Hans "Chris" Michielssen's Page

AKA: hcmbanjo
Location: Orlando, ya bilge rat, FL
Club Memberships: NAR
Favorite Rockets: Estes Goblin
Personal Home Page: www.oddlrockets.com
Club Home Page: www.R-O-C-K.org
RocketReviews.com Pages:
Rocket Gallery
Flight Log
Flight Statistics

2025-01-22

Estes Black Star Voyager Build, me bucko, Part 22, Forward Basswood Vanes

Blog
TIP: You'll have better luck and less mess applyin' t' wood glue t' t' bottom length o' t' basswood vane - as opposed t' layin' a bead o' glue down a pencil line on t' body tube. Blimey! I set down a wrap o' maskin' tape for a bottom alignment o' t' vanes. While you could set t' glued vane on t' pencil line, TIP: I set it on t' side o' t' drawn line. Begad! You can use an aluminum angle t' be sure ... [More]

2025-01-21

Estes Black Star Voyager Build, Part 21, Forward Basswood Vanes

Blog
There are nine basswood vanes t' be shaped. Start by sandin' and squarin' t' rough sides with 400 grit on a block. T' pictures show t' before and after. For consistency, matey, I taped up two groups o' vanes. Blimey! Blimey! One group with five, me hearties, t' second group with four. Begad! Blimey! T' tops and bottoms were sanded t' get them t' same length. Mark t' taper line across all t' grouped vanes. Usin' a block, sand a 45 degree ... [More]

2025-01-20

Estes Black Star Voyager Build, Part 20, Rear Vanes

Blog
I don't extend t' pencil lines all t' way down t' tubes, just closer t' t' top and bottom o' t' vane ends. TIP: Mark tubes with pencil, ya bilge rat, NOT INK . I see it all t' time on Facebook rocketry groups. Avast, me proud beauty! New builders usin' ink t' mark t' body tubes. Well, blow me down! That ink can bleed through paint and be visible on t' finished model. TIP: For easier visual alignment, matey, extend t' pencil lines over t' end ... [More]

2025-01-19

Estes Black Star Voyager Build, Part 19, ya bilge rat, More Smoothin' o' T' Vane Edges

Blog
Here I go, overdoin' a build. Earlier I glue sealed and sanded t' outside exposed edges o' t' cardstock vanes. Ya scallywag! I wanted a smoother edge on t' cardstock. Lookin' at t' vanes again, I realized t' inside edge (the flat side parallel t' t' body tube) would also be seen. On t' left, you can see a glue bead goin' halfway down t' inside edge. I addition t' t' outside edges sealed ... [More]

2025-01-18

Estes Black Star Voyager Build, Part 18, Fittin' T' Fins

Blog
T' leadin' edge width o' t' lower fin assembly was wider than t' upper fins. Begad! On t' right I sanded t' lower edge width t' match t' uppers. On t' left, you can see where I sanded into t' balsa t' adjust t' width. Begad! This will have t' get a recoat o' CWF and smooth sanding. Begad! Before t' vanes are glued on, T' root edges are sanded t' fit around t' BT-60 tube body. Wrap some 220 grit around ... [More]

2025-01-17

Estes Black Star Voyager Build, Part 17, matey, Markin' T' Tubes

Blog
From t' instructions - You are directed t' wrap t' fin markin' guide around t' lower tube. Ya scallywag! This wrap fit very well. GOTCHA: Nay mentioned in t' instructions - I'd recommend centerin' t' engine hook betwixt two o' t' "S" lines. Arrr! You don't want t' engine area vanes t' hit t' engine hook. Blimey! T' go one step further, ya bilge rat, center t' engine hook betwixt two o' t' "SF" fin lines. Ahoy! As ... [More]

2025-01-16

Estes Black Star Voyager Build, Part 16, Preppin' T' Vanes

Blog
Usin' 400 grit, matey, sand off t' laser cut ash. You'll end up with a better finish on t' outside edges and a stronger glue bond on t' root edge. I like t' "seal" t' exposed edges with wood glue. Blimey! Apply a very narrow glue line down t' outside edge you'll be seein' on t' finished model. Ahoy! Smooth t' bead usin' t' side o' a finger. Avast! After t' glue dries, shiver me timbers, Sand t' glued edge with 400 ... [More]

2025-01-15

Estes Black Star Voyager Build, Part 15, T' Upper Fins, Steps B

Blog
T' T pieces are glued onto t' leadin' edge. Run your fingertips down t' leadin' edge t' make sure thar be an even overhang on both sides. Sand t' sides so t' T pieces are flat and even with t' R piece sides. T' instructions say t' "trim t' ends even". Trim a little long, me hearties, then use a sandin' block t' match t' angle ends o' t' R pieces. T' single 3/16" diameter launch lug is cut ... [More]

