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:
Rocket Gallery
Flight Log
Flight Statistics

2025-09-06

Estes LTV Scout, Build, Part 2, Engine Mount

Blog
The low inside end of the engine mount tube got a swipe of CA glue. The edge also got a wipe of glue. Sand the glued end square with 400 grit. This end will be exposed, it is not a glued surface. The CA glue seals and hardens the end. The engine hook slot cut is made in two steps. Note the blade is flipped over making two small joining cuts. Stab and make about half the cut. Turn the ... [More]

2025-09-05

Estes LTV Scout, Build, Part 1, Parts

Blog
Votes in the "Pick My Next Build" were tied! I drew a name out of a hat. The winner was the LTV Scout. Here's the parts - The 1st stage tube (far right) is an Estes BT0-60. The three tubes to the left are SBT-127CG, above that a SBT-123BR and finally a SBT-129BJ. Those three tubes are not standard diameters. The long engine mount tube is a BT-20D. The small red tube of contact cement ... [More]

New Estes Banshee Kit

Blog
I thought this one looked familiar! It's (sort of) an upscale (ST-7 to BT-50) of the old Centuri wedge finned Bandito! Here's the cardstock wedge fins assembly. To see the instructions: CLICK HERE "Cut out the eight holes as well? [More]

2025-09-04

What I Thought . . .

Blog
Before I ever got my hands on a model rocket engine - Engine permits were hard to get in California in 1969. This is what I expected - not what I got. CLICK HERE I remember watching the Davey and Goliath shorts when I was young. I guess I should be happy my rockets didn't skywrite like this one. Although seeing my name written in the smoke trail would have been cool. [More]

2025-09-03

Centuri Skylab Build, #KB-4, Finished

Blog
This build was more detailed than I thought it would be. The 3D parts are heavier than the original vacu-forms pieces. The Centuri catalog says the weight is 3.4 oz. This build weighs 4.1 oz. A B6-2 and C6-3 were the recommended motors. I'll launch mine with a C5-3 Super C. That black turbine exhaust tube reminds me of the exhaust tube on the old Estes Thor Agena B. The solar panel fins ... [More]

2025-09-02

Centuri Skylab Build, #KB-4, Part 27, Recovery Sling

Blog
Horizontal recovery is recommended. This would protect the thin vacu-form nozzles at the tail end. This 3D printed nozzle is thicker walled, much stronger than the original kit part. On my Odd'l Rockets F-104 kit I recommend horizontal recovery similar to what is shown here. The multi piece "T" tail can crack on a hard landing. Use knots that won't "slide" I used a simple overhand knot to ... [More]

2025-09-01

Centuri Skylab Build, #KB-4, Part 26, More Details

Blog
The Centuri catalog picture shows a prototype build. There is a chrome band around the engine pods. The docking collars are smaller. Some of the decals are different than what came in the kit. Look close at the detailed vacu-form band. There are some of the raised areas painted black. The 3D parts included two of the wraps. One was joined to slide over the larger tube. The other was flat, meant ... [More]

2025-08-31

Centuri Skylab Build, #KB-4, Part 25, New Turbine Exhaust Tube

Blog
After lots of handling during the build, the exhaust tube broke loose. There wasn't much glue holding it against the motor mount tube. (The picture on the left shows the first black tube.) I cut a new one and filled the seam with CWF. It was sprayed black off the model. For a better, wider glue bond against the inside motor tube - The side of the lug was pushed in to flatten and ... [More]

What's My Next Build?

Blog
IT'S A TIE! Both the LTV Scout and Enterprise got nine votes each. I realize many builders don't stop by the blog every day. I gave it a few days for the votes to come in. Many probably wouldn't bother to vote or comment. So I'll cut up some numbers and put it into a hat for a random drawing. Results upcoming . . . [More]

2025-08-30

Centuri Skylab Build, #KB-4, Part 24, Decals!

Blog
I drew up the decals from the scans at Jim Zs. These were sized for the slightly larger diameter Centuri ST-7 tubes. Shown on the left - The second lined wrap decal was cut a bit shorter to fit the BT-20 tube. When cutting a decal like this, Round out the clear areas instead of cutting into the corners. A sharp inside corner could end up tearing. This louvered hatch decal goes over ... [More]

2025-01-04

Estes Mini Bertha Clone

Flight
- Estes A3-4t - Orlando R.O.C.K. [More]

Estes Blue Origin, New Shepard

Flight
Stable with a B6-4, not so much with a C6-5. Flew a bit south over the trees. Recovered by other club members with the pole. No damage! - B6-4 - Orlando R.O.C.K. [More]

Semroc Snake Jumper

Flight
Launch wasn't vertical and veered off to the south. Landed in trees, given up for lost. - B6-4 - Orlando R.O.C.K. [More]

2024-12-07

Centuri Vector V

Flight
My Centuri VECTOR V clone was first in the air with an Estes A8-3. On the left is an Estes Viking, the kit used to make my clone. Altitude was estimated to be around 225 feet. Reefed 12" chute recovery. - A8-3 - Orlando R.O.C.K. [More]

Odd'l Rockets Stealth

Flight
Stable and true. Broke off one of the smaller winglet fins, not recovered. - B6-4 - Orlando R.O.C.K. [More]

Odd'l X-15 Goony

Flight
A favorite is my Goony X-15 . Part are from a Quest X-15 parts pack but built around a shorter BT-60. Great stable flight using an older Chinese made Quest B6-4 motor. Estimated altitude was 325'. - German Made Quest B6-4 - ROCK Monthly [More]

ASP Micro Wac Corporal

Flight
This is the ASP MMX CORPORAL , a well performing MMX bird. It was easy to follow the Mylar streamer as it descended. - 1/8A-1 - Orlando R.O.C.K. [More]

Semroc Centurion

Flight
Very stable, slow lift off. Ejection blistered the paint right above the baffle inside. - B6-4 - Orlando R.O.C.K. [More]

2024-06-29

Odd'l Rockets Little Green Man

Flight
A little wobble on the way up. Not much altitude but recovered safely. - B4-4 - Muncie AMA Field [More]

2024-04-06

Quest MMX Saturn V

Flight
The larger fins really didn't help much, it was unstable after it cleared the short launch rod. - 1/8A-1 - Orlando R.O.C.K. [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]