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

2026-03-13

Estes Shark #1111, Build, Part 9, Smooth Fillet Areas?

Blog
Occasionally I've been asked how I get smooth fillets. "Fine Sanding!" After the first white undercoats, closely examine the reflection of your fillet areas under a bright light. Even though you've carefully smoothed a glue fillet, there will be streaks and lumps. Wood glue actually sands pretty easily using 400 (or finer) grit. Try to sand just the raised glue. You'll end up ... [More]

2026-03-12

Estes Shark #1111, Build, Part 8, Engine Mount & Fin Gluing

Blog
Set the engine mount and Kevlar line alongside the lower, longer tube. The BT-20 engine tube is even with the bottom of the BT-50 main body. This gives you an idea how long the Kevlar line should be, a little shorter than the top of the BT-50. Tie a overhand loop knot (shown on the right) for the elastic shock cord attachment. I used epoxy to glue the mount in, allowing me some positioning time. ... [More]

2026-03-11

Estes Shark #1111, Build, Part 7, Fin Grain Fill

Blog
I first cut the thrusters from balsa - Then I realized the would be a pain to fill and sand being so small. I cut a second set out of basswood. Two step fill process: 1. The fins, tunnel. thrusters and launch lug got a brushed coat of CWF, then fine sanding with 400 grit. 2. After sanding down all the CWF, all were stuck down to some cardboard for a shot of filler/primer. The body tube ... [More]

2026-03-10

Estes Shark #1111, Build, Part 6, Fins & Decals

Blog
The original kit fins were die cut. I don't know why the guidance thrusters weren't cut. Maybe they were too small? The way they are set on the sheet, it would be difficult to cut all four with an even height. On my redraw (below) they are cut from a long strip. Note the forward fins were cut with the grain running parallel to the trailing edge, not the leading edge. In my pattern draw below, ... [More]

2026-03-09

Estes Shark #1111, Build, Part 5, Raceway or Tunnel

Blog
On the Shark, the raceway is cut to 6.25" long. On the Stiletto kit, the raceway tunnel was 7 3/4" long. I'll cut mine to 6.25" out of basswood. The Shark instructions showed a long rectangle, rounded on both ends. The upper edges stay square. You might find it easier to judge the end shape by viewing the underside as you sand. The picture on the right shows the underside. After the side ... [More]

2026-03-08

Estes Shark #1111, Build, Part 4, D.I.Y. Nose Block (Coupler)

Blog
The coupler was cut to 1 1/4" long. The original kit nose block was 1" long. I feel better having a longer, more stable sliding joint. I decided to make the coupler bulkhead wall out of 3/32" basswood. The BT-50 coupler was set down onto the basswood and the interior diameter traced with a sharp pencil. Two circles were cut out. The sides were sanded to a circle. Both were glued cross grained. A ... [More]

2026-03-07

Estes Shark #1111, Build, Part 3, Engine Mount

Blog
The 20/50 rings were notched for the engine hook and Kevlar line. The lower ring is on the left. I highlighted the notch with pencil. The upper ring is on the right. Note the Kevlar notch directly opposite the engine hook notch. The instructions would have you position the upper ring above the top bend of the engine hook. I position the upper ring lower, over the top of the hook end making ... [More]

2026-03-06

Estes Shark #1111, Build, Part 2, Parts

Blog
The parts: This will be a spare parts build. I re-drew the water slide decals. The original #1111 kit had stickers. 3/32" thick balsa 12" parachute, shroud lines will be replaced with #10 embroidery thread I used heavy walled BT-50s, a 9.5" and 4" lengths The original nose block (coupler) was 1" long. I'll make it a bit longer at 1.25" Elastic shock cord, heat shrink tubing to protect the Kevlar ... [More]

2026-03-05

Estes Shark #1111, Build, Part 1, Background

Blog
In the early 1970s, Damon bought out Vashon (Freon propelled "cold power" rockets) and production moved to Estes in Penrose, CO. CLICK HERE Initially, the Vashon line remained unchanged. In 1973, Estes started producing their own branded Freon propelled kits, the "Cold power Convertible" line. CLICK HERE All six designs were BT-50 based. The initial kits included RP-100 ... [More]

2026-03-04

Some Estes Kit Font Names?

Blog
I was fortunate to work in a print shop as a graphic artist doing paste-up. I also spent too many hours setting headlines on a VGC Photo Typositor. When redrawing some kit decals I've had to search online for fonts. A few specific fonts show up again and again in many Estes kits. I can assume that Estes had a limited number of fonts and reused them many times. My hometown printshop had 35 ... [More]

2025-12-20

Centuri Alien Encounter Flying Saucer 3/4 Size

Flight
Just as advertised, at apogee it turned over and "floated" down landing on the wire legs. - C5-3 - ROAR, Christmas, FL [More]

New Way Firecat 4

Flight
On dislodged fin at touch down - B6-4 - ROAR, Christmas, FL [More]

FlisKits M.A.C.M.E. Shrew MMX

Flight
It is stable - to about 40 feet. The short MMX ejection fired before apogee. The narrow streamer slowed descent. - 1/8A-1 - ROAR, Christmas, FL [More]

Quest Striker AGM

Flight
I reefed the chute for a faster descent which led to two fins broken off. The lower 2/3 of the fins didn't adhere well to the plastic tail cone. The smaller fairing fins were still securely glued to the body tube. - C6-5 [More]

2025-11-22

Estes LTV Scout

Flight
Boost was labored but true. Altitude was probably about 400'. I set the build up with two chutes instead of the single one in the kit. Both ejected and opened. At landing, two of the small fins popped off and were found nearby. - C6-5 - ROAR, Christmas, FL [More]

Centuri Skylab Clone

Flight
The model was rigged for horizontal recovery but the chute lines got tangled at ejection. One solar panel fin and one side booster broke off on landing. Looks like an easy, clean repair. - C5-3 - ROAR, Christmas, FL [More]

Semroc Excalibur

Flight
First launch of the Semroc/Centuri EXCALIBUR with a B6-4. Arrow straight (obviously due to the six fibre fins) to an estimated 400'. No damage when picked up. - E B6-4 - ROAR, Christmas, FL [More]

Fliskits Saturn V MMX

Flight
Unstable! Probably got to 8 feet in that loop. Ejection on the ground and closest to the pad. - 1/8A-1 - ROAR, Christmas, FL [More]

Excelsior Rocketry Honest Goon

Flight
It's a bulky, heavy bird but always comes through. With the C6-5 altitude was around 425'. Full chute and no damage. - C6-5 - ROAR, Christmas, FL [More]

2025-11-08

Odd'l X-15 Goony

Flight
Textbook flight with an easy recovery. I only had four launches and wanted to get my new dog cooled off! All recovered, no damages. - B6-4 [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]