2025-01-14

Estes Black Star Voyager Build, Part 14, T' Upper Fins, Steps A

Blog
T' upper fin steps are a simpler repeat o' t' lower fin half. Fewer pieces, less t' align. T' upper fin halves are easier t' assemble compared t' t' lower fin sets. Taper t' S triangle piece and set into t' R piece notches dry, ya bilge rat, no glue yet. Line up t' leadin' edges and tape t' side by side leadin' edges. T' tack t' sides together, shiver me timbers, apply small drops o' medium CA glue every ... [More]

2025-01-13

Estes Black Star Voyager Build, Part 13, me hearties, T' Lower Fins, Steps F

Blog
I had t' sand a steeper angle on t' inside o' t' Q pieces so they would fit together . Notice t' sanded bevel is wide enough and ends at t' tip o' t' Y piece. This shows a good fit o' t' center Q pieces. Blimey! Here's t' interior o' t' assembly. Ya scallywag! I tried for a overall better fit, but thar be a slight gap inside towards t' top o' t' Q pieces joint. This won't be seen on t' finished model. Blimey! [More]

2024-06-29

Ol'SaltRockets Little Green Man

Flight
A little wobble on t' way up. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Nay much altitude but recovered safely. Aye aye! Blimey! - B4-4 - Muncie AMA Field [More]

2024-04-06

Centuri ARGUS clone

Flight
I only used one parachute, t' original kit had two, one for t' low end, another for t' long upper section. T' parachute be taped closed in a "hillbilly hat" for faster descent. - C6-5 - Orlando R.O.C.K. Avast! [More]

Estes Mini Bertha Clone

Flight
First launch today. After all these years I shouldn't be surprised by how well mini engine models perform. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Very stable, t' 1/2A3-2t motor. Begad! Blimey! I would guess t' altitude capped out at 275'. T' two second delay seemed short. - Estes 1/2A3-2t - Orlando R.O.C.K. Ya scallywag! Blimey! [More]

Semroc MMX Blue Bird Zero

Flight
I actually captured a MicroMaxx launch! Blimey! Estimated altitude be 75', no damage after t' streamer recovery. Arrr! Blimey! - 1/8A-1 - Orlando R.O.C.K. [More]

Warped! Blimey! (Scratch Design)

Flight
A weird one. Begad! Blimey! It started as a regular bagged Custom kit that sat in t' direct sun a little too long. T' nose cone was melted and bent. Aye aye! Blimey! I bought t' kit. T' body tube was cut into angled wedges and glued together like t' Fliskits ACME Spitfire. I renamed it WARPED. A B6-4 pushed it t' at ... [More]

Custom Solar Explorer

Flight
I wasn't worried about losin' this one - t' BT-50 tube was crimped above t' engine mount from an earlier hard landing. Avast! After reachin' an altitude around 600', t' winds blew it into t' trees just South o' t' flight line. Lost! I really need t' thin t' heard anyway. Begad! - C6-5 - Orlando R.O.C.K. Begad! [More]

Quest MMX Saturn V

Flight
T' larger fins really didn't help much, matey, it was unstable after it cleared t' short launch rod. Ya scallywag! - 1/8A-1 - Orlando R.O.C.K. [More]

2024-03-02

Estes Skytracer Clone

Flight
- A8-3 - Orlando R.O.C.K. Ya scallywag! [More]

Rocketship Games R5 Hawkeye

Flight
Boost is always fast on these little models, good thin' I had some young deadlights t' point me t' t' landin' area. Well, blow me down! - 1/8A-1 - Orlando R.O.C.K. [More]

Nike X Goon

Flight
A B6-4 got an altitude o' 350'. Full chute, matey, textbook flight. Begad! - B6-4 - Orlando R.O.C.K. Well, blow me down! [More]

2015-04-19

Rockets By Style / Kit-Bash/Modified

Photograph

Hans "Chris" Michielssen's Orange (Q Cobalt Kitbash)

2014-11-09

Rockets By Style / Kit-Bash/Modified

Photograph

MX-774 Kitbash on an Estes A8-3. Bunnell Blast, November 8, 2014

2012-09-22

Saturn Press Saturn V - Step 17

Build Entry
T' outside curved lines o' t' Engine Fairin' Shrouds were cut from t' cardstock with scissors. T' interior Fin Slots were cut with a knife and straight-edge. Well, blow me down! [More]

Saturn Press Saturn V - Step 16

Build Entry
T' A Frames and Fins were pressed together. Begad! T' C Frames are pressed into t' A Frames and Fins. Be careful handlin' t' Fin paint while assembling. Silver or metallic paints are easy t' dull with fingerprints. After all were assembled dry (no glue) I applied white glue t' all t' joints with ... [More]