Big Baby Bertha on D12-5, January 14, 2012 (2012-01-20)

This is an upscale version of the Estes "Baby Bertha" that I built. It flies rather nicely. Rocket Science - Making everything else look simple since 1958!

Big Baby Bertha on Estes D12-5 at LUNAR launch Snow Ranch Mar 3, 2012 (2012-03-09)

This is my scratch built upscale of the Estes Baby Bertha which I call "Big Baby Bertha". All did not go well on this launch. On the first go round, the igniter shorted out due to the traffic on adjacent pads so I had to reconnect the leads and wait for the next launch attempt. During the boost, the chute tangled with rocket resulting in a bad landing on top of car. Fortunately, no damage to rocket or car. Rocket Science: Making everything else look simple since 1958.

Big Pink II on G76-5 at LUNAR launch at Snow Ranch Mar 3, 2012 (2012-03-09)

March 2012 LUNAR launch at Snow Ranch: This is my tube fin rocket "Big Pink II" going up on an Aerotech G76-5. Yes, I had to drill out the delay to accommodate the extra weight of this big beast. The wind had totally died down and there is a flight of gnats hovering over the field while I'm filming this. It was also the next to last flight of the day. Good straight boost, timely deployment and recovery, and a soft touchdown about 100 feet from my vantage point. Short recovery walks are much appreciated at the end of the day. Rocket Science: Making everything else look simple since 1958.

Bottle Bat 3.0 (tube fin rocket) on G76-7G at Snow Ranch Feb 2, 2012 (2012-03-01)

This was the first flight of this tube fin rocket. I used a G76-7G motor with delay shortened to 5 seconds. Turned out to be a good choice and the chute deployed just after apogee. The Jolly Logice Altimeter 2 said 978' and 186 mph. Rocket Science: Making everything else look simple since 1958!

Casey Barker's M2100 Rocket at Snow Ranch Feb 2, 2012 (2012-03-01)

This is a big rocket. An M2100 motor is quite large as well. Though I often joke about rocket science, this is truly is a very technical endeavor and well done. Far beyond my efforts. Rocket Science: Making everything else look simple since 1958!

Mean Machine on D12-3 at Snow Ranch Feb 4, 2012 (2012-02-27)

This is my Not So Mean Machine on an anemic D12-3 motor that quits on the way up. Fortunately I selected a short delay and descend under the chute. Unfortunately, the chute is a bit too small and a fin cracks on the landing. Rocket Science: Making everything else look simple since 1958!

Mean Machine on E20-4 Single Use Motor Feb18, 2012 (2012-02-27)

This is my Estes Mean Machine rocket that turned out a little heavier than the manufacturer predicted. That being the case, I used a bigger motor. MORE POWER!! Next time I'll go even bigger. Rocket Science: Making everything else look simple since 1958.

OD's Level 1 Certification Flight (2011-12-08)

This was my Level 1 certification flight. It's a cloned tube fin rocket boosting on an AT H128W with a 6 second delay. Success! Rocket Science - Making everything else look simple since 1958.

OD's Steppin Razor II on H123W (Ground view) 12-10-2011 (2011-12-26)

This is the view from the ground of my Steppin' Razor II boosting on an H123W. After motor burnout you can hear the airframe whistle. Rocket Science: Making everything else look simple since 1958!

OD's Steppin Razor II on H123W 12-10-11 (2011-12-26)

This is the onboard video from my launch of Steppin' Razor II tube fin rocket on an Aerotech H123W. Apparently tube fin rockets also whistle. Who knew? Rocket Science: Making everything else look simple since 1958!

OD's Steppin Razor on G64-7 12-10-2011 (2011-12-26)

Onboard video of a boost on an Aerotech 29mm G64-7 White Lightning motor. This is my tube fin rocket "Steppin' Razor'. Rocket Science: Making everything else look simple since 1958!

Steppin Razor on G76 at LUNAR Snow Ranch Mar 3, 2012 (2012-03-09)

More money going up in smoke! My tube fin rocket "Steppin' Razor" boosting on an Aerotech G76-7 reload. Although it descended slowly under the 30" parachute and landed in a cow pie, it still managed to sustain a compression crack in the paint of one of the tube fins. Rocket science indeed. Rocket Science: Making everything else look simple since 1958!

Steppin' Razor (tube fin rocket) on G76-7G Feb 2, 2012 (2012-03-05)

This is my tube fin rocket "Steppin' Razor" boosting on a G76-7G motor. Nice green exhaust flame, innit? Rocket Science: Making everything else look simple since 1958!

Steppin' Razor on G76-7 - January 14, 2012 (2012-01-20)

This is an impromptu drag race between two rockets loaded up with identical motors. Note the green exhaust flame. Rocket Science - Making everything else look simple since 1958!

Steve Jurvetson's "Sledge Hammer" at Snow Ranch on M motor Feb 2, 2012 (2012-03-01)

Another very well done rocket and launch. This motor seems to burn forever. Rocket Science: Making everything else look simple since 1958!

Super Neon XL on E20-7 Jan 14, 2012 (2012-01-20)

This is my Estes Super Neon XL boosting on an Aerotech E20-7 single use motor. The "up" part went great but the parachute failed to deploy so the "down" part was sub-optimal resulting in a detectable seismic event. The good news is that the nose cone and fin can are in good shape so I can rebuild it. We have the technology... Rocket Science: Making everything else look simple since 1958!

Tube fin E-Pod on E30 (2011-12-04)

This is my clone of Larry Brand's E-Pod tube fin rocket. Boosting on an E30 single use motor. Rocket Science - Making everything else look simple since 1958!