Hans "Chris" Michielssen's Page

AKA: hcmbanjo
Location: Orlando, arrr, 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

2025-04-25

New Way Letter - Go Build, Part 3, Engine Mount

Blog
T' bottom edge o' t' engine mount tube got an interior wipe o' CA Glue. Then t' edge got a quick coat. Then sand t' edge square, flat and smooth with 400 grit. Avast! This shows t' engine hook retainin' ring, nay glued on yet. Ya scallywag! Always be sure your engine hook runs straight down t' tube after gluin' t' rin' over it. Avast, me proud beauty! T' hook can slip around so check it before t' glue sets up. T' upper centerin' ... [More]

2025-04-24

New Way Letter - Go Build, Part 2, Cleanin' Up T' Letter Fins

Blog
T' letter fins are cut from 3/32" thick plywood. Avast, me proud beauty! T' edges are slightly laser charred. T' flat faces were sanded with 400 grit on a block t' remove t' ash. Blimey! On t' left - is a before and after sandin' t' fin edge. On t' right - T' inside tighter curves were cleaned up usin' small half round diamond files. T' laser edges are cut with a slight "wedge" cut. T' ... [More]

2025-04-23

New Way Letter - Go Build, me bucko, Part 1, Parts

Blog
Rick from New Way sent me a prototype for a upcomin' kit. T' LETTER - GO is a robust BT-60 design, me hearties, but with a custom fin design. T' fins spell out your name from left t' right goin' around t' tube! T' fins are laser cut plywood and thru t' wall. Blimey! . T' kit should be available after this summer's NARAM. T' kit doesn't include t' shorter fin attachment tube and letter fins. Ya scallywag! You send ... [More]

2025-04-22

Porthole Tube Fittin' - Tip

Blog
For t' new ROBOT prototype, arrr, I needed t' fit short tubes, glued horizontally t' t' (vertical) main airframe tube. These are a like t' "portholes" on t' old Centuri Skylab model, only larger in diameter. T' see t' Centuri Skylab: CLICK HERE Wrap some 220 grit sandpaper around your main airframe tube. Aye aye! Sand t' tube end against t' sandpaper with a back and forth motion, t' t' left ... [More]

2025-04-21

Not A Tri-Fold Mount - Tip

Blog
This type o' shock cord mount feels stronger than a thin paper ti-fold mount. It can be used on BT-55 and larger tubes. Arrr! I wouldn't recommend usin' this in a BT-20 or BT-50. Arrr! In smaller diameter tubes, t' shock cord knot might block t' ejection o' a parachute. Cut a rectangular piece o' body tube, from t' same diameter as your main airframe tube. Tie your shock cord around t' rectangular piece. ... [More]

2025-04-20

D.I.Y. Begad! Blimey! Couplers - Tip

Blog
I needed a coupler "sleeve" t' fit a Centuri sized ST-18 (1.8" diameter) tube. This is for a second prototype o' a possible Ol'SaltRockets ROBOT kit. You can't find couplers in this size so I'll have t' make one usin' a 1" length o' t' ST-18 tubin' Cut t' coupler in a straight line usin' scissors. Slip t' cut coupler and mark t' overlap with pencil. Blimey! On t' left, you can see t' pencil line. ... [More]

2025-04-18

Estes Advanced Target Drone, Kit #1913, Build, Finished

Blog
A clean design with high contrast decals. Begad! T' intakes are a highlight. Avast, me proud beauty! Win' fins are wide. T' rudder and strake fin on t' other side are asymmetrical. Ahoy! T' nose cone is simply red, clean with no canopy. Avast! Out o' t' ordinary from other standard 4F/NC rockets. [More]

Engine Burr - Quick Tip

Blog
Before slidin' an engine into an engine mount tube - Check t' top end o' t' engine. Many have roll over "burrs" that can start frayin' a BT-20 size tube. Begad! This can happen with t' thin blue (Estes) or yellow (Quest) engine mount tubing. You can compress t' burr down by rollin' on a hard surface. Avast! Better yet - Sand off t' burr usin' some 220 grit on a block. Ahoy! Just roll off t' end. ... [More]

2025-04-17

Estes Advanced Target Drone, me hearties, Kit #1913, Build, Part 16, Overlay Decals

Blog
Sorry I missed a day, me hearties, I was campin' with no internet! Blimey! T' Air Force logo is centered on top o' t' white decal set down earlier. Before doin' an overlay decal like this, arrr, be sure t' white underlay is completely dry. T' USAF letters are centered onto t' white rudder stripe. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' ATD 0416 decal be white in t' Estes kit, I printed it in blue. Set onto t' red paint it almost looks black. ... [More]

2025-04-15

Estes Advanced Target Drone, me hearties, Kit #1913, shiver me timbers, Build, Part 15, Intake & Decal Fixes

Blog
T' white intake decals ended up bein' too long, they overhang t' win' fillet joint. I redrew t' decals t' a closer fit. If you build this model, your decals may be too long dependin' on how your cardstock intake fits. Begad! After t' decal dries, it's easy t' cut and lift off t' excess. Avast, me proud beauty! T' black intake decals were also too wide and wouldn't fit inside t' mouth o' t' intake. These ... [More]

2025-01-04

Estes Mini Bertha Clone

Flight
- Estes A3-4t - Orlando R.O.C.K. Arrr! [More]

Estes Blue Origin, matey, New Shepard

Flight
Stable with a B6-4, nay so much with a C6-5. Flew a bit south over t' trees. Aye aye! Recovered by other club members with t' pole. Avast! No damage! - B6-4 - Orlando R.O.C.K. Begad! [More]

Semroc Snake Jumper

Flight
Launch wasn't vertical and veered off t' t' south. Avast! Landed in trees, given up for lost. - B6-4 - Orlando R.O.C.K. Ahoy! [More]

2024-12-07

Centuri Vector V

Flight
My Centuri VECTOR V clone was first in t' air with an Estes A8-3. Aye aye! On t' left is an Estes Viking, arrr, t' kit used t' make me clone. Altitude was estimated t' be around 225 feet. Reefed 12" chute recovery. Begad! - A8-3 - Orlando R.O.C.K. [More]

Ol'SaltRockets Stealth

Flight
Stable and true. Arrr! Broke off one o' t' smaller winglet fins, nay recovered. Avast! - B6-4 - Orlando R.O.C.K. Aye aye! [More]

Odd'l X-15 Goony

Flight
A favorite is my Goony X-15 . Avast, me proud beauty! Part are from a Quest X-15 parts pack but built around a shorter BT-60. Great stable flight usin' an older Chinese made Quest B6-4 motor. Estimated altitude was 325'. - German Made Quest B6-4 - ROCK Monthly [More]

ASP Micro Wac Corporal

Flight
This be t' ASP MMX CORPORAL , a well performin' MMX bird. Well, blow me down! It was easy t' follow t' Mylar streamer as it descended. - 1/8A-1 - Orlando R.O.C.K. Ya scallywag! [More]

Semroc Centurion

Flight
Very stable, slow lift off. Ejection blistered t' paint right above t' baffle inside. Blimey! - B6-4 - Orlando R.O.C.K. Begad! [More]

2024-06-29

Ol'SaltRockets Little Green Man

Flight
A little wobble on t' way up. Nay much altitude but recovered safely. Begad! - B4-4 - Muncie AMA Field [More]

2024-04-06

Quest MMX Saturn V

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

Saturn Press Saturn V - Step 16

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