Max motors spotted on HobbyLinc (2014-01-27)I found these via TRF rather than on Aerotech's Facebook feed. These really are priced well and with a mid-February delivery, they will be part of my birthday present to myself. Both have a high ... [Read More]
How did AeroTech cram 83 N-s into a 53 N-s package? (2014-02-26)I want some of these! Via AeroTech on Facebook: How did AeroTech squeeze nearly 83 N-sec out of a form factor that until just recently was limited to around 53 N-sec (a 56% increase)? • High ... [Read More]
Launch Report 2014-2 (2014-03-15)Location: Higgs Farm, Price, MD ( ESL-190 ) Weather: 61 degrees, sunny, wind 10-20mph Total flights: Today - 6; YTD - 9 Total motors: Today - 6; YTD - 9 Motors by class YTD: MMX-1, A-2, C-1, E-1, ... [Read More]
Aerotech...no, not our AeroTech (2014-03-16)[Read More]
Launch Report 2014-10 (2014-07-26)Location: MDRA, Central Sod Farm Weather: cloudy turning to clear, wind 0 -5, around 90 degrees max Total flights: Today - 8; YTD - 80 Total motors: Today - 9; YTD - 70 Motors by class YTD: ... [Read More]
Its a rainy day... (2015-06-27)It's raining, I had to get up early to meet our paving contractor and my current project is waiting on Stickershock23 (decals will be here Monday!). I am not really in the market to spend money on ... [Read More]
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