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I'll preface this with "to each his own". :)

I'd definitely recommend visiting a local club launch, NAR or Tripoli. I am a member of both our local chapters and the national organizations, so I can fly more often and meet more people.

Estes has a "designers special" that has lots of parts, cones, body tubes, etc. I'd encourage you, however, to not skip over their easy stuff (like the E2X Pro Series kits especially), they make a lot of great kits that you can learn a lot from. I'm Level 2 right now and I still buy simple kits sometimes just to have something easy to fly. Right now my favorite "quick" rocket is the Estes Majestic. Slapped it together in a short evening and was flying it the next day. Lots of fun.

I too am a "born again rocketeer", doing lots when I was a kid, stopping for a long time, then picking up again when I had kids old enough to fly, about 6 years ago. I re-started with the basic Estes kits and worked my way up. Now I'm about to do my Level 3 certification.

When we re-started, I had a hobby knife, cutting mat, and some glue. I bought a launch set kit so I had a launcher and pad. Everything I needed to build fit in a shoe box. Everything I needed to fly, including motors, fit in a shoe box. We hauled a "tv tray" table out to the launch site (a nearby park or soccer field) and flew. Simple.

Then I discovered my local Tripoli club. One visit and I was hooked.

Now half a room is dedicated to build supplies, materials and workspace, and a large number of various size rockets. Build supplies are on three different rack systems around the room, with bins dedicated to things like adhesives, sanding, measuring, airbrushing, electronics, clamps, and parts boxes full of hardware. I get new parts, tools, or other things on a very regular basis. You will always find something else you need. One thing I never knew I'd need was a razor saw with a mini miter box. Use it all the time now. The only thing I can say you will for sure need it a cutting instrument, appropriate adhesives, and time. :)

We haul two large toolboxes to launches, one with just motors and ignition stuff and another with other things like gloves, wipes, field repair supplies and radios. We also take a folding table, a portable shelter, rocket stands, chairs, and of course the mandatory Boonie Hat.

Everybody has their own thing, find your thing and enjoy it. I know guys who love steampunk rockets, or only do accurate scale rockets, or only low power, or only high power. One guy we see like once a year and he brings some monster rocket out and flies it once.

Me, I fly for fun, so I have Baby Bertha rockets and I have a 6+ foot tall 4" rocket with a 54mm motor. I'll fly them both the same day, for the joy of it.

You will also find LOTS of "religious arguments", things like the best this or that. Epoxy, fillet material, finishing method, spray paint, people who only fly Estes or hate Estes and only fly PML. Just do what works for you. Have fun and be safe, listen and learn, and share.

There are a few good books out there as well, depending on what you want to get into.

Handbook of Model Rocketry


Modern High Power Rocketry

I got started with friends, just going out and launching some kits a friend had built. Then I thought I should get my own to have some time, in case we did it again. I meant to just get a few pre-made rockets so I wouldn't have to do any building or mess anything up.

I went on Amazon, and saw a rocket called Der Red Max by Estes - it's in this video several times. It's a classic Estes rocket that's red and black and styled a bit like the Red Baron's airplane. It was so cool looking, and was only 17 bucks, but it required assembly - something I was nervous about. But they only had one left, so I bought it, carefully read the instructions, and put it together, and it turned out looking beautiful. Once I launched it, and it worked and flew so well, I was hooked.

From there, I started reading stuff online. There is a TON of information and resources out there. A good website to ask questions is The Rocketry Forum (TRF) - especially the beginner's section. There are a lot of experts there who will help you out.

There are lots of ways to start, but I recommend starting by getting something called a launch set or launch kit. With this, you get a rocket (or two), plus a launch pad and launch controller for less than you'd pay buying these things separately. I didn't have one right away, since I was using a friend's equipment, but I wanted my own, so I got one. I gave the rocket away to a kid who came to a launch, but I still have the pad and controller.

Several rocket companies, particularly Estes and Quest Aerospace, have these. My own recommendation is to start with Estes, as it's the most prevalent company, and you can get everything you need through them.

You can get an Easy To Assemble ("E2X) or Ready-to-Fly kit, or if you want to do some assembly, you can get what's called a Skill Level 1 kit. These are not difficult, but require a bit of cutting, sanding and gluing, and the ability to read and follow directions.

The Launch Kit gives you everything you need to get started except motors - sometimes called "engines" (doesn't matter - they make the rocket go up) - and recovery wadding. You'll need some of that (there's other stuff you can use - cheaper stuff, too, but when you're just getting started, it's the easiest).

