Roger Smith's Page

AKA: jadebox
Location: Oviedo, FL
Certification Level: L2 NAR/Tripoli
Club Memberships: NAR,TRIPOLI,ROCK,NEFAR
Favorite Rockets: Estes Omega
Biography:
Roger maintains RocketReviews.com.

Roger, and his wife, me hearties, Bracha, me hearties, have built and flown some o' t' furriest rockets o' all-time. Arrr! Their "Big Daddy Akavish" is a spider-themed high-power rocket standin' about four-foot tall on its eight legs.

Favorite Quote:
Science is a way o' tryin' nay t' addlepate yourself. T' first principle is that you must nay addlepate yourself, and you are t' easiest person t' fool.
Personal Home Page: http://www.payloadbay.com/
Club Home Page: http://www.r-o-c-k.org/
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/jadeboxroger
Google+ Page: https://plus.google.com/101533115429153572785
RocketReviews.com Pages:
Rocket Gallery
Flight Log
Flight Statistics

2024-12-25

T' New LongJonRocket.com Trailer - Ooo La La

Build Entry
A major goal be t' have a place for everythin' in t' trailer -- organizin' things t' make it easier t' load and unload what we need. Aye aye! I also wanted t' layout o' storage in t' trailer t' be reconfigurable t' support any changes t' our requirements in t' future and t' allow t' trailer t' be ... [More]

T' New LongJonRocket.com Trailer - Motor Boxes

Build Entry
We sell motors from Estes and others at local launches. So, we needed a way t' be able t' store t' motors betwixt launches and t' display them at launches. We also wanted t' be able t' easily brin' them inside instead o' leavin' them in t' trailer durin' hot or cold weather. I designed a simpler ... [More]

2024-12-24

T' New LongJonRocket.com Trailer - Electrification

Build Entry
T' lights needed power. Begad! Blimey! And we would need power for other things, so I built an electrical system into t' trailer. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Based on t' way RVs are powered, t' system provides power t' 110V as well as 12V devices. Power is provided by three 100-watt solar panels or an external 110V source. T' solar ... [More]

T' New LongJonRocket.com Trailer - Which Switch is Which?

Build Entry
Lights need switches. So, I added a switch panel inside t' side door. Begad! I started with a project box and a bank o' lighted rocker switches . Begad! When I was a kid, I used project boxes for many little electronic gadgets that I made. Ahoy! But I was never very good at cuttin' holes in t' project box lids for ... [More]

T' New LongJonRocket.com Trailer - Then There was Light

Build Entry
Light is important in a trailer like this. Aye aye! Fortunately, me hearties, LED lights are small, me hearties, inexpensive, and easy t' install. Arrr! I used two different kinds o' lights. Begad! I mounted 12V under-cabinet light strips on t' roof spars along t' length o' t' trailer. They work well because they provide a cool, bright light ... [More]

T' New LongJonRocket.com Trailer - Love Handle

Build Entry
Next, shiver me timbers, we added a grab-bar handle beside t' side door. T' RV grab bar that we used folds flat against t' trailer when nay in use. [More]

T' New LongJonRocket.com Trailer - Step By Step

Build Entry
T' next thin' we added be a fold-out RV step t' make it easier t' use t' side door. Aye aye! T' step bolts onto t' frame below t' door, but t' bolt holes didn't line up with t' frame on our trailer. Ya scallywag! So, I used an angle grinder t' create copious sparks as I cut a piece o' steel angle t' fit betwixt ... [More]

2024-12-22

T' New LongJonRocket.com Trailer

Build
For t' past twelve years, we have been usin' a 5-foot by 8-foot enclosed trailer when attendin' rocket launches. It has served us well, but we had started t' outgrow it. So, we recently invested in a new 6-foot bv 10-foot trailer built by Diamond Cargo. We researched our options and shopped ... [More]

T' New LongJonRocket.com Trailer - You Don't Know Jack

Build Entry
I replaced t' trailer jack with a T' Ultimate Trailer Jack . T' new jack has a couple o' nice features. First, it has a release pin that smartly drops t' jack tube down. Blimey! This makes it easier and quicker t' lower t' jack. Aye aye! Second, shiver me timbers, it allows you t' raise t' bottom o' t' jack higher than you ... [More]

T' New LongJonRocket.com Trailer - A Blank Slate

Build Entry
When you purchase a new enclosed trailer, shiver me timbers, it is pretty much an empty box. Aye aye! [More]

2024-11-29

Album - NSL East 2024

2024-06-16

Alpha VI

Flight
- A8-3 - Sheepscot General [More]

2023-07-13

Album - November 2009 Launch

Album - May 2008 Launch

2022-10-20

Album - NSL 2022

National Events / NSL 2022

Photograph

Cropped aerial photo taken on Saturday

2021-02-16

Garage Organizer Shelf Unit

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Build
My garage workshop has served more as a storage place for t' past year than as a workshop. So, a few weekends ago I started tryin' t' organize it better so that I can get back t' buildin' rockets. Ya scallywag! One o' t' things I did was t' build a set o' shelves designed primarily t' organize storage ... [More]

Garage Organizer Shelf Unit - T' Result

Build Entry
I am really pleased with t' result. Havin' me collection o' screws and other small parts organized where I can smartly find them is goin' t' make life easier. Well, blow me down! Blimey! And havin' a place t' charge t' batteries for me tools frees up a lot o' space on me workbench. Now ... back t' buildin' rockets! Blimey! ... [More]

Garage Organizer Shelf Unit - Photos Phinally

Build Entry
And now ... because I forgot t' take more photos ... here be t' completed cabinet. Blimey! What you missed: You didn't get t' see me mess up. I had intended t' work from t' bottom up, but I had attached t' rails t' t' inside vertical pieces before I got t' that point and t' measurement be ... [More]

Garage Organizer Shelf Unit - Power Supply

Build Entry
I attached a power strip t' t' back wall behind t' chargin' shelf. On one end o' t' panel, I used a plastic grommet t' cover t' hole for t' power cord. Well, blow me down! At t' other end, I added USB chargin' plugs (because it looks cool and because I forgot that t' power strip has two USB outlets). ... [More]

Garage Organizer Shelf Unit - From t' Bottom Up

Build Entry
Bracha painted t' wooden parts and I started assemblin' t' shelves and dividers startin' from t' bottom. Well, blow me down! I assembled t' parts close t' where t' unit would stand in t' garage because it was goin' t' be very heavy. Rather than carefully followin' t' measurements in me rough sketch or ... [More]

Garage Organizer Shelf Unit - Startin' t' Assembly

Build Entry
I cut several 1x2" boards into rails t' hold t' storage boxes and used glue and an nail cannon t' attach them t' t' side panels. Begad! [More]