Construction and Finishing
Tips for Model Rockets

On this page, you'll find background information about constructing and finishing model rockets.

http://www.dars.org/jimz/manuals/cmrdm.pdfCenturi Design Manual. Some good basic tips on creating neat rocket creations.

http://w3.nai.net/~stuckman/html/tips.html Useful rocket building tips.

http://home.att.net/~dblbbentley/tips.html Construction and finishing tips

http://www.kyrene.k12.az.us/itech/kmsitech/modrock.htm Lesson plan for building a rocket; mostly basic stuff.

http://modelrockets.8m.com/guide/sconstruction.html Construction and finishing tips

http://www.angelfire.com/nj2/rocketman/construction.html Building tips

http://www.yellowjacketsystems.com/jimball/construction/fin-jig/default.htm Fin alignment tool.

http://members.tripod.com/GeoffsPlace31/Main/Rocketry/finishing.htm Finishing tips

http://www.ninfinger.org/~sven/rockets/fins.html Finishing tips for balsawood fins.

Rocket Origami - Using paper in creative ways to make distinctive looking rockets.

http://www.ninfinger.org/~sven/models/rms_tips/resin_cast.html Tips on resin casting special parts that may be needed when building your own rocket creations.

http://vesuvius.jsc.nasa.gov/er/seh/models.html Historic Industrial Arts report about making models of the manned spaced vehicles.

http://www.petcosouth.com/rblaske/shroudcalc.htm A little java script program for making paper transition sections for adapting tubes of different diameters.

Constructing big diameter body tubes

http://www.mich.com/~ywu/rock/roctips.html Miscellaneous tips: topics from building rockets, launch pads, and trimming gliders.

http://www.nira.chicago.il.us/Leading_Edge/JulAug99.pdf Article in this newsletter has information about the mathematics of an tangent-ogive nose cone.

http://www.nira.chicago.il.us/Leading_Edge/SepOct99.pdf Norm Dziedzic describes the math of cones and transitions.

Interesting facts about balsa wood, and how to get the best use out of it for your rocketry projects.

http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/7286/ How to use simple items to make cheap rockets. I personally don't recommend this method for smaller children, because it takes lots of practice to make parts that fit properly. Otherwise, the rocket is structurally weak, and is a disaster waiting to happen. But the method is OK for older kids with better construction skills.

http://www.ehobbies.com/ShowContent.asp?ContentID=articles_19991201_ro-design&CATALOG=ROCKETRY Some factors to consider when designing your first rocket. It explains CG and CP in simplistic form.

http://www.lindsaybks.com/dgjp/djgbk/vacf/index.html Here, you'll find a book about building a vac forming machine.

http://members.aol.com/GCGassaway/vacuform.htm George Gassaway describes how to use your vacuum former machine to make light weight nose cones for model rockets.

http://www.dars.org/jimz/rp00.htm Home page of jimz site -- a collection of historical rocket kits including plans, parts lists, and artwork to make decals. Kinda like a NAPSTER site for model rockets.

Submit a teaching idea or a link