Get the kit, follow the instructions, and buy the motors recommended on the package. Read and follow the National Association of Rocketry (NAR) Model Rocket Safety Code. This will help you avoid hurting yourself or someone else, which could put you off the whole thing.

Go out and launch your rockets. Then, when you've inevitably decided you want to do more and know more, check out TRF, and get yourself a copy of The Handbook of Model Rocketry by G. Harry Stine and Bill Stine. It's required reading. Won't tell you much about how to assemble kits - they all come with instructions anyway - but it will help you understand the important basics of the hows and whys of model rockets.

I've got a blog in which I've been detailing my learning process of building and launching rockets over the last six months, and I also try to pass on information to people just getting started - rocketry for beginners by a beginner - so that they can maybe learn from my mistakes. Check it out, if you want to, and send me an email, and I can send you some more information if you'd like.

This is a really fascinating, fun hobby, and there's so much to learn. It can get really sophisticated and amazing - I like to tell my friends "it's not just for Webelos any more."

Edit: Oh, and if you're already past the part of building and launching a couple rockets, then I'd get that book and head straight for TRF - those are the next logical steps, I think.

Edit #2: Here's a more detailed post on launching your first rockets.

Depends on what you're trying to do. Do you want to build and launch high power rockets for fun? Compete in competitions? Build model rockets with a focus on educational outreach? There's a lot of options.

I would recommend a bit of reading first: the Modern High-Power Rocketry 2 book is one I can vouch for. It provides a lot of good tips on build and launch activities.

As for clubs, check out NAR or Tripoli Rocketry Association's webpages to see if there are local chapters. Usually, local clubs have a website of their own where you should be able to find a contact. Don't hesitate to ask them for advice, as they're usually very generous with helping new people to the hobby get involved.

As for leadership: this is more nebulous. I would start by building up an executive board around you. Things like Treasurer, Secretary, Assistant Director, etc. are pretty much must haves and will help you divvy up the workload. Having an outreach focal helps to build involvement, and promote the club as well. Build a board, give people long term goals, and they should start making things move on their own.

Funding: if you're part of a major school, your school will have a funding program for student organizations. Start with them, build a case for what you need funds for, and how much you want, then use those funds to accomplish your first year goals. Build a baseline, and some history, before you attempt to contact outside funding sources (this isn't strictly necessary, but it will help make your growth long term sustainable and limit possible friction sources).

Things to consider: you'll need to find a decent workspace. Your college and department will be the deciding factor in whether or not this is easy, or a pain in the ass. Don't work out of some guys apartment, though.

Giving other people work that has clear objectives, is obviously beneficial to the program and their own lives, and has clear deadlines is a must for creating a cohesive working group. This applies to both an executive board and a student body. Don't try to do everything yourself unless you want to do everything by yourself.

Rockets are really cool. Try to do something (or several things) really cool in the first year. Go on a tour of a NASA or Space Industry company facility near your school. Build a rocket that goes supersonic, or is just your school's first high power rocket. Do an outreach program where you teach local kids about rocketry and space science. There's tons of opportunities. Find out what your club is interested in doing, and do your best to make that thing happen, and people will want to come back next year and do even better things.

If you have absolutely no access to a CNC milling machine (such as a Shopbot) of appropriate size, disregard my comment. If you do, please do not follow the hobby tutorials about making a female mold from a male plug.


The female fiberglass molds made in this way suffer from systemic lack of stiffness simply due to being too thin and flexible. It is vastly preferable to have a "brick-like" mold with a carved-out layup surface than a "shell like" mold, both for workability reasons as well as quality issues that arise from doing essentially 3 layups by hand and the imprecise processes that accumulate into dimensional errors along the way.




Here is how I have done it.

https://www.ericpillai.space/blog/2018/11/11/compositepart1

The end result looks like this:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwpraXIhN4Z/?hl=en

I have exclusively used MDF as a mold making material. It's not exactly the "best" material for molds for a variety of reasons, but it is more than sufficient for one-off parts. It is also very accessible, cost effective, and easy to machine/work with.

Prepping the mold for use is done in 3 steps:

1. Spray painting the mold surface with sandable fiberglass primer paint like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006ZLQ4HQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_1INmDbCTS0H2R
   
   
2. Sanding the inside to as smooth of a texture as is reasonably achievable
   
   
3. Coating the mold in mold release wax using a microfiber towel in 2 layers (let the first layer dry before putting on the 2nd): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002J854E8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_TKNmDbR2EDJKX
   
   We have had very good results with this method, with a few caveats:
   
   
4. Your mold will be "hairy" once you pull out the part (MDF fibers lifted from the surface). At this point, it is basically unusable unless you wanted sand it down again to make a part that was 2% bigger in every dimension than the original.
   
