Construction Tips

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Finishing Tips for prior to painting the rocket. And some flying tips for high-altitude flights.

A good description with lots of pictures on how to build large lightweight rockets using a framework method. This is sometimes called "stick & tissue" or stringer & rib method. Using this technique, you can make very big rockets that are strong and very light weight.

A review of some sandable paint primers.

Designing a model rocket with emphasis on increasing the altitude. Might be useful as a teacher guideline.

Formulas for ogive nose cone shapes. Excellent illustrations to explain the math.

An explanation of rope knots, and what they are useful for in model rocketry.

Online shroud calculator for making paper transition sections.

Constructing large diameter body tubes out of easy-to-find material.

Useful rocket building tips.

Interesting facts about balsa wood, and how to get the best use out of it for your rocketry projects.

Constructing big diameter body tubes

A little java script program for making paper transition sections for adapting tubes of different diameters.

Centuri Design Manual. Some good basic tips on creating neat rocket creations.

Construction and finishing tips

Fin alignment tool.

How to use simple items to make cheap rockets. I personally don't recommend this method for smaller children, because it takes lots of practice to make parts that fit properly. Otherwise, the rocket is structurally weak, and is a disaster waiting to happen. But the method is OK for older kids with better construction skills.

George Gassaway describes how to use your vacuum former machine to make light weight nose cones for model rockets.