Model Rocketry...any aficionados here?

[Relic]

My two older sons have been bugging me to get into this. They want to build and launch all sorts of model rockets. The problem is that I'm not too sure of the legal ins and outs of doing so....

Here in NJ, igniting a fart could potentially lead to charges of pollution, terrorism and unlawful use of a cigarette lighter. So even though the model rockets are sold in almost every Target, Walmart and Michael's Craft Shops, I'm not so sure if we could actually launch these things on our own property or if we would have to go to some designated area or get some sort of legal permission to do so at a park etc.
Anyone here into model rocketry and how do you go about launching and recovering the suckers?

[stratovani]

Better hope you have some money to spend on this. My oldest son was into model rocketry back in the late 90s. We'd go to our local high school athletic field, launch a rocket, and lose it in the trees or into the local swamp. I must admit, however, that the launches themselves were pretty spectacular. One time we launched one that went right into the clouds! Unfortunately, that was the last time we saw that rocket. That's when I told him he needed to get a new hobby. I didn't have NASA's budget!

[MatticusMania]

I used to take mine to the park. Put some protection down if youre doing it in a grassy area, or launch them on concrete. Im not sure if there are any legal stipulations, but my friends and I never got into any trouble, and we were a bunch of hooligans. Be prepared to lose a few rockets. As far as recovering, just watch 'em go up. Hoefully they'll come into view on the way down, floating on their parachutes.

I didnt find them very expensive in my day (maybe 15 years ago). About $20-30 for a starter kit with 3 rockets. Additional rockets could be bought in singles or pairs from $8-$20, depending on size, and other features.

[bassteban]

Yeah, we did em a few years ago- didn't get too deeply(expensively)into it, maybe $5-$10 rockets after the first starter kit. My kids were 7 & 11 at the time and LOVED it. Call your local city hall or w/e for clarification of legal issues.

[TheSuzie]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

As far as recovering, just watch 'em go up. Hoefully they'll come into view on the way down, floating on their parachutes.

You can attach a cheap tiny buzzer or beeper to give an audible tracking indication. If you launch in the early evening, a flashing LED or LEDs may let you recover after dusk falls. It may still get lost but for a more expensive rocket, it gives you a better chance. You can also reduce the size of the parachute. you may get a bit of damage from a harder landing but I would imagine such things are easily repaired.

Watch out or your kids could end up here:

YouTube - ‪MiniSShot Flight 4-25-2010‬‏

S

[DwaynieAD]

used to do it when i was younger. its tons of fun and the propellent used in them wont burn anything so you dont really have to worry about that

its not very expensive, but yeah, be prepared to lose some rockets

[WalterBush]

I went through a model rocketry period as a kid, and I'm thinking it would be a neat thing for my oldest son to do this summer.

It didn't cost all that much, I built some rockets, lost some, launched plenty, had a lot of fun, and my dad didn't spend more than a $150 over a couple of years. A lot of that was him going overboard, too.

If you want, of course, you can go from the Estes hobby kits most kids put together to rockets with multiple, reloadable motors shot off rails from Apogee, or even machined aluminum rocket parts shot with propellant your kids mixed themselves...check local laws for that, but I personally would love to know my kids had a bright future as an actual rocket scientist at that point

[Jim Nazium]

That was my favorite hobby as a kid! I guess I was in 5th, 6th, and 7th grade. I liked both building the kits and launching them. I was in a club that (supposedly) took care of the legal stuff and had a meeting + launch every Saturday at the park.

[jonathan_matos5]

Originally Posted by Relic

My two older sons have been bugging me to get into this. They want to build and launch all sorts of model rockets. The problem is that I'm not too sure of the legal ins and outs of doing so....

Here in NJ, igniting a fart could potentially lead to charges of pollution, terrorism and unlawful use of a cigarette lighter. So even though the model rockets are sold in almost every Target, Walmart and Michael's Craft Shops, I'm not so sure if we could actually launch these things on our own property or if we would have to go to some designated area or get some sort of legal permission to do so at a park etc.
Anyone here into model rocketry and how do you go about launching and recovering the suckers?

generally same laws as fireworks apply. call the no emergency number to the local PD or Sheriff and ask

[poorbassist15]

I remember doing this...after the pride of my father's and mine collection of rockets caught on fire, didn't deploy it's parachute, and crashed nose first not 10 feet from where we launched it(stuck in the ground, and STILL on fire), we kinda lost interest. I got really into model aircraft afterwords...and I still am into it. I don't have the resources, or time to do it anymore, though,and my plane was put out of action after someone stepped on the tail and broke it.

[RosieB]

I did model rockets every year in 4-H growing up. Always placed, too. My kids do them now, with the same launcher I used then. I actually still have all my rockets but one. It got caught in a tree to high up to recover. We've always launched at the Jr High athletic field or at one of the local parks. The Cub Scouts launch at a local park too. Never thought about the legalities involved.

Don't know if you have Michaels stores out there, but ours here (Ohio) carry Estes rocket kits and engines. I buy all my supplies from them using the 40% off coupons that come in the newspaper and on-line. It all gets pricey.

Also, I usually use one of the smaller engines that the instructions call for. The kids can watch the rockets path better and we don't lose rockets that way. I've noticed that the majority of kids who lose rockets use the larger engines. And pack those chutes carefully.

Have fun! Your kids will love it!

Edit: oh, duh. Use those Michaels coupons. Especially for the launcher.