{"id":662,"date":"2022-05-16T19:33:23","date_gmt":"2022-05-16T19:33:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dadstuffsite.com\/?p=662"},"modified":"2023-06-06T16:00:35","modified_gmt":"2023-06-06T16:00:35","slug":"how-to-launch-model-rockets-with-your-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dadstuffsite.com\/how-to-launch-model-rockets-with-your-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"Model Rockets with Kids (What to Get and Where to Launch)"},"content":{"rendered":"
The weekend is coming up and the wife is out of town. That means I\u2019m on full time Dad Duty. One of the things I learned when I have a long period of time with two kiddos and no back up from the spouse (and, no, it\u2019s not called \u201cbabysitting\u201d\u2026it\u2019s called parenting), is that having a game plan can make the difference between a great weekend with the kids and a frustrating one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So what\u2019s a great activity to do with the kids that can keep them engaged? Launching model rockets! The hobby is relatively inexpensive (and even cheaper once you have a launch pad and launch controller) and super easy to get into. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The best part about model rockets is that it includes a couple different activities. You start out with a nice, focused, indoor building session and then move outside to the launch site and have your kids run around chasing the rockets as they float back to the ground. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Pro dad tip: When finding activities to do with your kids, it\u2019s important to have both mental and physical stimulation. There are two very different kinds of tired. The kind where you\u2019ve exerted yourself physically, and the kind where you\u2019ve worn yourself out mentally. I find when my kids are one and not the other, potential issues come up (and with two young boys, that usually means bickering and fighting). <\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Not only is it just plain cool to launch something you made hundreds (or thousands) of feet into the air, but you have the added benefit of wearing your kids out by having them chase down the rockets when they land (can someone say early bedtime?).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before you can get to launch day, there are a couple of things you need to get first:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re new to the hobby, some of the items on this list may seem a bit foreign, and with so many options available, it can seem a bit overwhelming. Not to worry, I will give you my recommendations, and for anything that you might want to read more about, I\u2019ll link to more in-depth articles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are a lot of great beginner rockets available, and Estes is the brand to start with (no they did not pay me to say that). While there are some great model rocket companies, Estes has a huge line of beginner rockets that are inexpensive and readily available. You should be able to get everything you need at a hobby shop, craft store, or Amazon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The choice of rocket kits available can look a little intimidating, and you may be wondering where to start. The first thing to look at when shopping for a rocket is to understand how they\u2019re classified. The main difference with the different levels of rocket kits is how easy or hard they are to build. (Estes classifies them into five categories: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Expert, and Master. You may still find the old classification system of Level I, II, III. More on all of this here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The good news is that Estes has made the process of building even easier and the days of gluing fiddly balsa wings for a beginner rocket are gone. In fact, Estes has redefined their skill levels and what once was considered beginner (the balsa fin rockets) is now intermediate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Anything in their beginner series will be pretty easy to build, but with over 30 kits classified as beginner, the choice can still be overwhelming. I recommend the Estes Alpha III rocket; this is my go-to beginner rocket. There is some assembly required, but it\u2019s super easy to build and is something you and your kids can do together. <\/p>\n\n\n If you\u2019re interested in looking into other beginner rocket options, check out Best Beginner Model Rockets to Build and Launch with Your Kids<\/a>. I go into much more detail about choosing the right rocket and the different building options. <\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The really good news is that the Alpha III comes in a launch set. This means it includes a launch pad and a launch controller, both necessary to launch your rocket (and once you have it, you\u2019re good for just about every low-powered rocket you fly). This is also much cheaper than buying the launch pad and launch controller separately. <\/p>\n\n\n Other materials not included in the launch set that you will need to buy are recovery wadding (more on what this does later) and batteries for the launch controller. While there are a couple brands of wadding out there, get a packet of the Estes recovery wadding. It comes with 75 sheets, averages about $.10 a sheet, and should last you about 25 flights. (Check out How to Use Recovery Wadding in Model Rockets <\/a>to learn more)<\/p>\n\n\n Building the rocket is easy (and for anyone who has built a model rocket before, you know how fiddly gluing the fins used to be). Just follow the directions and let the glue dry!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of all the things you need to buy to launch a model rocket, this can be the trickiest. There is a lot you can learn about rocket engines (and I have a lot more to say in How to Choose a Model Rocket Engine<\/a>), but I\u2019ll keep things simple for right now and stick with recommended engines for the Alpha III rocket. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The recommended engines for an Alpha III rocket are\u00a01\/2A6-2<\/a>,\u00a0A8-3<\/a>,\u00a0A8-5<\/a>,\u00a0B4-4<\/a>,\u00a0B6-4<\/a>,\u00a0B6<\/a>–<\/a>6<\/a>,\u00a0C6-5<\/a>,\u00a0C6-7<\/a>. For now, all you really need to understand is that the letter refers to the Total Impulse or the total amount of energy in that motor. The higher the letter, the more total energy it will have. \u201c1\/2A\u201d will have half of the total energy of an \u201cA\u201d engine. The engines above are listed in order of how high the engine can launch your rocket, from lowest to highest.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now before you get all excited and buy all \u201cC\u201d engines because more power is better, let\u2019s tap the breaks and think this out for a second. First, let\u2019s stipulate you\u2019re going to want to launch this rocket more than one time (have I mentioned you get to reuse this rocket over and over? Yeah, that\u2019s kind of the fun of this). <\/p>\n\n\n\n So before you put the biggest engine in, plan to start with one of the \u201cA\u201d engines (Either the A8-3 or A8-5 will do. We\u2019ll just skip the 1\/2A. It\u2019s a little too sissy for me.). This will give you a chance to see what the wind is looking like and how much your rocket blows in any direction as it comes down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019re going to want to adjust your launch direction to go slightly into the wind so when it descends and the parachute is deployed, it doesn\u2019t blow to the other side of town. And although a \u201cC\u201d engine will give you a really high launch, it also means a greater chance of the rocket getting blown away on its much longer descent (I still see my youngest son\u2019s first rocket in the trees whenever I take him to a soccer game\u2026). <\/p>\n\n\n\n My recommendation is to get a variety pack of rocket engines. The one below comes with a pack of A, B, and C motors. This gives you a chance to launch a lower power motor and work your way up to a higher power motor. <\/p>\n\n\n According to the NAR (National Association of Rocketry. www.nar.org<\/a>) model rocket safety code, model rockets should be launched in an open area (with as few trees around as possible), in safe weather conditions with wind speeds no greater than 20 miles per hour. There should be no dry grass near the launch pad and should not pose a risk of a grass fire. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The following table show\u2019s the NAR\u2019s suggested minimum field size for the size motor you\u2019re using. A football or baseball field is great for class A and B engines. A football field is about 200 feet wide (if you include the coach and team areas) and about 300 feet long, so a single field is a little small for a C engine. A community soccer or baseball complex with multiple fields should be enough <\/p>\n\n\n\nMaterials: What Do You Need to Fly a Model Rocket?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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What’s the Best Beginner Rocket to Start With?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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How to Choose the Right Rocket Engine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Find a Launch Location<\/h2>\n\n\n\n