   
5. If you don't do a good job letting the filler dry, sanding it, and applying wax, your finished part will transfer large paint flakes on the outside. Not terrible, but a pain to remove.
   
   Don't feel duty bound to any of the specific products I linked, these were just the ones we had on hand. Other equivalent brands are probably about as good or better.
   
   Also, getting a good surface finish will require post processing, there's no getting around it without a very very expensive mold. Just set aside an afternoon with you, a fresh box of sandpaper, and a nice spotify playlist if you want a mirror finish on the composite.

Are you asking about purely the shape? This is actually an exceedingly hard and narrow topic of interest. Specifically, mostly military in nature.

The best open literature resource I have found regarding this top is Simmons' book: [https://www.amazon.com/Rocket-Exhaust-Plume-Phenomenology-Simmons/dp/188498908X]

There's a huge piece of the puzzle that is based on radiation - excitation of species (dependent on propellants) in the exhaust plume and the associated spectral emissivity. It helps that you have one piece of the puzzle, the engine side (geometry, operating conditions, propellants, exhaust gas properties (from simulation)). The other piece of "visual properties" then depends on what type of detector you are using -- human eye, IR detected, space based detector. Then you have to account for attenuation of the different spectral lines in the atmosphere.

> is there anyway to calculate, for example, the total length of the plume?

Here you is where you start to ask, "as seen by what/whom?".

Of course, a great place to start is to just approach as a purely gas-dynamics problem. Even then you are starting to get into turbulence modeling due to mixing with ambient air at some downstream point. If you are approaching this problem, I would start simple (ignore all the hard stuff and improve from there).

Programming is a great background to have, but as you wander into the realm of CFD (fluids-physics based programming), I recommend reading up on numerical methods and modeling! The resource I used was an old purple-covered book about Numerical Methods in Fortran. Modern day resources are likely both more accessible and up-to-date. Coding is one piece, numerical methods is another piece, computational fluid dyanmics (representing physics/fluids with equations) is another piece. It's a long and fun road, good luck.

One interesting story that is brought up in the plume identification problem from space-based detectors is: How do you distinguish between a rocket launch and an oil-pipeline fire? Hydrocarbon/Oxygen|Air combustion products are similar and bright. One instance of this was when US-based space-detectors identified a large rocket launch out of a foreign territory that turned out to juts be a large oil fire. Obviously modern improvements have been made, but interesting cross-over phenomena.

Most of the commenters seem to be saying "make one that works first." That might seem a little crass to someone just starting out, but it's essentially correct. Safety of yourself and spectators is paramount when launching rockets. There are TONS of cheap, cool rockets that you can practice on with larger motors before moving on to a two-stager.

Once you have a few successful flights of the one-stage, then by all means, come back and start on a two-stage. Heck, why stop there? Make something with delay charges on the engines and make a five stage! Just make sure that you can swing the simpler stuff SAFELY before moving on towards KSP.

As a final comment - it's funny when Jeb explodes, less funny when a RL friend gets permanent scarring from a "homemade" rocket mishap.

What you seem to be not understanding is that using a simulator is far and away the quickest, easiest, and because it is completely free, the cheapest way to learn how rocket science really works. Using a simulator will save you countless hours when it comes to making a rocket over just shoving some chemicals into a tube and crossing your fingers. And speaking of fingers, it just might save you some of them, too. Because people do lose fingers playing with rockets.

Since you seem to be familiar with electronics, I'll make a comparison with LTSpice. Instead of spending hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars on a parts library and expensive test gear you test all of your designs on a tool that is completely free.

This isn't gatekeeping. It is exactly the opposite. It is enabling.

As to sources to learn, one of the best resources is linked right in the sidebar:

https://www.amazon.com/Rocket-Propulsion-Elements-George-Sutton/dp/0470080248

There is even a copy available on archive.org:

https://archive.org/details/RocketPropulsionElements8thEditionByOscarBiblarzGeorgeP.Sutton

This is also something that gets mentioned almost daily in discussions here. Pretty much any thread on motor construction has referenced it.

