Hans "Chris" Michielssen's Page

AKA: hcmbanjo
Location: Orlando, 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:
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Flight Log
Flight Statistics

2026-01-09

Estes Semi-Scale Saturn V, Kit #K-39, Part 7, Cutting Out The Fins

Blog
The fin pattern is taped down, face up on the cutting board. The clear fin material is taped on top. Using a straightedge and sharp knife - Cut and score the clear material about 1/2 the way through. Flex the material back and forth at the cut lines. The cut line should crack. I used small, smooth faced pliers on some lines that weren't wide enough to grasp with my fingers. Run a sanding ... [More]

2026-01-08

Estes Semi-Scale Saturn V, Kit #K-39, Part 6, Shroud Formers

Blog
The crescent shaped piece is the shroud former pattern. Set the inside edge on the card the 20/60 rings came from. Trace with pencil. Cut with a sharp new blade. The area between the "A" marks is scraped for better adhesion. On the right, the shroud former is glued onto the edge. I used my sanding block to even up the face of the former and tube edge. Here's the four shroud formers in place, ... [More]

2026-01-07

Estes Semi-Scale Saturn V, Kit #K-39, Part 5, Cutting The Fin Slots

Blog
I used a new blade and my aluminum angle to cut the fin slots. The masking tape wraps made it easier to see the start and stop points. After the initial scoring the cuts were about half way through the tube walls. I thought I was cutting on the lines. The slots ended up too wide. The fin root fit was too loose for me. I got another BT-60 tube out of my spare parts. This new tube needed seam ... [More]

2026-01-06

Estes Semi-Scale Saturn V, Kit #K-39, Part 4, Marking The Fin Slots

Blog
The instructions have you glue in the engine mount then cut the fin slots. You are warned to "cut lightly" because the clear tube is underneath. I decided to cut the slots before gluing in the engine mount. It takes some pressure to cut fin slots. Here's how the kit marking guide fit the tube. GOTCHA: The ends did not fully meet. Notice the faint pencil lines above the cardstock mount. After ... [More]

2026-01-05

Estes Semi-Scale Saturn V, Kit #K-39, Part 3, Engine Mount

Blog
Cutting the coupler a little oversize allows you to sand to fit. On the left, one side of the coupler cut size is sanded on a block with 220 grit. On the right, clear tape holds the ends together with a good, slip fit. Here's the finished engine mount. The clear coupler is held in place between the upper two centering rings. There is no glue holding the clear coupler to the rings. The kit ... [More]

2026-01-04

Launch! Orlando R.O.C.K., January 3, 2025

Blog
Some days are good, this wasn't the best! My Estes TWIN FACTOR was launched with a A10-0t booster to an A3-4t sustainer. As all my two stagers seem to fly - First stage is vertical, Second stage turns to 45 degrees! I got both stages back, there were some burn holes in the booster tube and the rear engine block was gone. This one is probably retired, the booster anyway. The BT-50 based ... [More]

2026-01-03

Estes Semi-Scale Saturn V, Kit #K-39, Part 2, Engine Mount

Blog
About 3/16" of the inside of the motor mount tube got a wipe of CA glue applied with a Q-tip. Never apply CA glue where a wood glue joint will go later. Wood glue needs to soak into the surface. CA glue seals the area where it is applied. The instructions say to cut a 1/8" square notch in a centering ring. I used my rotary punch to cut a half circle for engine hook movement relief. The upper ... [More]

2026-01-02

Estes Semi-Scale Saturn V, Kit #K-39, Part 1, Parts

Blog
All the parts: The tubes are tight and strong, almost no seams! The longer, lower body is a BT-60, the upper tube is a BT-52. The 1/12" diameter dowels are used to make the tunnels and ullage motors. The printed wraps remind me of the old Estes Mercury Redstone capsule wrap. The cardstock shrouds, fairings and tube marking guide. The self adhesive "fins" are faded, almost gone! These will have ... [More]

