A Selection of My Rockets

Scratch-built semi-scale model of the Vostok/R7 vehicle that launched Yuri Gagarin into orbit, making him the first man in space. Made from Peter Alway plans, this model flies gracefully on a C6-5.

1/4 scale model of the Soviet experimental rocket GIRD-X, scratch-built from spare parts. The original was built by GIRD (Group for the Study of Reactive Motion), and flown in 1933. The model flies on a C6-3.

1.35x scratch-built upscale of the Peter Alway Vostok. This one was built specifically for a Gagarin anniversary launch at the Edmonton Odyssium (Space and Science Centre) on April 12th 2003. It is a bit more dimensionally correct than the smaller version, has a lot more detail, and flies on a D12-3. Again, a very graceful flier.

The nose was custom-turned from bass wood by Craig Makarowski, the capsule is made from oven-fired modelling clay and the inter-stage trussing is carbon fibre rod.

Scratch-built scale model of the Soviet Cosmos payload-lifting vehicle. The interstage section is open and the struts fully modelled (with small-diameter tubing, disguised as the upper-stage motor nozzle, to pass the ejection charge through to the nose/payload section). At close to 4ft tall, this model flies on a D12-3.

The Cosmos in flight.

Photo courtesy of Carter Kerr.

Scratch-built 1/12th approximation of the Soviet GIRD-07 (1934). Inspired from an image in Peter Alway's Retro Rockets book. Powered by an A3-4T, the first (unpainted) version suffered fin burn- through due to vectored thrusting caused by the estes engine clip. The second, successful, version is painted in high

Photo courtesy of Matt Ornawka.

temperature paint, intended for car engines, and uses tumble recovery (ejecting the engine). Balance is a major issue, as the centre of pressure shifts in flight. Too little nose mass can cause a looping trajectory into powered gliding. Obviously, fin alignment is also critical. A larger, more scale, version is under consideration.

Photo courtesy of Carter Kerr.

Scratch-built 1/5th (approx.) scale model of the Soviet Leningrad GIRD Razumov-Shtern LRD-D-1(1934). Based around BT-80 tubing and flies on a D12-3. Due to body-size constraints, the 'chute is in the nose.

Photo courtesy of Carter Kerr.

Scratch-built 1/4th scale model of the Soviet ANIR-5, from Design Bureau KB-7 (1938). Originally designed to test gyroscopic stabilization, the model was a challenge to balance. It flies on a C6-3.

Scale model of the Black Brant II Canadian sounding rocket. The real thing was flown in the 1960s by the Canadian Armament Research and Development Establishment, for upper atmosphere research studies. This Estes kit is certainly over-powered on a D12, and mine was sadly lost to a thermal, following chute deployment.

A two-stage missle-immitating design from Quest. I was having a problems with this one loosing stability at upper stage ignition that did not occur when launched as a single stage. Seems the centre of pressure shifts enough with velocity to require additional nose weight (the nose is now packed full of clay).

Photo by Nadine Kinney.

5 1/2" diameter model of the Canadian Arrow X-prize rocket. This is the prototype of the Loc/Precision kit and was my successful level 2 certification attempt rocket. It is shown here flying on a CTI Pro38 J engine at LDRS24 in Southern Alberta, 2005.

Photo by Nadine Kinney.

Anyone who has built a model of this rocket at any scale will know that the maple leaf design is quite complex. This one took about five hours of masking (and a few minutes of airbrushing!) to get right.

Estes kit of the X-prize winner, Spaceship One. Built as supplied, this model cartwheeled and smacked into the ground prior to ejection. A bit more nose weight and it streaked across the sky in a beautiful recreation of the real thing. Looks great as a display item, too. Pity Estes have not yet figured out that their relatively thick self-adhesive decals will not conform to complex shapes, such as the nose cone on this rocket, though.

Estes kit of the SR71 Blackbird. The trick with this kit is getting the paper shrouds to fit and form properly. Otherwise, goes together very nicely. Flies surprisingly well and has coped well with moderate winds, with little sign of weather-cocking.

Rebuild of an Estes Maniac, in three-fin configuration, following a fried chute and impact with pavement. Recently flew on an Aerotech E30-7T -- leapt off the pad like a bullet.

Wac Corporal sounding rocket, scratch-built from spare parts. My replacement for the lost Black Brant. Definitely over-powered on a C6, and will fly on Bs in the future. Very easy model to throw together (4 evenings work).

The kit that Fliskits are probably best known for: the Deuces Wild. This model is characterised by the canted twin engines. I've had one engine fail to ignite and the canted design allowed the rocket to fly successfully, so the idea works very well indeed. Makes for great smoke trails.

Photo courtesy of Carter Kerr.

A Loc/Precision Aura kit. The Aura is a relatively short 38mm rocket with surface-mounted fins. This one was fitted with an Aero Pack engine retainer. Flies high and fast on a G80-10.

Photo courtesy of Vince Chichak.

Successful Level 1 High Power certification flight of my Aerotech Sumo at "Fire and Ice" 2003. This rocket was modified to a 38mm motor mount and flown on a CTI Pro38 H143SS with six-second delay.

The modified Sumo, showing the custom "DragonBack" paint job. The base is Citadel (Games Workshop) "Chaos Black". After masking off the black parts around the "scales", Tamiya acrylic silver, followed by flat and gloss reds were applied with an airbrush. The entire rocket was then sprayed with a gloss acrylic sealer.

Here's the Sumo flying at Roc Lake VI, near Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, June 27th-29th 2003. This flight was on a CTI Pro38 H153. Photograph courtesy of Craig Makarowski.

1/12th scale scratch-build of the post-war German economy launch vehicle, OTRAG-1. This model is based around four lengths of BT-50 tubing, with BT-80 at each end. It was built for the Roc Lake VI (2003) launch in southern Alberta and files well on a cluster of four D12-5s.

Scale model of the Mercury Redstone vehicle that placed Gus Grissom on a sub-orbital trajectory. This one is from an Estes kit.

Photo courtesy of Carter Kerr.

Anastasia 1. Named after the Dan Dare rocket (but bearing no resemblance to it, just retro colour and styling). 54mm airframe with 38mm Acme fin can, Giant Leap nose cone used as a boat tail and a bell-shaped 38mm motor retainer.