And has already been mentioned numerous times in this thread, Nakka's website is
pretty much the de-facto standard when it comes to sugar propellants. But seriously, any google search on sugar propellants should bring that up so it really shouldn't even need to be said in the first place.

Reading books mostly. Nakka Rocketry is also fantastic. The two main books are Experimental Composite Propellant by Prof. Terry McCreary and Rocket Propulsion Elements by Sutton and Biblarz. The way I did it really was not too hard. I don't really have time right now to perfect my machining skills (as of now they're pretty crude), so I bought the nozzle, casing, and bulkhead from Loki Research. When I get more time, I will definitely look into machining everything by myself. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask!

Also, I have an awesome mentor who has helped me through every step of the process.

Can't go wrong with the handbook if you like dead trees.
http://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Model-Rocketry-7th-Official/dp/0471472425/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416447676&sr=8-1&keywords=handbook+of+model+rocketry


For videos check out Apogee components youtube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/user/apogeerockets


Check out the National Association of Rocketry's website www.nar.org

Also www.tripoli.org but they are more focused on High Power, the NAR website has better beginner information.


I really like to point to starter kits as a good way to get started. They come with launch pads and proper ignition systems and instructions not only on how to build the rocket but also how to launch it.


Asking questions here is always a good idea!

I'm pretty sure the Handbook of Model Rocketry (made by NAR) is pretty good; I have an copy which I've looked at a little bit and it seems pretty thorough in covering the subject. It looks like there's also a kindle version, here's the amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Model-Rocketry-7th-Official/dp/0471472425

I like learning from books.

I suggest first going through this book: Handbook of Model Rocketry

Learn the concepts (things like CG, CP, thrust vs impulse, etc) and apply them by building multiple rockets with different aspects.

Once you've gotten everything you can out of that book, get this guy: Modern High-Power Rocketry 2. Work your way through it by joining a local NAR/Tripoli chapter. Get your L1 cert, spend some time there doing multiple projects. After you've done a fair amount, go get your L2. Maybe a year later, go for your L3. Projects you can do in each cert level:

• Go for speed
  
• Go for altitude
  
• Two stage
  
• Dual deploy
  
• Cluster
  
  Or just have fun building rockets you think look cool or are fun to fly!

It's not an ebook, but Apogee Components has an incredible amount of information on their site that is extremely helpful. Not to mention that they are great to purchase from, I've placed several orders with them and have had nothing but very positive experiences with them. They get customer service, and know how to keep customers coming back for more from them.

https://www.apogeerockets.com/New_to_Model_Rocketry

As far as books, Modern High-Power Rocketry 2 by Mark Canepa has a lot of really good information, although it isn't available in an e-book format as far as I know.

https://www.amazon.com/Modern-High-Power-Rocketry-Mark-Canepa/dp/1412058104/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1468194798&sr=1-1&keywords=modern+high+powered+rocketry+2

CG is easy -- put a motor in, pack the recovery system and find the point where it balances. That's the Center of Gravity.

CP is calculated via modeling. The easiest way is RockSim or Open Rocket. It's the center of aerodynamic pressure.

Do you understand the significance of CP and CG to flight stability? If not, I'd suggest you pick up and read a copy of either Modern High Power Rocketry 2 or The Handbook of Model Rocketry

Both are very good reads with a lot of great info.

I would also recommend developmental testing of your own designs btw. Without a lot of technical debt, it will be really hard for you to numerically predict injector performance. That's one of the reasons rocket engine development takes so long.

If you can build functional prototypes and perform experiments, that will inform your decision making a great deal. You should be able to document this process reasonably well and it'll give some nice visuals(especially if someone has a decent camera!).

For example, you could build a free-standing injector plate setup to serve as a testbed. Something like this is what I have in mind(though this is for a jet engine fuel nozzle).

Maybe in your first experiment you simply tap holes for something like this to get a feel for the spray pattern and flow rates. Maybe on the next test you drill holes for an impinging jet setup using different examples, and so on and so forth.

The quality of painter's tape makes a difference with the edge you'll get. Scotch painter's tape with Edgelock has always worked for me. For curves, 1/8" fine line tape is quality stuff.

Krylon SuperMAXX is my favorite spray paint. Has the best finish that I've found. And like others said, don't rush the painting process and do it in good weather. It will show if you do it in high humidity or extreme temps.