2026-01-01

Estes Semi-Scale Saturn V, Kit #K-39, Background

Blog
Let's start the New Year off right! The "practical size" Estes semi-scale Saturn V was introduced in 1969 and available through 1979. I had assembled this model in the early 1970s, remembering some confusion about the clear plastic fins. This might have been the first kit to incorporate thru-the-wall fins! The catalog picture at the right doesn't mention or show clear fins. The engine mount ... [More]

2025-12-31

Top Ten Blog COUNTDOWN for 2025, Part 2

Blog
5 - Estes AMRAAM Downscale I've always like the Amraam with its forward fins. This was a downscale from a BT-55 to a heavy wall BT-50. 4 - Estes LTV SCOUT Another classic I never got around to in the 1970s. Small fins, blow molded transitions and some really crappy wood tunnels. Three feet tall! 3 - New Way BLADE RUNNER A standout design, different from anything else! A little ... [More]

2025-05-17

Estes Sky Tracer Clone

Flight
One of the trailing engine assemblies broke off, they are the first thing to hit under a parachute. I looked, but couldn't find all the pieces. These were a complex assembly, this rocket might be retired. - A8-3 - ROAR, Christmas, FL [More]

Odd'l Robot

Flight
The Robot arms are set to induce some spin stability. The spin was evident as the model slowed down on the C6-5 boost. This second test build also had .25 oz. of clay weight in the head. - C6-5 - ROAR, Christmas, FL [More]

Odd'l Robot

Flight
The new Odd'l Rockets ROBOT prototype had two more test flights. The first with another B6-4 to 275', The Robot arms are set to induce some spin stability. The spin was evident as the model slowed down on the C6-5 boost. This second test build also had .25 oz. of clay weight in the ... [More]

FlisKits Sky Raider

Flight
I couldn't get a boost shot so here's the ejection. That's only an 8" parachute, easy to pack in what little area is left inside. No damage at recovery. - C6-3 - ROAR, Christmas, FL [More]

Quest Intertruder

Flight
Some reviews say the boost can be squirrelly. Mine was straight and true to an estimated 350'. For half of the descent, the chute was caught up on on wing. It released and opened a hundred feet up. I was expecting some damage but it touched down with the fin dowels and toothpicks intact. - E B6-4 ... [More]

Semroc MMX Blue Bird Zero

Flight
I got lucky with the burst feature and caught the launch . MMX launches are quick! You can easily see a size difference when loaded next to other models on the rack. Boost was a loft to 50'. Streamer recovery with no damage. - 1/8A-1 [More]

2025-04-05

Odd'l Rockets Robot

Flight
First test flight of the ROBOT design. I was concerned about stability, but it was fine with a B6-4 motor. Rear eject worked, but - The winds took it into the trees! I chalked it up as a loss, there were a few others rockets caught in the high pines to the West side of the field. ... [More]

Estes Star Seeker Clone

Flight
First flight with an A3-4t engine. Vertical boost, reefed chute to about 250 feet. I expected to see a fin torn off at touchdown, there is a very short root edge on this one. No damage! - Estes A3-4t - Orlando R.O.C.K. [More]

Nike X Goon

Flight
This is it's seventh launch. An Estes B6-4 got it to 250 feet. The home print decals are starting to yellow - - B6-4 - Orlando R.O.C.K. [More]

Fliskits Saturn V MMX

Flight
Note the conical stability at the low end. No launch pic for this one, MMX are too fast to capture. I usually ask for extra eyes on these small builds as the launches are fast - This one is slower and the black cone on the back is easy to follow through boost. Altitude was probably 50' ... [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
The outside curved lines of the Engine Fairing Shrouds were cut from the cardstock with scissors. The interior Fin Slots were cut with a knife and straight-edge. [More]

Saturn Press Saturn V - Step 16

Build Entry
The A Frames and Fins were pressed together. The C Frames are pressed into the A Frames and Fins. Be careful handling the Fin paint while assembling. Silver or metallic paints are easy to dull with fingerprints. After all were assembled dry (no glue) I applied white glue to all the joints with ... [More]