I'd personally love to see us get together in some form or another on a regular basis - build nights, beer nights, whatever. The problem is where to hold it. Do we rent a place? A Library meeting room, etc. or something like that costs money and the executive committee tries to keep expenses to a minimum aside from making sure we have good reliable launch equipment, a great waiver, a great launch site and porta potties to poop in as well as "free" food at our semi-annual meetings. Unless some club member were to step forward and offer his/her shop for the "build night", where else to do it?

On a smaller scale, I'd like to see more group projects come together in the club. After I was a part of the UprOar project a few years ago and the Delta II project before that, I'm a firm believer that team projects are by far the most satisfying projects. While I'm currently working (not) on my L3, I also have several ideas for some group projects - some big, some very big and I'd like to see a pretty good size group come together for them.

Anyone interested in doing a group project for BALLS? I have a design for an N1100 bird that should tweak 45K, and a P powered bird that should do 60K... I can't do either alone... any takers?

Warren

I would be all for it, great idea by the way! It would probably turn out to be more of a get together and "drink while we talk rockets" kind of thing, still a good idea.

I voted for bi-monthly just because one a month would be too much to try and pull off. Quarterly would work as well in my opinion but I think bi-monthly would be better. It all depends on where we do it, but again, I think monthly would be too much.

Art

What kind of builds would people favor at a build night? Are we thinking Estes, mid-power, bigger stuff???

A shop gets pretty small when you fit in a large project to two.

I'd be up for hosting an occasional meeting for the smaller to mid power stuff. I have a smaller heated shop about the size of a one car garage and I have a built in beer tap. It works well, but the beer does not mix with power tools (and I do not allow that combination)

What might make for a good build night would be to get a vendor to sponsor a deal on a kit and motor combo - like Wildman does for some launches or GLR does for cert flights. Perhaps this concept would work for a Mayhem drag race. If everyone were building the same mid power rocket, then the beer might not get in the way, and things would go smoothly.

I'm thinking LPR and MPR personally - tho I know that's not to everyone's taste. But they are small and a bunch of people could work on 'em in a reasonably sized space. MrEd, if you are serious I bet we could get enough folks working on non-power-tool type stuff to make it fun and thirst quenching! 😉

For spaces we'd have to pay for maybe those in attendence could split the bill. I think conference rooms at the Longmont Library are cheap. Maybe someone more creative than I can think of some other good locations.

Or like Art says we could just make it a social event. Old Chicago in Longmont is a good place to meet; so is the Pump House. Any takers?

Greg

For spaces we'd have to pay for maybe those in attendence could split the bill. I think conference rooms at the Longmont Library are cheap. Maybe someone more creative than I can think of some other good locations.
Greg

I'm sorry but the Longmont Librarys beer is way to expensive!!!

One day my hanger may be cleaned up and organized. 1700 sqft.
But until I get it insulated and gas furnaces in it, the karosene jet heater, I am going to use this winter, would be too loud. I also have a couple of propane heaters, still too loud. (what we use to call salimanders, why I dont know, see below wikapedia doesnt seam to know either)

(Salamander heaters are most often found at construction sites. Depending on style, they can also be referred to as "torpedo furnaces", "salamander furnaces", or simply, "salamanders". The origin of their name is unknown, although a traditional wood-burning stove in (Chilean) Spanish and Portuguese is known as a "salamandra".)

I know, now you can all sleep well. 😉

This would be great! I hate interupting people on flight days when they are busy prepping their rockets to ask noob questions and would love helping with a group project. I don't know junk, but I can sand!

Kevin

I'd be up for something......
The only space I would have available is in Lakewood at Morrison & Wadsworth. But am not sure how much or when it would be rented out.

You know all of you are welcome in my shop. I have a large space (1800 sq ft) with high ceiling, abundant workbench space, and heating and air conditioned. However, you may wish to think about carpooling 😉 Seriously, if you're in the area, look me up and see if we can get together.

Doug

I too voted bi-monthly for the reasons already stated. I think it is a great idea! The actual topics could rotate. One month do a build project, the next have one of the more experienced builders (or a vendor as already suggested) in the club do a presentation explaining some aspect of MPR-HPR (i.e. dual-deploy, anti-zipper designs, experimental motors, electronics use, etc.). This way we get the best of both worlds. A build night and a more social night where we still learn. The more social evenings wouldn't require a dedicated location, just somebody's home. Mine is available but I'm kind of remote and drinking and driving my road would not be a good idea. We are hoping to move back into Fort Collins next year though.

I'm also up for a group project but have no experience beyond the sport level currently. I learned how to do auto body work by volunteering to help a buddy restore his Corvette...so I can sand too! I'm not too bad with a paint gun either.

John

You know all of you are welcome in my shop. I have a large space (1800 sq ft) with high ceiling, abundant workbench space, and heating and air conditioned. However, you may wish to think about carpooling 😉 Seriously, if you're in the area, look me up and see if we can get together.

I am up for another weekend out there! I am way jealous of your shop, it was awesome having the room to do things on such an awesome work bench

Thanks James, anytime. If anyone is looking to relocate, think about heading south. I work at a really great place and I would love another rocketeer down here.

Doug

I love NM, but - that would make the 6hr drive to KS a tad bit too long. 😛

This is a great idea that I would love to do if I were there. I'd suggest you guys have a gathering and decide on a project - something that really pushes you (staging? Minimum diameter? Camera? altitude attempt?) Collectively, 3-5 guys can do something that none of them could do individually.

My suggestion is that you don't just bring together a group with a leader who has all the skills - go into it knowing that the individuals all have to bring a piece of knowledge.

Said another way, I know how to fly an "N". I don't have the foggiest idea of how to stage two "G" motors. I'd love to work with someone who has staged something and we do a K-to-K project. I'll never do it otherwise.

I'd love to work with someone who has staged something and we do a K-to-K project.

You're on John. I prefer not doing it minimum diameter but that too sounds interesting (challenging).

Doug