My honest opinion is find a local club NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ROCKETRY (NAR) or Tripoli (TRA) certified go to a launch and a club meeting this will be your best way to get started and make new friends in the process. Just a FYI though NAR is geared more towards the low to mid power with a little high power, Most of the high power stuff in my experience is in TRA. I almost made the mistake of choosing the wrong one then my new friend and mentor corrected me. I'm now a very happy Level 1 High Power certified Tripoli member working towards my L2. As far as books I started with make: High-Power Rockets by Mike Westerfield and was later suggested to read Modern High-Power Rocketry 2. Another good book but very heavy is The science and design of the hybrid rocket engine M. Newlands, Richard. no matter what you decide remember have fun and know that Aerospace is an ever expanding field right now.

Some resources:

Edit: based on comment below where you said it needs to be done by next tuesday, more advice: there may be kits and engines at wal-mart. If you can buy motors locally, do that since they need to be shipped ground and may not arrive in time. You can order kits & supplies from amazon today and they'll be here by friday; just make sure you get a kit that can use the engines you can get locally.

1. You can order kits, engines, and/or raw supplies for making rockets from several places online; I've ordered a few times from here: http://www.hobbylinc.com/model_rockets
   
   
2. Book: The Handbook of Model Rocketry by Stine. I used this book when I was starting out to build my own launch system, and learn how to build a model rocket. http://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Model-Rocketry-Edition-Official/dp/0471472425/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1396546539&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=handbook+of+model+rocketry+sixth
   
   
3. Open Rocket software: Rocket CAD design plus flight simulator. Useful for designing a rocket and checking your design. http://openrocket.sourceforge.net/download.html
   
   
4. Estes educator info, some good overview and tech docs there: http://www2.estesrockets.com/cgi-bin/wedu001P.pgm?p=publicat
   
   
5. Ohio 4H "design your own rocket" pdf: http://www.ohio4h.org/sites/d6-ohio4h.web/files/Designing%20Your%20Own%20Model%20Rocket.pdf

This book will show you the way. It's the next best thing to having a friend who already knows. Though I don't believe it discusses 3D printing.

FullFrontalNoodly guessed that you're trying to calculate a trajectory of a rocket launch. I'm going to assume he's right, but for the record, this book:

https://www.amazon.com/Rocket-Propulsion-Elements-George-Sutton/dp/0470080248

is a great resource if you want to learn about rocket performance.

In that case, the general bible for rocketry is Rocket Propulsion Elements, and it's the best place to start working these things out. https://www.amazon.com/Rocket-Propulsion-Elements-George-Sutton/dp/0470080248

the Handbook of Model Rocketry, which would be geared more toward the scale you are looking at building, would also be a great place to start.

If you want to build your own rocket, buy a commercial solid motor to fly in it. Don't try to dive in head first to building liquid engines. There are hobbyists out there building liquid engines, but they've had years and years of experience prior to that.

I would recommend this for any beginner:

http://www.amazon.com/Modern-High-Power-Rocketry-Mark-Canepa/dp/1412058104/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398218024&sr=8-1&keywords=high+power+rocketry+2

Well, I was just recommend this book from the post above you (top post) http://www.amazon.com/Modern-High-Power-Rocketry-Mark-Canepa/dp/1412058104/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398218024&sr=8-1&keywords=high+power+rocketry+2

I hope you have a background in basic calculus and physics, at the very least.

Obtain this book and read it cover to cover before you even think about it. It's expensive but should be available at an engineering library.
https://www.amazon.com/Rocket-Propulsion-Elements-George-Sutton/dp/0470080248

If you're okay with PDF, here you go:
http://www.ewp.rpi.edu/hartford/~ernesto/S2013/EP/MaterialsforStudents/Lee/Sutton-Biblarz-Rocket_Propulsion_Elements.pdf

Check with the National Association of Rocketry http://www.nar.org/ and look for a club near you. Attend a launch, and ask questions.

Pick up a copy of the Handbook of Model Rocketry.
https://smile.amazon.com/Handbook-Model-Rocketry-7th-Official/dp/0471472425/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?keywords=handbook+of+model+rocketry&qid=1566343391&s=gateway&sprefix=handbook+of+mo&sr=8-2

Read "Rocket Propulsion Elements" before you even think about doing anything with liquid fuel engines.

https://www.amazon.com/Rocket-Propulsion-Elements-George-Sutton/dp/1118753658/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493308650&sr=8-1&keywords=rocket+propulsion+elements

Is this too much rocket for beginners?

https://www.amazon.com/Estes-Tandem-X-Flying-Rocket-Launch/dp/B002VLP67S/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1543033901&sr=1-1&keywords=estes+rocket+starter+kit