Cutting out the fins and the body tube modification was the greatest challenge for these kids, in building the Deuce's Wild! kit. It is a good thing that we allotted extra time for both of these steps. Because of the small size of the class I was able to spend time with each student (as the others were performing other steps) and show them proper cutting techniques
Use of a straight edge is key. Keeping your fingers away from the path of the blade is critical for safety!
This boy, building the Thing-a-ma-Jig kit as a beginner model, did an incredible job! He was always ahead of the game and when he was finished with a step he would sit and read the kit documentation while waiting for me to guide him in the next step (as a result he was always ready for that next step too!)
Proud of his large fins with clean straight edges!
Here we see the beginnings of the Deuce motor mount being assembled. This was also a challenge as it was totally different from anything else these kids had ever built!
Here we are cutting out the fin marking guide which includes the spaces to cut from the body tube.
Parachute assembly can be boring but it is also very important!
These kids are getting very used to assembling their parachutes and typically need no guidance other than to tell them that it is time...
The following week, tubes all cut, engine mounts all assembled and fins all cut out comes the exciting (sarcasm there) job of waiting for your fins to dry...
Some kids took the easy route and taped their first fin in place so that it could dry without falling off.
Here we see some with one fin and some with up to 3 fins in place. Some tapped, some just balanced. Towards the end of the class I helped with super glue so that all of the fin work would be done by next weeks class (the last build class of the course)
Needless to say, everyone was very proud of their work to date!
On the last assembly day we were so far ahead that we scheduled a screening of "October Skies" while finishing the last little touches on the models. The kids just loved it!
Out on the field the kids arrived with their models as well as many of the models built in previous classes.
FINALLY, I can get into one of the pictures as a parent offers to take a picture for us :)
While I was helping our new student prep their rocket for flight I had the more experienced kids install the igniters in their two motors, but cautioned them to wait for information on final prep and installation. This was their first cluster!
These two rocketeers proudly show off their creations, ready for flight!
Yes, there really IS a picture in that dark mess. Click on it and see if you can tell which rocket it is! This is what happens when you try high speed photography at dusk...
A Deuce's Wild! with a pair of A8-3's and a Rhino with a B6-4. Nearly the same power in similar sized rockets. An interesting combination.
This is the Rhino launch. You can tell because there is only one flame
This is the Deuce launch. Gee, how did I know??? :)
Here she is coming in towards the ball field. We had one lawn dart (parachute snagged on the shock cord mount) but suffered no damage. We also had two rockets come down in the middle of a dense thicket of trees, making their way all the way to the ground!
This picture gives you an idea of how dark it was getting. However, on the plus side, watching the motors burn at dusk is a special sight to be sure!
The last photo of the session, the last two Deuce's of the day, of the class, of the year...