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The Right Stuff - Hints and Tips from APOGEE, the official
newsletter of the Miami Valley Rocket Society.
Questions or comments? Send E-Mail to Bob Hegwood, CIS: 76276,2552

Or write to: Bob Hegwood
             31 Pagett Drive
             Germantown, Ohio 45327
             (513) 855-7105
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Construction

1. Another quick fin-finishing technique for the lazy model rocket
freak: If you want to achieve a nice finish on your fins and you
aren't going to be working with a terribly complicated fin pattern,
you can save yourself many hours of sanding and sealing as follows.
Save the glossy cardboard sheet which comes with any Estes kit.
(The one with a color picture of the model on the front side and
the HIA/NAR safety code on the dull, back side.) Cut the balsa fins
out as you normally would, then glue each one to the dull side of
the glossy cardboard sheet. Use your finger to spread a thin coat
of yellow glue (ie-Titebond) on one side of each fin, and then
press it onto the cardboard. When dry, use your hobby knife to cut
around the edges of each fin pattern. Repeat this procedure for the
other side of each fin so that when you're finished, you have a set
of fins which are covered with glossy cardboard. This method is
quick, it's easy, and spray paint will cover the cardboard nicely.
(B.H.)

Flight Prep

1. Your patience can be stretched to the limit when trying to get
in twelve AstroCam flights to use up that roll of 110 film. The
AstroCam instructions show you how to take hand-held photographs
with the unit. After every flight, advance the film to the next
frame and take a shot of your friends or of the launch site. The
editor of APOGEE is always looking for more photos to print, and
you will cut the number of AstroCam flights you need in half. (Fred
Williams)

2. With Aerotech's introduction of the new "Copperhead" igniter,
the advertising claims that you must have the "Interlock" igniter
clip. This is not so. By putting a piece of tape over one half of
the jaws of each clip, and then attaching the clips so that the
jaws with the tape are on opposing sides of the igniter, you can
use standard micro clips with an Aerotech Copperhead igniter.
(Randy Gilbert)

Miscellaneous

1. Dressing for flight? Here's a great idea for competition and/or
sport launches. When the launch pad is located well away from your
range box, you can still keep all of your launch supplies close at
hand. A carpenter's apron is perfect for carrying igniters,
wadding, talcum powder, masking tape, steel wool, and a wide range
of other useful supplies so that they're available when you need
them. (Lynn Thomas)

2. Here's another tip in the "Dressing for Flight" category. On
warm winter days and especially during the early spring months, a
pair of rubber overboots can be very helpful during recovery of
your models. As Bob found out at the first MIVARS sport launch this
year, some fields can be covered with as much as twelve inches of
mud! If you have to retrieve even ONE model from a field in this
condition, you'll come to appreciate this tip. (Fred Williams)