A Happy Accident

Well, testing is done and packed, so now I can get down to really important things.....rockets!

This week's post features what I like to call a "Happy Accident." You see, it was a rocket that I built with absolutely no plan in mind. I just let the design happen as I went along and it ended up rather nice!

The story starts with a wrapping paper tube. I was messing around with it and I decided to see if I could actually get it smooth enough to use as a body tube. It took LOTS of Fill n Finish and even more sanding, but after many hours I had a usable tube. (Note: I also swore that I would never do it again!)

Now I had a problem. What the heck was I going to do with it? I started digging around in my spare parts drawers and came up with a nose cone and fin unit that fit fairly well. So I used them just because they fit. I put in an Estes E9 mount because I happened to have one (do you see the trend here?)

Next came the color. I had yellow, so I used yellow....and a little black....  As I looked at it, the name just came to me. You see, as a kid I loved Zonkers....I still do, by the way... and I was sure this simple rocket would scream. A little work with my computer and some Testors decal paper, and she was done....and for free!

I really like the way she turned out, but I have to admit that it was a complete, albeit happy, accident. Here are some pictures:

The Screaming Yellow Zonker!!!!

The logo took about 10 seconds to come up with....

Add my beautiful wife's and my names, and my NAR number and.....done!

Until next time fly 'em fast and high!

And Now a Word From Our State

Greetings.
Due to the vast importance of high stakes standardized testing of our elementary students, we have locked Mr. Powley in a closet until after the STAAR test is completed. Do not worry, he will be released soon. Until then, please feel free to review past posts.
Thank you,
The Texas Political Machine

From the Vault

I have literally thousands of rocket pictures. After a while they can all start to look pretty much the same. However, there are a few standouts that I like to share from time to time. Today, we have just such an example!

Today I am sharing the oldest pics in my collection (that I can find anyway). The files are tagged "78" but they may actually be from '76 or '77. Heck, I don't know! I scanned them in about 20 years ago, and I'm pretty sure the originals didn't have a date stamp. They aren't really all that outstanding in and of themselves, but they are old so, here ya go!

At first I thought that this was a Centuri Long Tom...except that it isn't. Any ideas?



The "Whatever It Is" takes flight!



This one I know! Its an FSI Black Brant!



And a Sandhawk! That may or may not be Scott Wilson on the dirt bike...ok, I don't think it is...

This one has run in Shroudlines before. Alan Wilcox prepping the Sandhawk while Chris Garrett looks on (somewhat confused?)

Until next time, fly 'em fast and high!

An Apollo Treasure

I really didn't know what to write about this week. I am in charge of my campus' STAAR testing, so I've been a little preoccupied. What to write?

Then I thought about something that happened a few years ago that was truly one of the highlights of my life. Thanks to John Dyer, several area rocket guys were tapped to build scale models of Apollo 7 for the 40th anniversary celebration at the Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas. It was really hard work (I STILL hate fiddly-bits!!!!) but we got it done and on October 17th, 2008  we found ourselves among such childhood heroes as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin (not to mention many many more, including Walt Cunningham, who was the guest of honor)

I could probably write a book about that day, but I wanted to share one small item with you. This:

As you can read on the coin, this item not only commemorated the day, but it actually contains bits of Apollo 7. One day I'm going to buy a display case to house the wonderful artifacts from that day, and I can assure you that these coins (my wife Laurie and I both got one) will be front and center.

Thanks for allowing me to share.
Until next time, fly 'em fast and high!